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Answer
We discover the identity of Jesus’ mother and brothers from various passages. Jesus was acknowledged as the Son of God «And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. », (Matthew 16:16), and His earthly parents were Joseph and Mary «and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. », (Matthew 1:16). The names of Jesus’ brothers are listed in Matthew 13:55: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (also known as Jude). Although Jesus had sisters, their names are not provided «Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? », (Matthew 13:55). Jesus and those around Him, as mentioned in Matthew 12, were aware of His family. Therefore, it is intriguing that He would inquire, “Who are my mother and brothers?” in Matthew 12:48.
In the scenario, Jesus had cured a man who was blind and mute «Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. », (Matthew 12:22). The onlookers were astonished «And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? », (Matthew 12:23), but the Pharisees were indignant and attributed Jesus’ actions to demonic influence «But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. », (Matthew 12:24). The Pharisees and other leaders had continually rejected Jesus and the gospel He was proclaiming. This attribution of Jesus’ work to the power of Satan was the breaking point. Jesus pronounced judgment on that generation (Matthew 12:39-45). From that point on, He stopped teaching the multitudes plainly. Instead, He began to focus on preparing His disciples for their evangelistic task as He marched toward His sacrifice on the cross.
While Jesus was explaining the severity of that generation’s failure and accountability, Jesus’ mother and brothers were outside, trying to find a way to speak with Him «While he yet talked to the people, behold,
His Mother and Brethren
his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. », (Matthew 12:46). Someone told Jesus that His mother and brothers were seeking to talk with Him « his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. », (Matthew 12:47), and He responded by asking, “Who are my mother and brothers?” «But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? », (Matthew 12:48).
Of course, Jesus knew who His mother and brothers were, but He took that opportunity to present an important truth to His listeners. Those who had rejected Him had considered themselves worthy to enter His kingdom because of their deeds, which they presumed to be righteous. But from the beginning, Jesus explained that they had to change their minds (repent) about how thThey could gain entrance into His kingdom «From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.», (Matthew 4:17). Instead of relying on their own works or their lineage, they needed to rely on Jesus for their righteousness (Matthew 5—7). Many had assumed that, because they were of Abraham, they were automatically qualified to enter the kingdom (Matthew 3:7-9). But Jesus taught that neither their lineage nor their deeds were enough to get them into the kingdom. Their family relationships were not the ticket into the kingdom. After Jesus had been rejected with finality by those in leadership, and after Jesus had pronounced judgment on that generation, Jesus asks, “Who are my mother and brothers?” In this question, He challenges once again the view that family relationships are enough to provide entrance into the kingdom of God.
Upon asking the question, “Who are my mother and brothers?” Jesus answers it, pointing out His disciples and telling the crowd that His disciples were His mother and brothers «And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!», (Matthew 12:49). While that initially may have puzzled His listeners, He clarified immediately: “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” «For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.», (Matthew 12:50). In other words, the relationships that really matter in the eternal scheme of things are those relationships based on rightly relating to God.
Human family relationships are beautiful and necessary blessings.Sings, and God is the one who created and provided those relationships. Jesus is not minimizing the importance of family relationships; rather, He is emphasizing that having a right relationship with God by obeying His will is the most important.
How then does one obey His will? As Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John 3, the will of God is to believe in the Son (the word believe occurs 8 times in John 3). Jesus explains later to His disciples that they should believe in Him, even in God « Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. », (John 14:1), because He is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father but through Him «Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. », (John 14:6). This was the essence of what Jesus had also explained in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5—7)—that people’s associations do not make them righteous, but rather how they relate to God. By asking, “Who are my mother and brothers?” and by His answer to His own question, Jesus drove the point home.
