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Matthew Chapter 12 Lord's Family

by Paul George
7/11/2008 / Bible Studies

Matthew 12:46-50
The good news in this passage is, those who come to Jesus and are His disciples are now His family. Jesus is not denying the relationship between Himself and His mother and brothers. What He is trying to get across to the disciples a change that is taking place in the relationship between God and Israel.

Note what Jesus said to the disciples and crowds He was speaking to when someone told Him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you" (verse 47- WEB) can not be taken as a denial of the relationship between Jesus and His mother and brothers. When informed His mother and brothers wanted to talk to Him, Jesus asked the question, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" Then, He pointed toward His disciples and said, "Behold, my mother and my brothers!"

Why did Jesus say the disciples were His mother and His brothers? Did He say the disciples were His mother and brothers because they left their fishing boats, tax collecting, and whatever else was their source of income?

Note what Jesus said to the disciples and crowds in verse fifty; "For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother." What did Jesus say? He said "whoever does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother, and my sister, and my mother." If you are doing the will of the heavenly Father you are a brother or sister of Jesus. Why did Jesus say the disciples were His brother, sister, and mother. He did not say whoever does the will of my Father is my brother, sister, mother and father. Jesus was using a family relationship when He made this claim. He also revealed once again that Joseph was not His father.

However, this statement goes deeper than a family relationship. What Jesus wants to get across to the disciples, crowds, scribes, and Pharisees that a change is taking place. From this point, here is a pivotal point; it is doing the will of the Father that enables a person to be a part of the family of God. While the keeping of the Law and rituals were part of the will of God, these were temporal. This does not mean we do not need to obey the Law of God. The scribes and Pharisees were claiming they were keeping the Law of God.

The problem is the scribes and Pharisees were ignoring the will of God. Jesus points this out many times; the Law of God was never intended to be a burden. However, the scribes and Pharisees were making it a burden; making the Law a burden they were disobeying the will of God.

In this day and age we need to be very careful we do not let our rituals and do and do not override the will of God.

There is a second point in this incident; where was the "natural family" of Jesus; where were the disciples?

Matthew tells us, Jesus' "natural family was outside seeking Him. Where were the disciples Jesus said was His mother, brother, and sister; inside with Jesus.

There is an important lesson for us; we are not part of the family of God because our parents were part of the family God. If we are not totally committed to obeying the will of God we are not part of the family of God.

Retired pastor,Church of the Nazarene

Author of web site Exploring God's Word

www.thewordofgodonline.net

New American Standard Bible

King James Version

The World English Bible

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