by Stan Feldsine (www.tojesusbeallglory.com)
Matthew 12:46-50 - The True Family of Messiah
Jesus's mother and brothers included James, Joseph, Simon, and Jude. Jesus also had sisters but they apparently were not a part of this meeting (Mat 13:55-56).
The content of what they wanted to talk to Jesus about is not given in Matthew, however, Mark sheds some light on this: Mar 3:21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."
Jesus's mother and brothers were experiencing a great deal of stress resulting from Jesus's activities. They went out to reign Him in. When they reached him, and someone told Him His family was there, He asked "Who are my mother and brothers?". This could not have made them feel any more at comfort.
But Jesus had a point He was making. His point was that spiritual kinship is greater than physical kinship. He said that "whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." To do the will of the Father meant to accept Jesus as Messiah King (Joh 6:40).
This did not mean that Jesus didn't love His family. He did, to the point that as he was dying on the cross he asked that John care for His mother (Joh 19:26-27).
The Pharisees believed that they were to be granted access to the Kingdom on the basis of their biological physical ties to Abraham. In this teaching of Jesus it is clear that only the spiritual seed of Abraham are going to enter the kingdom. Physical connection is insufficient (Gal 3:29).
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