"And it came about while He said these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice, and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts at which You nursed.”
But Jesus said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the world of God, and observe it.” Luke 11:27, 28
Doesn't Jesus here have an opportunity to support adoration of Mary, but chooses to refute the idea instead?
On the contrary? What translation did you get that out of?
Doesn't Jesus here have an opportunity to support adoration of Mary, but chooses to refute the idea instead?
Not at all. Jesus is correcting the mentality that our bloodline makes us pleasing to God. Matthew 3:9 "And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham." Jesus is teaching that faith is more important than biology, which His mother would have readily agreed with. Are you trying to imply that Christ is contradicting Luke 1:48? "Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed."
But Jesus said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it.” - Luke 11:27-28
Ponyexpresso: Doesn't Jesus here have an opportunity to support adoration of Mary, but chooses to refute the idea instead?
Drsj: Note this woman doesn't say anything about Mary that is not found in our New Testament. It was a very modest statement compared to the post #41 which makes many statements about Mary that have no support in the Word of God.
Jesus' words "on the contrary" [greek = menoun] in context seem to turn the focus from the woman's comment about Mary (which wasn't the subject under discussion) to the discussion at hand. He had been accused of casting out a demon by Satanic power. His rebuke [v. 23] to them was "He that is not with me is against me." I take the statement following the "on the contrary" as a strong admonition to the woman and the crowd [v. 28] to keep their focus on obedience to the Word of God.
My concern with the supra-biblical adoration of Mary today is, in part, that it diverts attention from adoration of the Son of God. Additionally, it presents as true many statements about Mary that go beyond the plain teaching of the Word of God.
WWMT? (What Would Mary Think?)
"Doesn't Jesus here have an opportunity to support adoration of Mary, but chooses to refute the idea instead?"
Yes, he does. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible shows that the word he used was menounge (prounounced men-oon-geh). #3304. It means, "rather". The sense is, "no, but" / "yea doubtless".
The primary particle "men" #3303 means "in fact" and is usually followed by a contrasted clause.
The translation that gives the sense that Jesus is contrasting what the woman said about Mary with what is in fact, the Truth, is correct. To wit:
"But Jesus said, 'no, but in fact, rather than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it.'