Matthew 12-46-50
Who is in the family?
Scripture introduction: back to Matthew… I was gone last weekend (explain Portland).
Prayer: please join me in prayer…
Sermon introduction:
I have five children with me this morning…
But how do you know that they are really my children?
Maybe I’m just borrowing them!!! Maybe I stole three children from my neighborhood on the way to church
this morning???
What tests could one use to determine if the five kids with me are really my children?
The physical resemblance test???
The behavioral test???
The IQ testing???
The athletic ability test???
The interests and hobbies test???
The birthmark test???
The DNA test??
The DNA test is probably the most accurate test to determine who is really in my family.
This brings us to Matthew 12:46-50 this morning. Jesus makes it clear that there is one way to know if we are
truly in his family and it has nothing to do with our DNA.
Jesus says that obedience is the sign that one is a member of God’s family. In other words, if you don’t obey
Jesus you are not in his family!!!
To understand this we will look at two thingsJesus biological family
Jesus heavenly family
First, Jesus biological family
This text says several things about Jesus biological family
Jesus biological family is real
Matthew 12:46 (ESV) — 46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his
brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.
While Jesus rebukes some of the local religious leaders his biological family waits outside to speak to
him. According to Matt 13:55-56 Jesus biological family consisted of his mother Marry, his brothers James,
Joseph, Simon, and Judas, and a few half sisters. Since Joseph is never mentioned after the infancy narratives it
is natural to assume that Joseph was dead at this point.
With all due respect to my Roman Catholic friends this passage contradicts the erroneous idea that
Marry was a virgin her whole life. The most natural reading of this text is that Jesus had biological brothers
implying that Marry conceived other children.
The fact that Jesus had a biological family is what makes his comments later in this passage so
astounding.
Jesus biological family is real
Jesus biological family is outside
Matthew 12:46 (ESV) — 46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his
brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.
Jesus is inside a building/house speaking to the disciples while his biological family is outside. This
means that his family was not in his inner circle. Which is why they send someone in to tell Jesus that they are
outside wanting to speak to him. We don’t know exactly why they want to see him. Although Mark 3:21 and
John 7:1-5 seem to indicate that they are concerned about Jesus’s sanity at this point.
Of course their beliefs about Jesus would radical change. After the resurrection they all believed that
Jesus was the Messiah and his brother James became the leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13-22).
Jesus biological family is real
Jesus biological family is outside
Jesus biological family is offended (probably)
Matthew 12:48 (ESV) — 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are
my brothers?”
Here is what happened! A man walks inside the building where Jesus is teaching and tells Jesus that his
family wants to speak with him. According to the customs of the day, Jesus probably should have stopped what
he was doing and gone outside to honor his family, especially his mother.
But this is not what happened. Instead Jesus spoke a riddle. This was a common teaching technique of
the day. He asks two questions, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
This is probably what happened next….
The messenger walked back outside with a confused look on his face.
Jesus’ mother and brothers looked at the messenger and he looked at them.
Jesus’s family asks, “Where is Jesus?”
Messenger, “He is inside.”
Family, “did he hear you?”
Messenger, “Yes…”
Family, “did you tell him that his family was outside waiting for him???”
Messenger, “Yes…”
Family, “What did he say???”
Messenger, “he said, ‘who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’”
Family, “he said what??? Is he crazy? We are his family. I’m his brother and that (pointing to Mary) is
his mother.”
It is difficult to imagine his family not being offended at this point.
Lets be clear on one thing. Jesus is not renouncing his family or saying that we should dishonor our
families. The Bible is clear in other places that Jesus had tremendous love for his biological family (John 19:
26-27). His dying request is for John to look after his mother. He also tells us to honor our parents as he
honored his (Matt 15:4, 19:19).
So what does Jesus mean when he says, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?”
Jesus provocative question leads us to the second point…
First, Jesus biological family
Second, Jesus spiritual family
We can say several things about Jesus spiritual family…
Jesus spiritual family is full of siblings!
Matthew 12:48–49 (ESV) — 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who
are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my
brothers!
Jesus stretches out his hand and deliberately points to his disciples, who are not members of his
biological family, and says, “Here are my mother and brothers!”
This is amazing when you stop and think about it. This implies that every one who is a disciple of Jesus
(a Christian) is also a sibling of Jesus.
Illustration:
If you could pick your big brother who would you pick???
“American business magnate, computer programmer, investor, philanthropist and author, Bill Gates, has
a net worth of $78.6 billion as of April 2015 according to Forbes. The software giant and current richest person
in the world co-founded the largest computer software company in the world, Microsoft, with Paul Allen…
Since becoming billionaire, Bill Gates has since donated over $28 billion to charities and encouraged
over 40 of the world’s wealthiest to sign his “Giving Pledge,” aim to donate the majority of their wealth to
charity during their lifetimes. He started giving to charity in 1999, when he donated $16 billion in Microsoft
stock to his family foundation. With Warren Buffett as one of the biggest donors, the foundation is now one of
the biggest philanthropic institution in the world.
His charity tackles AIDS, tuberculosis, polio and funds famine-resistant crops to fight hunger mostly in
Africa.”
That is great but maybe you would prefer to have Paul Allen as your big brother. He is only worth 17
billion but h owns the Seahawks, the Trailblazers, and is part owner of the Sounders. He also owns a 400 foot
super yacht with two helicopters and a submarine on board.
Application!
It would be cool to have Bill Gates or Paul Allen as a big brother.
But wouldn’t you rather have Jesus Christ as your older brother?
Jesus Christ spoke the universe into place by the power of his word.
