46 “While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46–50 (ESV)
Matthew previously addressed the issue of family relationships and the Lordship of Jesus Christ (Matt. 10:34-39). Jesus stated that obeying Him as a believer could result in conflict within one’s family. He also stated that whoever loved anyone more than Him was not worthy of Him. In other words, no human relationship was to have a greater priority or importance than the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today’s text illustrated this truth with respect to Jesus’ relationship with His own earthly family. While Jesus was speaking in the aftermath of healing the man with a withered hand and exorcizing a demon from a blind/mute individual (Matt. 12:9-45), his mother and brothers stood outside the synagogue and continually asked to speak to Him.
Biblically, we know that Jesus’ mother was Mary (Matthew 1:18-25; 13:55; Mark 6:3; Luke 1:26-37; 2:1-7). The Gospels also provided the names of Jesus’ brothers. They were James, Joses, Judas (Jude) and Simon (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3). We also know that Jesus had a least two sisters, who are unnamed (Matt. 13:56; Mark 6:3). We do not know what it was that His immediate family wanted to say to Him.
Upon hearing that His mother and His brothers were wanting to speak with him, Jesus replied, ““Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
“Fidelity to and respect for one’s family were so heavily emphasized that such words must have struck their hearers quite forcefully. Many Jewish interpreters regarded the command to honor father and mother as the most important in the law,” explains biblical commentator Craig Keener.
However, Jesus was not finished speaking. Matthew recorded, “And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
“Family relationships in the ancient world were often defined by hierarchy even more than by kinship ties, so that wives and especially children (and, in wealthy homes, slaves) were expected to obey the father of the household. Jesus can thus define his “mother, brothers and sisters” as those who obey his Father. To disavow literal family members was so repulsive that even using the image would have been culturally offensive. Further, spiritual or figurative kinship language in Judaism (especially “brothers”) was viewed ethnically (fellow Israelites),” states Keener.
Jesus was certainly counter-cultural. He defied and offended social sensibilities. He was primarily concerned with truth and not complying with accepted cultural mores and values.
Two significant truths are taught here. First, the followers of Jesus have such intimate fellowship with Him that we are as deeply related to Him as His family,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“Second, blood ties are less significant than the bond of faith. Our relationships with other Christians are, in a certain sense, more important than the relationships we have with our relatives. Though we must honor our parents and take care of our families (Eph. 6:1–3; 1 Tim. 5:8), our relationship with family members who die in sin ends at death. The bond between brothers and sisters in Christ lasts forever. Our families according to the flesh are important, but the family of God in Christ is more so.”
Soli deo Gloria!
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