Why does Jesus ask, “Who are my mother and brothers?” in Matthew 12:48?

In Matthew 12:48, Jesus poses an intriguing question to his disciples: “Who are my mother and my brothers?” This verse comes in the context of Jesus’ public ministry, as he is teaching crowds of people about the kingdom of heaven.

Earlier in Matthew 12, Jesus’ mother and brothers had come looking for him while he was speaking to a crowd (Matthew 12:46). When told that they were seeking him, Jesus responded by asking this thought-provoking question in verse 48: “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

To understand the significance of this question, it is important to examine the context and content of Jesus’ teaching in the preceding verses. In Matthew 12:38-45, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for demanding more signs from him and warns them about “the sign of the prophet Jonah” – his foretelling of his own death and resurrection. He then launching into a teaching about the importance of hearing and obeying the Word of God:

Matthew 12:46-50 – While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to 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.”

There are a few key things to note from this passage:

• Jesus emphasizes that his true family are those who do the will of God, not merely his earthly blood relatives.
• He points to his disciples and identifies them as his mother, brothers and sisters – his spiritual family.
• He is making the point that relationships in God’s kingdom are defined by obedience to Him, not by earthly connections.
• Jesus is saying that all who do his Father’s will are part of his intimate family.

So in essence, Jesus is redefining relationships and family ties in spiritual terms. One’s earthly family members are not nearly as vital as one’s spiritual family members – those who are united in their commitment to obeying the Father’s will. A true brother or sister in God’s kingdom is one who shares in doing His will.

There are several key reasons why Jesus may have chosen to emphasize this point:

1. To show that earthly family ties are secondary to spiritual ties – In God’s kingdom, relationships are defined by obedience to God, not earthly status. Jesus is making it clear that biological family relationships have limitations in light of the eternal spiritual family of God.
2. To affirm his disciples as his spiritual family – Jesus had left his earthly home and family behind, and he wanted to assure his followers that they were now his most important family. He was strengthening their bond as a spiritual community united in purpose.
3. To challenge prevailing cultural values – In Jewish culture (as in many ancient cultures), family ties and ancestry were hugely important for social status and identity. Jesus was radically challenging this by defining family in spiritual terms.
4. To call for undivided loyalty – By pointing to his disciples as his family, Jesus was calling them to undivided commitment to him and his kingdom mission. Their loyalty to him should supersede all other earthly ties.
5. To preview a spiritual brotherhood in Christ – Jesus’ words anticipate the growth of the Christian church, made up of diverse people united by spiritual rebirth into God’s family. This new community transcends earthly notions of family and privilege.

So in summary, Jesus was dramatically underscoring that following him requires being part of the family of God. The kingdom of heaven is made up of those who are obedient to the Father’s will. As Jesus declares in John 3:3, “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” It is spiritual rebirth, not physical descent, that matters.

This episode gives us insight into Jesus’ spiritual vision. He did not come merely as a teacher or prophet – he came to redeem humanity and invite people into an intimate, eternal family relationship with God. Our earthly human relationships have great value, but they are temporary and limited. Ultimately, our primary identity and allegiance must be to our eternal spiritual family. When we respond to Jesus’ call, we become part of a forever fellowship of love, purpose and belonging in God’s kingdom.

1. Jesus is redefining family and relational priorities

One of the key reasons Jesus likely asked this question is to challenge the prevailing cultural mindset that elevated earthly family ties above spiritual ties. In Jewish culture of that day (as in many traditional cultures still), family identity and ancestry were paramount. Your family defined who you were socially, economically and spiritually.

By declaring that his true family are “whoever does the will of my Father in heaven,” Jesus is proclaiming that spiritual realities are more primary than earthly relationships. Obedience to God is the supreme priority. In God’s kingdom, family is defined not by bloodline but by obedience to Him. Jesus is turning the prevailing notions of family and priority completely on their head.

This emphasis aligns with other teachings of Jesus as well, such as:

• In Luke 14:26, he says that following him may require hating (or loving less) mother, father, spouse and other family members.
• In Luke 9:59-62, Jesus emphasizes that following him requires total commitment which may mean leaving family members behind.
• In Mark 10:29-30, he declares that those who have left houses, family or lands for his sake will receive eternal rewards.

Jesus’ call demands undivided loyalty – he wants his followers to realize that their commitment to him may require leaving earthly families behind. Their primary loyalty must be to their eternal spiritual family and kingdom purposes rather than earthly relationships.

So in asking “Who are my mother and brothers?” Jesus is proclaiming that spiritual ties in God’s family are far more vital than earthly ties. He is redefining relationships in radical terms and calling his followers to orient their lives around heavenly priorities rather than earthly priorities.

