Why God Made Moms Series

Luke 8:19-21 [19]Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. [20]And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you." [21]But he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it." (ESV)

Luke 2:50 gives the reaction of Joseph and Mary who did not fully understand the profound saying/statement which Jesus spoke/had made to them. They understood that He was the Messiah, the Son of David, conceived in a virgin’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. But the full meaning of His divine sonship eluded them. This would not be the last time that His followers would fail to grasp what Jesus was saying (cf. Luke 9:44–45; 18:34; John 10:6; 12:16).

But the time for Jesus to leave His parents’ authority had not yet arrived, so verse 51 notes that He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was submissive/continued in subjection to them. Jesus’ responsive obedience to His parents as a child gives perspective to the issue of submission in other human relationships. The Gk. words hypotasso and hypotage imply that a person subordinates himself or herself to another. The N.T. emphasis is on voluntary submission to existing social structures. First century Christian slaves chose to submit to their masters, citizens to the government, and wives to husbands. When we see Jesus choose to submit to parents we realize a vital and basic truth. Submission is not an act of an inferior, or an admission of inferiority! (Richards, L. O. (1991). The Bible reader’s companion (electronic ed.) (653). Wheaton: Victor Books.)

Jesus’ relationship with His heavenly Father did not yet abrogate His responsibility to obey His earthly parents. His obedience to the fifth commandment to honor your father and mother, was an essential part of Jesus’ perfect obedience to the law of God.

When mothers demand respect from their children they actually obey God. To be lax in demanding respect is a failure of responsibility. God expects children to honor their father and mother according to the fifth commandment, and to fail to demand this action, dishonors God.

What an example Jesus is to adolescents today! They so often believe that their parents do not understand them—or even care about them. But when they feel like that they should do as Jesus did. They should obey their parents, because their parents have lived longer than they have and have had more experience of life. They know its dangers and challenges (Bentley, M. (1992). Saving a Fallen World: Luke Simply Explained. Welwyn Commentary Series (41). Darlington, England: Evangelical Press).

Here was the first fulfillment of Simeon’s warning to Mary in 2:35, as she treasured up all these things in her heart. She had much to think about as she pondered Jesus’ amazing reply. Mary had to realize that her Son was her Savior, and she would have to exchange her parental authority over Him for His divine authority over her. Later Jesus distanced Himself from His human relationship with her and His siblings (cf. 11:27–28). Ultimately, the sword would pierce Mary’s heart as she watched her Son suffer and die on the cross.