Jesus Names His True Family in a Crowded HouseBible World
12:46Matthew 12:46
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
While He was still speaking to the people and teaching them, His mother and His brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with Him. The brethren were the sons of Joseph, and they were far from sympathy with His work. Reports that He spent whole nights in prayer and was thronged all day by crowds with no time even to eat filled them with astonishment and dismay. Like His friends they felt He was wearing Himself out by incessant labor, and some feared His reason was becoming unsettled.
They were unable to account for His attitude toward the Pharisees, were alarmed at His bold statements and indignant at His denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees. Having heard the charge that He cast out devils by Satan's power, they keenly felt the reproach this brought upon them through relation to Him, and knew what tumult His words and works created. They came to persuade or constrain Him to cease this manner of labor, inducing Mary to unite with them in thinking that through His love for her they might prevail upon Him to be more prudent. He used the occasion to teach that those who do His heavenly Father's will are His brother and sister and mother, giving the assurance that Christ regards faithful believers as His spiritual family.
While He was still speaking to the people and teaching them, His mother and His brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with Him. The brethren were the sons of Joseph, and they were far from sympathy with His work. Reports that He spent whole nights in prayer and was thronged all day by crowds with no time even to eat filled them with astonishment and dismay. Like His friends they felt He was wearing Himself out by incessant labor, and some feared His reason was becoming unsettled.
They were unable to account for His attitude toward the Pharisees, were alarmed at His bold statements and indignant at His denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees. Having heard the charge that He cast out devils by Satan's power, they keenly felt the reproach this brought upon them through relation to Him, and knew what tumult His words and works created. They came to persuade or constrain Him to cease this manner of labor, inducing Mary to unite with them in thinking that through His love for her they might prevail upon Him to be more prudent. He used the occasion to teach that those who do His heavenly Father's will are His brother and sister and mother, giving the assurance that Christ regards faithful believers as His spiritual family.