Jesus Christ is everywhere present.
Jesus Christ knows all things.
Jesus Christ is all-powerful.
Jesus Christ is full of grace, compassion, and mercy.
John Newton wrote a hymn called “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds”
Jesus, my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King,
My Lord, my life, my way, my end,
Accept the praise I bring.
It is amazing that Jesus calls us his brother!!! Wow!!!
If Jesus is your brother you have nothing to fear.
If Jesus is your brother you will never lack anything you need.
If Jesus is your brother, God is your father, and the spirit dwells inside of you.
By the way it was incredibly costly for Jesus to become your older brother. In order to make this a
reality he had to die on a cross for your sins.
Jesus spiritual family is full of siblings.
Jesus spiritual family is primary!
Matthew 12:49 (ESV) — 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my
mother and my brothers!
Remember that his biological family is outside waiting for him but he tells everyone that the disciples
are his true family. In other words, his spiritual family is the family that really matters.
He ignores his biological family for the time being to spend time with his spiritual family indicating his
priorities.
Jesus priorities were not God, family, church.
Jesus priorities were God, church, family…
Is your biological family important? Absolutely.
Should you neglect your family to serve the church? No!
But Jesus makes it clear that the people of God (your spiritual family) are more important than your
biological family. So don’t let your family get in the way of the mission of the church.
Matthew 10:35–37 (ESV) — 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against
her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his
own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son
or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Matthew 19:29 (ESV) — 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or
mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
We should frequently ask ourselves if our commitment to our biological family is hampering our
ministry effectiveness???
Furthermore, if your family has rejected you for following Christ you have another family that will
never leave you or forsake you. This family will last forever!!!
Jesus spiritual family is full of siblings!
Jesus spiritual family is primary!
Jesus spiritual family is obedient!
Matthew 12:48–50 (ESV) — 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who
are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my
brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
In verse 48 Jesus says, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
In verse 50 he says, “For whoever does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and
mother.”
Jesus speaks very clearly in verse 50. In fact, this is one of the clearest and simplest things that Jesus
says in the gospel of Mathew.
Jesus says, “For whoever does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother…”
Jesus does not saysFor whoever attends church is my brother or sister
For whoever understands the trinity, justification, and the virgin birth is my brother or sister
For whoever understands and embraces the intricacies of reformed theology is my brother or sister
For whoever gets baptized…
For whoever was raised in a Christian home…
For whoever walked down the aisle at church or a crusade and signed a pledge card…
For whoever goes to Christian school or youth group…
Jesus says in verse 50, “For whoever does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and
mother.”
He says the same thing in several other places. Here are two…
Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV) — 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of
heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works
in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of
lawlessness.’
Matthew 10:38 (ESV) — 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
If we are in the family God we are also in the kingdom of God. But how can we say that we are in the
kingdom if we ignore the king’s commands???
How do we know that we are members of God’s family??? According to Jesus, we know that we are
members of God’s family if we obey God. This is the family test that God gives us!!! This is the DNA test
that proves our heredity.
Illustration: My parents confronting me when I was 12 or 13 and telling me that I was not born again
and probably going to go to hell!!! (Friend at the Spokane club in college)
Objection!!!!
You and Jesus are teaching works righteousness.
What about grace, forgiveness, and mercy???
Look with me at verse 50 again…
Matthew 12:50 (ESV) — 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister
and mother.”
Notice what Jesus does not say.
He does not say, “Whoever does the will of my father in heaven becomes my brother and sister and
mother.”
He says, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
There is a massive difference between is and becomes. This difference makes Christianity unique
among world religions. If Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of my father in heaven becomes my brother…”
he would be no different than Muhammad, or the Buddha, or Joseph Smith or every other religious leader.
Every other religion says, do this and you will be accepted.
Christianity says, believe and you will be accepted.
Is it that simple? Yes… it is that gloriously simple.
So than why does Jesus say that we will know that we are in his family if we obey his father?
Jesus knows what happens when we believe the gospel!
When we believe God writes his laws on our hearts.
When we believe God dramatically changes our desires.
When we believe God places the Holy Spirit inside of us.
When we believe God breaks the power of sin in us.
When we believe God gives us a new nature.
If all these things happen to us it is impossible for us not to change. Impossible!
So are we saved by obeying? NOOOO!!!
But when we believe the gospel (explain) God changes us so radically that we will obey, not perfectly,
but we will gradually, slowly, over time obey God more and more.
We have looked at two things-
Jesus earthly family
Jesus heavenly family
We will know if we are in Jesus heavenly family if we obey his commands.
Application!
There are probably three types of people listening this morning.
First, the person who thinks, “maybe I’m not a Christian, I’m in deep trouble, I need to be better and try
harder.” I’m really glad you’re here… but if you think you need to do better and try harder to enter God’s
family you don’t understand Christianity. All you have to do is look to Jesus… explain…
Second, the person who thinks, “I’m probably not a Christian… I believe the gospel but I don’t always
obey.” None of us always obeys. You need to look to Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone and ask friends who
know you well what kind of fruit they see in your life.
This was my friend Stephen (explain)…
Third, the person who thinks, “I’m trusting Christ alone to save me and I see the fruit of repentance in
my life.” This is probably most of us. But is there some area of your life you are holding on to? Your money,
your time, a novel or show you should not be watching??? God wants all of us. We know we are in his family
when we obey his commands.
Conclusion:
How do you know who is in my family?
The physical test
The IQ test
The personality test
The DNA test…
How do we know who is in God’s family? The obedience test! Lets pray…