Go ahead and press play to follow along! ☝️
“While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 12:46-50
A Different Family
Now as the first born in his family, Jesus would have been responsible for the family since its assumed that Joseph has died by this time, because he’s not brought up again after the first mention of him at Christ birth or the travel to Jerusalem.
The crowd may have frowned at his behavior toward his family. They may considered it rude. But a big lesson in this is the fact that as a believer, what is earthly is in a way, significantly diminished compared to what is eternal.
As believers we now, not only have an earthly family, but all the more a heavenly family. We don’t only associate ourselves to what is seen, but more to what is unseen. This may come off as offensive to men and women around us. Maybe even careless. But, in Christ we no longer are only earthly mind but heavenly minded.
The world finds great respect for family. So when they see a man not wrapped up in the “family first” mindset, it is alarming to them. But in fact we have a different family. A different hope. A different perspective. We have different responsibility.
When we come to Christ, we also may end up being rejected by our family. This is okay, this text shows us that we, now, live in a reality that even in rejection, we can move forward. Because now we are Christ’s family.
Christ Brothers and Sisters
We also see clearly Christ great love for those who have placed their trust in him. All of you and I who believe in Christ are his family. He loves us. We are precious to him. He magnifies what we have as an earthly family times thousands.
This should give us greater confidence in his care and affection for us. This should make us more bold in the face of persecution; in the face of those who mock and poke at us. We are the sons and daughters, brothers and sisters of the king. The king that Matthew has plainly been pointing out. He is the older brother who will one day come to our rescue and make right every wrong ever done to us.
Let this encourage us, and let us hear Christ say, “Here are my mother and my brothers!”
Some Questions For Your Study:
1. In Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus asks, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" What do you think Jesus means by this statement? How does it challenge our understanding of family and relationships?
2. Why do you think Jesus prioritizes those who do the will of his Father over his own biological family? What does this teach us about the importance of obedience and following God's will?
3. How does Jesus redefine the concept of family in this passage? How does this challenge the traditional societal norms and expectations surrounding family dynamics?
4. What can we learn from Jesus' emphasis on spiritual family and the idea of a "chosen family"? How can this perspective impact our relationships and sense of belonging within the Christian community?
5. Reflect on the significance of Jesus' statement, "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." How does this statement invite us to reevaluate our priorities and redefine our understanding of true discipleship?
6. How can we practically apply the teachings in Matthew 12:46-50 to our own lives? What steps can we take to prioritize our relationship with God and live in obedience to His will, even if it means challenging societal expectations?
7. Consider the cultural and societal context in which Jesus made this statement. How might his words have been perceived by the people of that time? How do they continue to challenge and provoke us today?
8. Jesus' words in this passage may raise questions about the tension between our earthly obligations and our commitment to God. How can we strike a balance between fulfilling our responsibilities to our biological families and prioritizing our spiritual relationship with God?
9. Reflect on your own understanding of family and the importance you place on biological relationships. How can the teachings in Matthew 12:46-50 help you broaden your perspective and definition of family?
10. How does Jesus' statement in this passage align with his overall message of discipleship? How can we embody these principles in our own lives and relationships?