Matthew 12:49

49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brothers!

Matthew 12:49 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 12:49

And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples
By whom are meant, not only the twelve, but all others present, who truly believed in him, both men and women; and who might sit near him and together, and whom, by this motion of his hand, he pointed out as his spiritual relations, to the multitude that sat round him:

and said, behold my mother, and my brethren;
in whose hearts he was formed, and who were the children of God by adopting grace, and so his brethren; and were as dear to him as his mother and brethren. It is reasonable to suppose, that when he said, "behold my mother", and, as in the following verse, "sister"; he might stretch forth his hand particularly, toward the pious and religious women that believed in him, and ministered to him of their substance, who might be now present; such as Mary Magdalene, Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and others; since these are mentioned by Luke in the same chapter in which this passage stands in his Gospel; and when he said "behold my brethren", he might point directly to the twelve, and the rest of the men that believed in him, and followed him.

Matthew 12:49 In-Context

47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brothers stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brothers?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brothers!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in the heavens, the same is my brother and sister and mother.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010