Matthew 12:50

50 To obey my Father who is in Heaven--that is to be my brother and 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 "Who is my mother?" He said to the man; "and who are my brothers?"
49 And pointing to His disciples He added, "See here are my mother and my brothers.
50 To obey my Father who is in Heaven--that is to be my brother and my sister and my mother."
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