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.

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