Luke 8 · a question people ask
Was Jesus turning his mother and brothers away (8:19-21)?
Here is what Luke tells. "His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd" (8:19). "Some people told him, “Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.”" (8:20). "But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”" (8:21). Luke doesn't say whether Jesus went out to them, or what happened next between them; the next verse begins, "Now on one of those days" (8:22). Favor's Matthew 12 asks the same question of Matthew's telling, and Favor's Mark 3 sets the three Gospels' words for his answer side by side. These notes say no more about his mother and his brothers than the verses do.
The verses
“His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd. Some people told him, “Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.” But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” Now on one of those days, he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out.”