Every year on the second Sunday in May in the USA, we celebrate Mother’s Day, a traditional celebration of motherhood. We rightly shower the women in our lives with flowers, brunch, and heartfelt cards, praising them for the sacrifices they make and the nurturing love they provide. Yet, when a woman in the crowd once tried to honor Jesus by praising his mother, Jesus redirected the praise to a higher, spiritual reality.
We read in Luke 11:27-28 that Jesus was waxing eloquent among the crowds, which included the scribes and Pharisees who despised and blasphemed Jesus’ excellent discourses. However, in that crowd was also a woman who admired Jesus’ teachings and the wisdom and the power with which He spoke. It was almost as if she couldn’t contain herself from standing up and shouting out how pleased she was to hear Jesus confounding and putting to shame the Pharisees.
As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed! (Luke 11:27)
She couldn’t refrain from crying out, “Blessed is the womb that bore you!” Perhaps an appropriate paraphrase would be, “Happy is the woman who has you for her son, because surely there was never a greater one born of a woman!” Her affectionate accolade well expressed her high esteem of Jesus Christ and the honor that she reflected upon His mother.
However, Jesus responded with a “blessed rather”. He did not disrespect the woman’s comment, nor diminish the honor paid to His mother or to Himself, but rather, He suggested there was an even greater blessing than being the mother of Jesus.
“But He said, Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28).
Jesus made it clear in this verse that while motherhood is blessed, an even deeper, eternal blessing belongs to those who hear the word of God and keep it.
Jesus was encouraging her that she might be as happy as His own mother, whose happiness she was ready to envy, if she would hear the word of God and keep it. The truly blessed mothers are those who hear the Word of the Lord and keep the Word of the Lord!
Mother’s Day can be difficult for many people and for a variety of reasons. Many children may be deeply missing a mother who has passed away, or many may live with the unfulfilled longing to be a mom. Many moms are exhausted as they strive to be ‘perfect’ by worldly standards. However, the Bible offers a different standard of blessing. In Luke 11:28, Jesus isn’t diminishing the joy of being a mom; rather, He is highlighting a deeper joy—the true satisfaction that comes from anchoring our lives in the Word of God.
May we take comfort in knowing that while moms and motherhood are incredible blessings, “yet rather” a greater blessing exists in hearing and obeying the Word of God! Obedience to God is the ultimate goal, which can be applied to both mothers and all believers. Happy Blessed Rather Day!
Prayer –
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of mothers and mother figures. Today, we honor them, not only for their nurturing care but for their role in guiding families toward You. Lord, we pray a special blessing over them based on Your word in Luke 11:28.
May every mother feel blessed, not just by earthly accolades, but by the quiet satisfaction of hearing Your voice and walking in Your ways. When motherhood is exhausting, give them the strength to persevere. When it is confusing, give them wisdom to guide. Empower them to model obedience to Your Word, making their homes a sanctuary where the next generation learns to love and follow You.
May they, and all of us, find our ultimate joy in being hearers and doers of Your Word. We pray for a legacy of faith that lasts.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.