Matthew 12:50

50 Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother, my sister, and my mother."

Matthew 12:50 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 12:50

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father
This is not to be understood of a perfect obedience to the will of God, revealed in his righteous law; for since this cannot be performed by any mere man, no one could be in such a spiritual relation to Christ: but of the obedience of faith to the will of God, revealed in the Gospel; which is to believe in Christ, and have everlasting life; see ( John 6:40 ) . This is the will of Christ's Father,

which is in heaven,
and which is good news from heaven, to sinners on earth; and which Christ came down from heaven to do, and to declare to the children of men: such as "hear the word of God and do it", as Luke says, ( Luke 8:21 ) that is, hear the Gospel, understand and believe it, and become obedient to the faith of it; these are in this near manner related to Christ, evidentially and openly, as well as those who were now present:

the same is my brother, and sister, and mother;
as dear to me, as such are to those, to whom they stood thus related in the flesh: and these natural relations serve to convey some ideas of that relation, union, nearness, and communion, there are between Christ and his people; all these relative characters may be observed in the book of Solomon's Song, to which our Lord may be reasonably thought to have respect; see ( Song of Solomon 3:11 ) ( Song of Solomon 4:9 Song of Solomon 4:10 Song of Solomon 4:12 ) ( Song of Solomon 5:1 Song of Solomon 5:2 ) ( 8:1 ) .

Matthew 12:50 In-Context

48 Jesus answered, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?"
49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "Look! Here are my mother and my brothers!
50 Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother, my sister, and my mother."
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.