Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 11:28

28 But he said, Yea, rather blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

We are very prone to bless Persons from external priviledges, and the favours of Divine Providence, which do not at all change, or affect the hearts of those to whom they are given, but God looketh with another Eye upon Persons▪ Christ doth not here deny his Mother to have been Blessed, her Cousin Elizabeth, ch. 1.42. had pronounced her Blessed amongst Women, and the Angel had before called her Highly favoured, and told her that she had found favour with God. But our Saviour here declareth that her Blessing did not so much lye in that [illegible: 1 letter]er Womb bare, and her Paps gave Suck to him, as in that she was one who heard and kept the Word of God; for he pronounceth all such as did so principally Blessed. Nor must we separate what God hath put together, the Blessing is not pronounced to those who barely hear the Word of God, the Blessed, and the unblest pariter adeunt, pariter aud[illegible: 1 letter]unt, they may go to Church together, and hear the Word together, but the Ble[illegible: 1 letter]sing is to those that hear the Word of God, and keep it. See Iames 1.22, 23. The Word to some that hear it may be a Savour of Death unto Death. The Soul that through Grace is made obedient to the Will of God, is a more happy Soul then the Virgin Mary was, considered meerly as the Mother of Christ, without the consideration of her Faith, and Holiness.

Marginal references: Matth. 7.21.