8:19–21 THE NEW KINSHIP
Overview:
The Word of God, heard in faith, creates this new family of God, which will be
the Christian church and which already now is the heavenly community where
Jesus reigns as the Ancient of Days (Cyril of Alexandria). Jesus consciously
overturns the Old Testament kinship laws that defined one’s identity as a
member of Israel through genealogy and family relationships, for the family of
God now consists of those who do his will (Basil the Great).
8:19–21
Jesus’ Family are Hearers of the Word
The
New Family of Jesus Hear the Word and Do It. Cyril of Alexandria:
The present lesson teaches us that obedience and listening to God are the
causes of every blessing. Some entered and spoke respectfully about Christ’s
holy mother and his brothers. He answered in these words, “My mother and my
brothers are they who hear the word of God and do it.”
Now do not let any one imagine that Christ scorned the
honor due to his mother or contemptuously disregarded the love owed to his
brothers. He spoke the law by Moses and clearly said, “Honor your father and
your mother, that it may be well with you.” How, I ask, could he have rejected
the love due to brothers, who even commanded us to love not merely our brothers
but also those who are enemies to us? He says, “Love your enemies.” What does
Christ want to teach? His object is to exalt highly his love toward those who
are willing to bow the neck to his commands. I will explain the way he does
this. The greatest honors and the most complete affection are what we all owe
to our mothers and brothers. If he says that they who hear his word and do it
are his mother and brothers, is it not plain to every one that he bestows on
those who follow him a love thorough and worthy of their acceptance? He would
make them readily embrace the desire of yielding themselves to his words and of
submitting their mind to his yoke, by means of a complete obedience. Commentary
on Luke, Homily 42.
Kinship
by Doing God’s Will. Basil the Great: Intimacy with the Lord is
not explained in terms of kinship according to the flesh, but it is achieved by
cheerful willingness in doing the will of God. The Morals 22. (Luke, ed.
Arthur A. Just [Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture; Downers Grove, Ill.:
InterVarsity Press, 2005], 135-36)
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