Matthew 12:48

48 But he answered [and] said to the one who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"

Matthew 12:48 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 12:48

But he answered and said unto him that told him
Of his mother and brethren being without doors, desiring, and waiting to speak to him,

Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
These questions are put, not as if he himself was ignorant who were his mother or his brethren; or as suggesting as if he had none; or as denying that these were in such a relation to him; or as casting any slight upon them; or as intending to teach men disrespect to parents and kindred, according to the flesh; but as displeased with the man, or men, for interrupting him in his work; and to let them know, that the business of his heavenly Father was preferred by him to any his natural relations could have with him; and that he might have an opportunity of pointing out who were his relations in a spiritual sense.

Matthew 12:48 In-Context

46 And [while] he was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and brothers were standing there outside, desiring to speak to him.

47 And someone told him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers are standing there outside desiring to speak to you."

48 But he answered [and] said to the one who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"

49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Behold my mother and my brothers!

50 For whoever does the will of my Father [who is] in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother."

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb