Christ's Teaching as to His Mother and Brethren.

  48 But he answered {^b 33 And he answereth} ^a and said unto him that told him, ^b and saith, {^c and said unto them,} ^a Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

  ^b 34 And looking round on them that sat round about him, ^a he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, {^b saith,} ^a Behold, my mother and my brethren! ^c My mother and my brethren are these that hear the word of God and do it.

  ^b 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, ^a my Father who in heaven, he {^b the same} is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

[In this answer Jesus shows that he brooks no interference on the score of earthly relationships, and explodes the idea of his subserviency to his mother. To all who call on the "Mother of God," as Mary is blasphemously styled, Jesus answers, as he did to the Jews, "Who is my mother?" Jesus was then in the full course of his ministry as Messiah, and as such he recognized only spiritual relationships. By doing the will of God we become his spiritual children, and thus we become related to Christ. Jesus admits three human relationships--"brother, sister, mother"--but omits the paternal relationship, since he had no Father, save God. It is remarkable that in the only two instances in which Mary figures in the ministry of Jesus prior to his crucifixion, she stands forth reproved by him. This fact not only rebukes those who worship her, but especially

  ^b 34 And looking round on them that sat round about him, ^a he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, {^b saith,} ^a Behold, my mother and my brethren! ^c My mother and my brethren are these that hear the word of God and do it.

  ^b 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, ^a my Father who in heaven, he {^b the same} is my brother, and my sister, and mother.