Who are my Mother and my Brothers?
Matthew 12:46–50; Mark 3:31–35; Luke 8:19–21
Works of art by James le Palmer, John Singer Sargent, and Unknown artist, South Germany
Commentaries by Michael Banner
Matthew 12:46–50; Mark 3:31–35; Luke 8:19–21
Bible passage (Revised Standard Version)
Matthew 12
46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Mark 3
31 And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.” 33And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Luke 8
19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him for the crowd. 20And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”