Knowing The Word in Matthew 12:46-50

Jesus' Mother and Brothers

46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. [See Mark 3:21, 31-35 and 6:1-3; Matthew 13:53-58; John 7:5; and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8] 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” [Jesus’ reply is not a rejection of his family but to emphasize the higher priority of his spiritual relationship to those who believe in him.]