2. Jesus is affirming the disciples as his spiritual family

This episode comes shortly after Jesus has called his twelve disciples in Matthew 10. He is beginning to prepare them for leadership in his coming Kingdom. By identifying them as his family in Matthew 12, Jesus is affirming his special relationship to them as his disciples. He is underscoring that they have a bond that supersedes even familial bonds.

Several key points we can take from this:

• The disciples have left behind their earthly families to follow Jesus. He wants them to know they have not lost family, but gained a deeper spiritual family in him.
• Their relationship with him is defined by their love, loyalty and obedience. They are united by their commitment to serving God’s purposes.
• Jesus is affirming their identity and value as his chosen disciples. Though they are from humble backgrounds, he identifies them as his inner circle, his spiritual family.
• He is previewing the special authority they will have in leading the early church after he is gone. They are the foundations of a new spiritual community.

So this family metaphor signifies the disciples’ intimate relationship with Jesus and the mission he is giving them. They are not just students – they are Jesus’ trusted “brothers” who will soon lead the growing family of Christ’s church.

By pointing to them as his family, Jesus assures the disciples that they have inherited a place of value, security, intimacy, and purpose through their spiritual connection to him. Their identity stems from their relationship with him rather than any earthly status.

3. Jesus is challenging ingrained cultural values

As mentioned above, Jesus’ words also served as a direct challenge to ingrained cultural values about family. In ancient Jewish culture (and much of the ancient world), your family defined who you were. Lineage and ancestral heritage were very important. Several dynamics were at play:

• Family honor – Your family defined your social status and respect in the community. Whose child you were determined your honor.
• Inheritance & provision – Families provided social/economic support and protection. Leaving your family could cut you off from inheritance and support.
• Kinship purity – Marrying outside your ethnic family group was frowned upon. Intermarriage with Gentiles was taboo.
• Ancestral blessing – It was believed that remaining part of your family ensured you remained part of the covenantal blessing God gave to your ancestors.

Many of Jesus’ teachings challenged these deeply ingrained values. Rather than honoring families and avoiding shame, he proclaimed leaving family behind for God’s kingdom. He emphasized that spiritual realities trumped ethnic status. By choosing disciples from Galilee, a region scorned by religious elites, Jesus demonstrated that worldly status did not matter.

So his words in Matthew 12 were a radical call for reorientation. Family connections and ancestry are fundamentally temporal and limited. The eternal spiritual family created by obedience to God is what matters most. Jesus is our forever Father, and the church is our forever family. Thus, following Jesus requires laying aside ingrained cultural values to embrace God’s higher values.

4. Jesus is calling for undivided loyalty from his followers

As the Twelve were beginning their training as Jesus’ apprentices, this episode was likely also intended to underscore their need for undivided loyalty to him. Though Jesus loved his earthly family (as seen in how he cared for his mother while on the cross), he wanted his disciples to know that their commitment to God’s eternal family must take priority.

Their primary allegiance needed to be to Jesus and his kingdom mission, surpassing all competing earthly allegiances. Several gospel passages illustrate this priority:

• In Luke 9:59-62, Jesus calls a man to follow him and not delay for family obligations like burying his father.
• In Luke 14:26, Jesus says his disciples must be willing to essentially hate (love less) their own family to follow him.
• In Mark 10:29-30, Jesus promises that those who have left family for his sake will be rewarded.

Jesus was their true brother, father, and family now. To be part of his mission required undivided focus and loyalty. Jesus’ question in Matthew 12 reminds the disciples that their relationship with him is the first priority around which all other commitments orbit – even family.

This same principle applies to disciples today. Our relationship with Jesus and his family – the church – should take priority in our lives and allegiances. When family commitments conflict with kingdom commitments, we must obey Christ’s call first and foremost, trusting God to care for earthly family ties.

5. Jesus is previewing a new spiritual family, the church

Finally, Jesus’ words point forward to the inception of the Christian church as the spiritual family of Christ. All who put faith in Jesus become adopted children of God, brothers and sisters together in his family.

Paul puts it this way in Romans 8:14-17:

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

So Jesus’ words anticipate the coming of the church age, when through Christ all nations will be welcomed into God’s family. As Paul writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

This new community is made up of people from every nation who have been spiritually reborn into God’s family. It transcends all earthly barriers and makes us brothers and sisters in Christ. So Jesus’ words in Matthew 12 help set the trajectory towards this eternal, global spiritual family he came to create.

In conclusion, Jesus’ provocative question, “Who are my mother and brothers?” provides deep insight into his radical spiritual vision. He came not merely as a teacher, but as the Son of God to invite humanity into relational intimacy with God. Our earthly relationships, while important, are temporary and limited. But spiritual rebirth makes us part of Christ’s eternal family and kingdom – a bond of divine love and purpose that endures forever.