Daily Devotional For Monday, November 10, 2025
Good morning and pray your weekend was a great one. We have a winter freeze coming over the next couple of days so please stay warm. We are making our way through Matthew’s Gospel and today we come to Matthew 12:46-50:
“While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. (47) Someone said to Him, ‘Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.’ (48) But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, ‘Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’ (49) And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, ‘Behold My mother and My brothers! (50) For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother’” (NASB).
We know that Jesus’ biological mother was Mary (Luke 1:30-31) and that Mary and Joseph had other children (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3-4). Jesus had entered a home and His family had come to speak to Him. Mark’s Gospel adds a detail that lets us know why they had traveled here and what to meet with Jesus. Look at Mark 3:20-21, “And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. (21) When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, ‘He has lost His senses’” (MASB).
Mark says they wanted to “take custody” of Him. The Greek New Testament word is [κρατέω; krateo]. It means “to have power over; to hold in one’s hand, to grasp by force, to seize by force; to arrest.” It seems that Jesus’ family was so concerned for His health and His commitment to His ministry that they were ready to intervene forcibly if necessary to get Him to rest. They thought he was mentally unstable. The Greek New Testament word translated as “lost senses” is one word – [ἐξίστημι; existemi] and it means “to be insane.”
Some scholars believe that since this word, krateo, can mean “to lay hands on forcibly,” that there may have been even some kind of physical tussle between Jesus and his half-brothers. Based on what the angel Gabriel had said to her about her pregnancy and baby in Luke 1:31-33 Mary possibly did not feel the same way as her sons did about Jesus. Or, maybe she did. Maybe she was having her doubts about Him as John the Baptizer did. We know from John 7:5 that Jesus' half-brothers did not believe in Him nor did they believe He was the Messiah.
Maybe Jesus’ family wanted to do some kind of first century intervention to rescue Jesus. Greek New Testament scholar, A.T. Robertson is probably right about what was happening here when he wrote this: “It was natural for Mary to want to take him home for rest and refreshment” (Source: Archibald T. Robertson, Word Pictures, p. 98).
Jesus’ question, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” on the surface seems to have a tone of insensitivity and disrespect. New Testament scholar Bruce B. Barton says this: “
"Jesus knew why his family had come, yet he used their visit as a lesson in discipleship. A relationship with Jesus was not limited to those in his immediate family. Jesus opened this relationship to all people. His question could be rendered, “Who are the types of people who can have a family relationship with me?” (Source: Bruce B. Barton, The Life Application Bible Commentary, “Matthew,” p. 252).
Quickly Jesus answered His own question – those who obey Him are His family. Jesus used this as an opportunity to talk about discipleship. Obedience is the key to discipleship. In other words, spiritual relationships are far more important than physical and earthly relationships. Later in Matthew, Jesus criticized the Pharisees for their refusal to honor the Ten Commandments where it says this in Exodus 20:12, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you” (NASB).
You can read Jesus’ criticism of the Pharisees' refusal to do this in Matt. 15:1-9. Jesus was not dismissing His family and He was not being disrespectful of them. His point is God’s kingdom takes priority over everything else in life. This meant that even His own mother and siblings need to grasp this and live this. New Testament scholar John Peter Lange writes this: “Jesus here places spiritual godly relationships above carnal ties. His relatives are set aside, in as far as, for the moment, they had turned from the obedience of discipleship” (Source: John Peter Lange, Matthew–Luke, p. 232).
We can sort of understand Jesus’ brothers’ concern. Can you imagine having a brother who is literally perfect in every way? Can you imagine hearing the stories over and from your mother about who your brother is and what He was sent to do? There was probably some jealousy or envy that they could not live up to such a standard. Members of Jesus’ own family were convinced that He was no longer in control of His rational senses. In reality, the only thing irrational about Jesus was what they had mistakenly concluded about Him. Though His brothers did not believe in Him yet, their unbelief was only temporary. They would come to embrace Him in faith after His resurrection in Acts 1:14, 1 Cor. 15:7, Acts 15:13-35 and Gal. 1:19.
It is possible that Jesus’ family had learned of the death warrant issued by the Pharisees and came to save and protect Him. Maybe they hoped Jesus would temporarily suspend His ministry and go to a safe place. How many Christian parents have attempted to stop their children from going into missions or on the mission field? It is fine if their children want to serve God here in a local church, but overseas, well that requires some kind of intervention.
Assignment: What doubts do you have about God, His Word, and His will for your life? Has anyone ever put pressure on you to cut back on your discipleship with the Lord? Have you ever pressured someone not to be so committed in their walk with the Lord? Obedience is the hallmark of discipleship. How would you say you are doing with this?
Scripture To Meditate On: John 15:14, “You are My friends if you do what I command you” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, help me to make You the single most important relationship in my life. Help me not to give into any kind of pressure to compromise my relationship to You. Convict me to always be encouraging to those who want a deeper walk and relationship to You. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ names, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly