PrevMatthew 12:47Next

Matthew 12

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

And charged them that they should not make him known:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

What does Matthew 12:47 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 12:47 presents a scene where Jesus is informed that his mother and brothers are seeking to speak with him.

This verse is part of a larger narrative where Jesus is teaching in someone's home and drawing large crowds.

It illustrates a critical moment when Jesus expands on the concept of what constitutes family by shifting the focus from biological ties to spiritual bonds among those who do the will of God.

The deeper meaning here challenges the traditional values of the time, emphasizing the primacy of spiritual kinship over blood relations in the Kingdom of God.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Matthew was written in a Jewish Christian community grappling with their identity amidst a larger Jewish society and the growing Gentile church.

The historical context reflects a period when familial and tribal ties were crucial to one's social and religious identity.

At that time, such a statement by Jesus questioning those ties in favor of spiritual ones would be considered radical and possibly seen as undermining social cohesion.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, the verse has been interpreted in different ways.

Some view it as underscoring the importance of spiritual family, that being related to Jesus or being a part of God's family is based on spiritual rather than physical connections.

Others see it as a demonstration of Jesus’ dedication to his ministry, where his divine mission takes precedence over human familial duties.

In Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, and some Protestant traditions, this scene is also cited as an example of Jesus' teaching on the nature of ecclesial community and the concept of the church as a family.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can encourage individuals to prioritize their spiritual commitments and community, perhaps reminding them to treat fellow believers with the bond of kinship.

It also opens up an interpretation of family that is inclusive of all members of a faith community, regardless of their biological ties, thus fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose among believers.

Cross-References

Mark 3:31-35 - Another account where Jesus questions traditional family ties in favor of those who do God's will.
Luke 8:19-21 - Luke’s version of the same event.
Matthew 10:37 - Jesus talks about loving Him more than family.
John 15:14 - Jesus on the bond between Him and His followers as friends if they do what He commands.

Language Study

The original Greek language used in the New Testament provides context to key words in this verse. For example, "adelphoi" often translated "brethren" or "brothers", could refer to biological brothers or broadly to countrymen or fellow believers.

The Greek word "ekso" translated as "without" or "outside," signifies a physical and symbolic separation between Jesus and his family, reinforcing the central message that the spiritual family is within, surrounding Jesus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures and religions, family loyalty was paramount, often intertwined with religious duties.

By comparison, in this verse, Jesus distinguishes spiritual kinship from physical lineage, a notion which may align with some Eastern religious practices where spiritual communities or monastics may take precedence over biological relations.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse does not directly intersect with scientific discussions, as it deals with relational and spiritual concepts rather than empirical claims.

However, from a sociological perspective, it could be interesting to explore the dynamics of how religious and spiritual affiliation impacts social structures and familial relationships.

commentaries

Variety of Bible commentators have provided insights into Matthew 12:47:

John Calvin emphasized that by appearing indifferent to His biological family, Jesus showed the superiority of spiritual bonds.
Matthew Henry suggested that Jesus never disowned His relations but used the opportunity to teach that His disciples were His nearest relations in His spiritual work.
Contemporary commentators discuss the radical nature of Jesus' message and how it redefined the concept of family values in a religious context.

They emphasize that the notion of the 'family of God' represents a call to inclusive community-based on faith rather than exclusivity of blood relations.

Matthew 12

Matthew 12

What does Matthew 12:47 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 12:47 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?