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Explanation for:
Matthew
12
:
48
But he answering him that told him, said: Who is my mother, and who are my brethren?
12
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Consequently, the Lord did not step outside, not as a rejection of His mother and brothers, but rather as a response to the evil one."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He did not respond to the one who mentioned His mother by saying, “Go and inform My mother that she is no longer considered My mother,” but instead posed the question, “Who is My mother?” In making this statement, He had a deeper meaning in mind. What was this meaning? It was that neither they nor anyone else should place their hopes solely on familial ties at the expense of virtue. Certainly, if being a mother holds no value due to a lack of virtue, then mere kinship will be even less effective in saving another. There exists only one true nobility: the obedience to God's will, which far surpasses any earthly lineage. Recognizing this truth, we ought not to take pride in esteemed offspring unless we embody their virtues, nor should we boast of noble ancestry if we do not mirror their character in our lives. One can be a father without biological birth, just as one can be a mother without having given birth. This is illustrated when a woman proclaimed, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breast that nursed you” (Luke 11:27). In response, Christ did not dismiss His biological origins, stating, “My womb did not bear me, nor did I suck the breast,” but instead affirmed, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (v. 28). Observe how He acknowledges natural kinship both in this instance and previously, while emphasizing the kinship of virtue. When the Forerunner remarked, “You brood of vipers, do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’” (Matt. 3:7, 9), he was not denying their physical descent from Abraham, but rather pointing out that such lineage is worthless without a corresponding moral relationship with him. This is also reflected in Christ’s teaching, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did” (John 8:39). Through these words, He does not nullify their fleshly kinship but urges them to pursue a higher, more noble connection. He conveys this same message here, doing so with gentleness and compassion; while speaking of His Mother, He did not say, “She is no mother to me, nor are they my brothers because they do not follow my will.” He refrained from judging them harshly, instead, with His characteristic grace, He leaves it to them to aspire toward a greater bond."},{"author-name":"Apollinarius of Laodicea","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The Gospel of John reveals that Jesus' own brothers did not yet have faith in Him (John 7:5). However, the Gospel of Mark offers further insight, noting that they attempted to seize Him as if He were not in His right mind (Mark 3:21). Due to this motivation, the Lord refrained from referring to them as family, instead addressing the crowd and applying kinship terminology to those who obeyed Him, reflecting the same submission He exemplified. Even though there were moments when the Savior experienced tensions with Mary, as Simeon had prophesied, saying, \\"And a sword will pierce your own soul too\\" (Lk. 2:35), leading her to confront the predictions about Him, during His agony on the cross, the Lord lovingly remembered her and entrusted her care to His beloved disciple (Jn. 19:27)."},{"author-name":"Augustine of Hippo","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88950a5c988a4fc06c7ae_Augustine%20of%20Hippo.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"Where do brethren originate? The relatives of Mary, regardless of the degree of kinship, can be considered the brothers of the Lord. How can we substantiate this claim? By examining the Scriptures. For instance, Abraham's brother is identified as Lot, who was the son of his brother (cf. Gen. 13:8; 14:14). Upon review, it is clear that Abraham stood as Lot’s paternal uncle (cf. Gen. 12:5), yet they are referred to as brothers. This raises the question: why is that so, if not due to familial ties? Furthermore, Jacob had Laban the Syrian as a maternal uncle, since Laban was the brother of Jacob's mother, Rebekah, Isaac's wife (see Gen. 28:2). A thorough reading of the Scriptures reveals that a maternal uncle and the son of a sister are designated as brothers (see Genesis 29:12-15). Understanding this principle allows us to see all of Mary's relatives as brethren of Christ. \\n\\nHowever, it is noteworthy that only those disciples could be regarded as brothers, for even relatives would not hold that title unless they were His followers, nor could they claim such a bond without recognizing Him as their Master. On one occasion, when informed that His mother and brothers were waiting outside while He spoke with His disciples, He inquired, ‘Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?’ Then, pointing to His disciples, He declared, ‘Here are My brothers. For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother’ (cf. Matthew 12:46-50). It follows that Mary is indeed His mother, as she fulfilled the will of the Father. The Lord exalted her for her obedience to the divine will, rather than simply for the biological act of giving birth.