Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 8:19

"And there came to him his mother and brethren, and they could not come at him for the crowd." — Luke 8:19 (ASV)

Luke turns at this point to the story of Jesus and his relationship to his family.

Jesus does not, of course, dishonor his family (vv.19–20) but honors those who obey God (v.21). Most Christians would probably say that we come closest to Jesus through prayer and reading the Bible. But with searching practicality Jesus says that the way to be close to him—even as close as his own family—is through being receptive to (“hearing”) God’s word and then doing it. Hours of praying and reading the Bible will not bring disobedient Christians as close to the Lord as doing his truth brings even the simplest believer.

Luke continues illustrating the powerful, authoritative word of Jesus (notice esp. 8:25, 29, 32, 54; cf. 4:36). Jesus exercises his power against natural forces, demons, illness, and death. Then he delegates this power to his disciples.

This story itself is noteworthy for its vividness and its portrayal of the Lord Jesus in complete control of himself and his environment. The climax comes not with the miracle itself but with the question of the disciples (v.25) concerning the identity of the Master. It is a nature miracle, marking the first time in Luke that Jesus applied his power to a nonliving object. Jesus is affirming his sovereignty over storm and sea as God did in the Exodus.