But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Verse 48. Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?] The reason of this seeming disregard of his relatives was this: they came to seize upon him, for they thought he was distracted. See Mr 3:33.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “But he answered and said unto him that told him,” (ho de apokritheis eipen to legonti auto) “Then he replied to the one who had brought him the message,” Mat 12:47.
2) “Who is my mother?” (tis estin he meter mou) “Who is really my mother,” who exists as my mother? His “Father,” in heaven was more important to Him than His mother on earth. This, in no way, implies that He despised or dishonored Mary, His Mother, Eph 6:2.
3) “And who are my brethren?” (kai tines estin hoi adelphol mou) “And who are (exists as) my brothers?” Nor did He despise His earthly brethren. He simply indicated that, His priority was His Father’s will and work first; His church brethren second; and His human family ties; third, Human ties were not to interfere with His Father’s will, or with His character and mission on earth, Joh 4:34; Eph 5:17.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Mat 12:48
. Who is my mother? These words were unquestionably intended to reprove Mary’s eagerness, and she certainly acted improperly in attempting to interrupt the progress of his discourse. (157) At the same time, by disparaging the relationship of flesh and blood, our Lord teaches a very useful doctrine; for he admits all his disciples and all believers to the same honorable rank, as if they were his nearest relatives, or rather he places them in the room of his mother and brethren Now this statement is closely connected with the office of Christ; for he tells us that he has been given, not to a small number of individuals, but to all the godly, who are united in one body with him by faith. He tells us also, that there is no tie of relationship more sacred than spiritual relationship, because we ought not to think of him according to the flesh, but according to the power of his Spirit which he has received from the Father to renew men, so that those who are by nature the polluted and accursed seed of Abraham begin to be by grace the holy and heavenly sons of God. In like manner, Paul affirms that to know Christ after the flesh is not to know him properly, (2Co 5:16,) because we ought rather to consider that renovation of the world, which far exceeds human power, and which takes place when he forms us anew by his Spirit to the image of God. To sum up the whole, this passage, first, teaches us to behold Christ with the eyes of faith; and, secondly, it informs us, that every one who is regenerated by the Spirit, and gives himself up entirely to God for true justification, is thus admitted to the closest union with Christ, and becomes one with him.
(157) “ Et de faict, c’estoit mal avise a elle de vouloir ainsi rompre son propos, lors qu’il enseignoit;” — “and in fact, it was foolish in her to wish to break off his discourse in this manner, while he was teaching.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
‘But he answered and said to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? and who are my brothers?” And he stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers!” ’
But in the new age everything is seen from a different perspective and Jesus asks, “Who is my mother? and who are my brothers?” And then He stretches out His hand towards the disciple and declares that it is they who are His mother and brothers. He is saying that in the Kingly Rule of God relationships are based on relationship to God, and evidenced by obedience to the Father’s will. Natural affinities are of secondary importance. It is the new open community who are His family, and who are to be theirs. They are all one in Him (Mat 10:40; Mat 11:27).
That a true household was one which was in a state of obedience to the father of the house was a concept that would have been acknowledged in Israel. So is it also with the household of God. Those who are living in allegiance to the Father are revealing themselves as being of the household of God.
‘Said to the one who told him.’ This appears to be a deliberate attempt to stress the fact that Jesus had no direct contact with His family at this point. The point is not that He is casting off His family, but that they have no right to come in order to interfere with His preaching and teaching, and His Messianic mission (compare Joh 7:1-9).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 12:48. Who is my mother? &c. To suppose that our Lord here intends to put any slight on his mother, would be very absurd. He only took the opportunity of expressing his affection to his obedient disciples in a peculiarly endearing manner, which could not but be a very great comfort to them, and would be to Susanna, Joanna, Mary Magdalene, and the other pious women who sat near him, (Luk 8:2-3.) a rich equivalent for all the fatigue and expence which their zeal for their heavenly Master occasioned. And as this seems to have been towards the beginning of their progress, it is observable that our Lord appears to have been peculiarly concerned for their encouragement. See Luk 11:27-28 and Doddridge.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Ver. 48. Who is my mother, and who, &c. ] This meekest lamb was stirred with a holy indignation at so absurd an interruption, and sharps him up that delivers the message. Great is the honour that is due to a mother. Solomon set Bathsheba at his right hand, and promised her anything with reason. Nescitne Antipater unicam matris lacrimulam omnes istius criminationes posse delere? Knows not Antipater that one tear of my mother’s can easily blot out all his accusations against her? said Alexander the Great. Brethren also, or near allies (as these were to our Saviour), are dearly to be respected, and greatly gratified, as were Joseph’s brethren by him in his greatness. But when these relations, or their requests, come in competition with God’s work or glory, they must be neglected, nay, rejected and abominated. For is there any friend to God? or any foe like him? Men be they pleased or displeased, he must be obeyed, and his business despatched, be the contrary occasions never so urgent in show, the pretences never so specious and plausible.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 12:48 . . One might have expected Jesus, out of delicacy, to have spoken only of His brethren, leaving the bearing of the question on His mother to be inferred. But the mention of her gave increased emphasis to the truth proclaimed. The question repels a well-meant but ignorant interference of natural affection with the sovereign claims of duty. It reveals a highly strung spirit easily to be mistaken for a morbid enthusiasm.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Mat 12:48. , …, who is, etc.) He does not scorn His mother, but He places His Father before her (see Mat 12:50): and, with reference to this principle, He does not acknowledge His mother and brethren; and uses this form of words to convey a reproof.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Who is: Mat 10:37, Deu 33:9, Mar 3:32, Mar 3:33, Luk 2:49, Luk 2:52, Joh 2:3, Joh 2:4, 2Co 5:16
Reciprocal: Num 12:1 – Miriam Deu 13:6 – thy brother Psa 22:22 – my brethren Mat 13:55 – and his Mat 28:10 – my Luk 1:28 – blessed Luk 11:28 – General Joh 19:27 – Behold Phm 1:17 – receive Heb 2:11 – to call
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2:48
The question does not indicate that Jesus intended to ignore his family relations, or that he did not recognize them; it was not asked for that purpose.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 12:48. Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? Implying, not contempt nor carelessness, but that the family relation in His case was peculiar. He was more than man, or was not justified in thus speaking.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Jesus’ question did not depreciate His physical mother and brothers. His answer showed that He simply gave priority to His heavenly Father and doing His will (cf. Mat 10:37). Spiritual relationship takes precedence over physical relationship (cf. Mat 8:18-23). This underlines the importance of believing in Jesus and giving Him first place. Jesus’ disciples become His true family. Note that the word "whoever," referring to those who do the will of God by believing on His Son, left the possibility of salvation open to anyone (cf. Mat 11:28-30).
These verses have strong Christological implications. They also reveal more about the spiritual family that was forming around Jesus. In spite of rising opposition, God’s purposes through Messiah were advancing (cf. Mat 12:18; Mat 12:20).