Matthew 12:46-50
Mat 12:46 (KJB)
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood
without, desiring to speak with him.
Here was a possible family intervention as His earthly mother desired to speak
with Him and His brethren. Maybe they thought that He was going to get into
serious trouble by challenging the Pharisees and they wanted to stop Him before
He got into serious trouble. Jesus was apparently teaching in someone’s house
and the crowd had surrounded the house so they could hear the teachings. Since
His brothers did not believe on Him, maybe they wanted to get Jesus out of
there. They also may have feared for themselves because as family members, they
could have been thrown out of the temple and not allowed in. This scenario is
seen in John 9 when Jesus healed the blind man and the parents were called on by
the leaders to answer for him.
Mat 12:47 (KJB)
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without,
desiring to speak with thee.
The Greek text shows that his mother and brethren were standing outside for
quite a while trying to get indoors to see Him when finally someone came to the
Lord and told Him that His mother and brethren are desiring to see Him. The word
in the Greek for “desiring” denotes they were looking intently for Him and
strongly desiring to speak to Him.
Mat 12:48 (KJB)
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are
my brethren?
Then in usual fashion, Jesus turns the situation into another opportunity to
present a teaching. He then poses a question as to who is His mother and
brethren? He was not being rude or even unloving but He was about to expand the
meaning to His entire spiritual family. For no one can be in the family of God
without being born again in Christ.
Mat 12:49 (KJB)
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother
and my brethren!
Jesus then stretches out His hand and points to all who are in attendance. Jesus
was not saying that the earthly family was not important but when you are
speaking of the family of God, it goes way beyond the nuclear family. Jesus was
also disabusing the idea of Mary being the Mother of God. Jesus widened the
meaning of family and He makes specific mention of mother so there is no mistake
that the title of mother in the Kingdom of God takes on a new meaning and that
is those who follow Him plus it is equal to brother, sister, uncle, aunt, or
whomever. All are on equal footing in the body of Christ and there are no
separate titles given to believers.
Mat 12:50 (KJB)
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my
brother, and sister, and mother.
Now Jesus introduces the main distinction for the spiritual family of God and
that is those who do the will of God. It is hearing the teachings of Jesus and
not just hearing them but acting upon them. Notice Jesus said “do the will” and
not “know the will.“ The will of God is bound up in actions for the Kingdom of
God. No one can be a silent disciple or one who does nothing. When one has
beliefs, they act upon those beliefs and since Jesus has saved us, our action is
to bring the Gospel to the four corners of the earth. When we are saved and
involved in the Lord’s work, then we are showing that we are His brothers,
sisters, and mothers.