Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Matthew 12:46 - 12:50
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Christ's Relatives. Mat_12:46-50
v. 46. While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak with Him.
v. 47. Then one said unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with Thee.
v. 48. But He answered, and said unto him that told Him, "Who is My mother? and who are My brethren?
v. 49. And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples and said, Behold My mother and My brethren!
v. 50.For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.
This interruption is not to be explained as vanity or a desire to interfere with the Lord's work. Mary had not learned her lesson in vain, Luk_2:49; Joh_2:4. And His other relatives, whether they were His cousins, or stepbrothers, or true brothers, were guided by Mary. It was rather tender solicitude on the part of Mary. It may have happened more than once that the friends of Jesus were afraid He might become distraught on account of too constant application to preaching and healing, Mar_3:21. Jesus makes use of the opportunity to give a lesson to at least a part of the assembled multitude. Natural affection and relationship cannot interfere with the sovereign claims of duty. It may be necessary, under circumstances, for the sake of Christ and the Kingdom, to deny all human ties, as Christ did here. With an eloquent, sweeping gesture, which included His disciples standing near Him, He gave His definition. They whose hearts are bound up in Christ's, they whose faith in Christ causes them to acknowledge the true Fatherhood of God, and makes them eager to live a life of service in doing His will, are knit together with Him in the closest possible union. To them Christ is in deed and truth their brother, and they are, in the fullest sense of the word, brothers, and sisters, and mothers of Christ. This spiritual relationship is the most wonderful and the most valuable in the world, it is often the one thing which upholds the Christian in the midst of the opposition and the trials of these last days, since the full acknowledgment will be made in heaven.
Summary.Christ proclaims Himself Lord of the Sabbath, performs a miracle in support of this principle, defends Himself against the accusation of being in league with the devil, warns against the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost and hardening of the heart, refers to the final sign of His resurrection, and teaches. what relationship with Him implies.