\\n\\nBeloved, take heed! When the amazed crowd witnessed the Lord performing miracles and uncovering hidden truths, some exclaimed, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore Him’ (Luke 11:27). But He responded, ‘Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it’ (Lk. 11:28). His intention was to convey that even His Mother, whom they deemed fortunate, finds true happiness in adhering to the word of God, not merely because the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:14), but because she fulfilled the will of the Word of God Himself, through whom she was created and in whom the Word became flesh. Let not individuals rejoice solely in fleeting progeny, but rather in their unity with God in spirit."},{"author-name":"Photios of Constantinople","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89714cf3e65c36024d2b8_Photios%20of%20Constantinople.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":9,"exegesis-text":"What does the phrase ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brethren?’ signify? Many have stumbled over this statement. It is not surprising that someone with a wavering understanding might falter where the light of salvation and purpose shines brightly for many. However, what is remarkable is that this illuminating truth does not hesitate to enlighten even those who are willfully blind, guiding them toward the essence of truth. Our Lord and Savior became a rock of offense and a stone of rejection to those who are lost, appearing as such to those who are astray, even though He was not truly one (cf. 1 Pet. 2:7-9). In this context, He asked, ‘Who is My Mother?’ not to deny His mother, as the wicked might wrongly interpret, nor did He speak these words to diminish the honor of the one who brought Him into the world. After all, did He not honor His Mother during His youth, abiding by the natural law to respect her? Would He then disregard her when He attained maturity? Thus, His words do not come from a place of denial but rather express a deeper understanding. \\n\\nWhy would He, who chose to be born of her, refuse to acknowledge the very one through whom He entered humanity? If He intended to offer Himself to the Father, why did He unite Himself with her from the very beginning? Why would He assume a form He deemed unworthy? Such folly can be countered through reasoned argumentation. Some may suggest that the Savior spoke not to lessen the dignity of His Mother, but rather, while honoring her, He prioritized the salvation of humanity and the teaching that leads to it. For her sake, He embraced profound humility from the Father’s bosom, lived among men, willingly faced the cross, suffered alongside wrongdoers, and underwent burial and resurrection. \\n\\nSupporters of this view might point out that Jesus could only have woven the thread of Providence in this way. Alongside other salvific teachings, the Savior instructed against prioritizing father, mother, or spouse above His life-giving teaching. For He stated that anyone who does not forsake father and mother is ‘not worthy of Me’ (Matt. 10:37); in other words, those who do not place His redemptive instruction and love above familial ties will be separated from the eternal blessings enjoyed by those who prioritize His commands above their earthly connections. But the Savior, understanding the gravity of this commandment, modeled it Himself, choosing the instruction of His listeners over a comforting relationship with His Mother. He did not suggest that one must neglect familial bonds for their own salvation, but rather that they must elevate His teachings and the preservation of divine truth above all earthly affiliations. \\n\\nFor this reason, when someone requested permission to attend their father’s burial, He did not grant it, not out of disdain for the father—by no means—or to rearrange familial priorities, but as a constant reminder to prioritize spiritual salvation above all earthly attachments. This is a viewpoint that seeks to honor the Mother without stripping her of her due reverence. However, some of the renowned Fathers, whom I often admire, have offered an interpretation I cannot endorse. They suggest that Jesus' mother, in experiencing humanity and her natural inclination towards pride, sought public recognition through her Son, thereby prompting the Savior to gently admonish her to keep her feelings in check. But a true analysis reveals that she did not interrupt His teaching; she approached with reverence, simply signaling her presence without demanding acknowledgment.\\n\\nIs this the behavior of someone seeking glory or pride? What would a servant do if necessity called them to their master? Therefore, Jesus’ words spoken to His mother are not a reprimanding censure—there was no fault for Him to correct—but rather a response to the scornful remarks of those who disbelieved. The ungrateful Jews maliciously questioned, 'Is He not the son of the carpenter?’ and scoffed at His family ties (Matt. 13:55-56; John 7:27). While teaching about salvation, they envied Him and resorted to slander, attempting to belittle Him by ridiculing His familial relationships, implying that He should abandon His teachings for His earthly family. Thus, when they aired their slights, the Savior replied with both humility and strength: 'I am so far from being ashamed of My Mother and brethren that I neither dismiss her nor consider them a disgrace. Instead, I am honored to call all who hear My sacred words fathers and brethren if they do the will of My Father, even if our bond is not rooted in blood or common opinion.' \\n\\nIn this way, His words convey no disrespect to His Mother; indeed, they affirm Her honor by proclaiming that those who obey the Father are bound to Him in a figurative kinship of immeasurable dignity. The term ‘brothers’ now carries weight, suggesting that as a pinnacle of blessings, He would never delegate such a status to those connections He claims to reject. Therefore, it becomes apparent that His inquiry, ‘Who is my Mother,’ and what follows, do not serve to lessen affection or respect for His Mother but elevate Her in a manner worthy of her position. Those lacking discernment may misinterpret these sentiments, leading them to erroneous conclusions about His words, such as when He said, ‘What is that to Me and to Thee, O Woman? My hour has not yet come’ (John 2:4). \\n\\nA careful investigation into the circumstances surrounding these words, aided by divine grace, reveals that they glorify rather than diminish His Mother. The miracles performed draw upon divine power, not the human condition, though He honors His Mother’s request. In asserting this difference, He conveys that Her respect surpasses both timing and the typical expectations associated with miracles. In doing so, He renders Her honor even greater than if there had been no acknowledgment of the differences at all. This statement, far from detracting from Her glory, elevates it significantly, as He places Her honor above the timeline of events and the nature of miracles. The idea that His respect for Her would exceed even these divine criteria shows just how deep and profound His love for His Mother truly is."},{"author-name":"Symeon the New Theologian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c897eec143c131d21207b3_Symeon%20the%20New%20Theologian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":10,"exegesis-text":"Blessed is the individual who recognizes that Christ, the Light of the world, dwells within them, for they will be regarded as a mother of Christ, embodying Him as the fruit of her womb, fulfilling the unbreakable promise He made, declaring, \\"My mother and my brothers and my friends are these - those who hear the word of God and do it\\" (Mt. 12:48-50). Consequently, those who disregard God's commandments will, of their own volition, forfeit such grace, as this scenario has existed, exists now, and will continue to be possible. It has been, is, and will forever be the case for all who adhere to the commandments of the Lord."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He spoke these words without dismissing His Mother. How could He, who showed such care for Her even at the moment of His crucifixion and was proud to call Her His Mother, do otherwise? Consider how He, out of honor for Her at the wedding in Cana, transformed water into wine, exhibiting obedience not only to Her but also to His earthly father, as is noted, He was subject to them (Luke 2:51). If the Savior had been ashamed of His Mother or sought to deny her, He would not have taken on human flesh through Her at all. However, as He was addressing the crowd and it would have been inappropriate to abandon them in order to seek out His Mother and kin, He posed the question, What kind of mother and brethren do I have that I should forsake the welfare of so many for their sake? His words were not intended to belittle them but to illustrate that He valued the salvation of the lost over mere obedience to familial ties. And it is no surprise, for He chose to have both a mother and relatives for the very purpose of this salvation."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"If Jesus Christ prevented His disciple from attending to the burial of his father, emphasizing that following Him takes precedence, it follows that His discussions with the crowd were even less likely to be interrupted for matters deemed ‘minor.’ Thus, the Lord aimed to convey a profound truth when He responded to those who inquired, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” These remarks from the Lord require thoughtful interpretation. By seemingly renouncing His earthly relatives, He does not dismiss the truth of their physical existence, but rather affirms the higher reality of His Divine origin. His siblings could only be deemed brethren in a superficial sense, being the progeny of His earthly guardian Joseph; yet, how does His mother fit within the same context? Unlike them, she is undeniably His true mother in the human realm, a status that remains unblemished by any disbelief regarding His divinity as the Son of God. It appears as though He hesitates to acknowledge her presence: “Who is My mother?” Saint Philaret of Moscow reflects on this with great reverence, stating, “It is not Your actions that we challenge, but the wisdom of Your salvation that we seek to comprehend. Do not hold against us our desire to explore the Scriptures, and grant us the grace to understand.” Is it necessary to remind Orthodox believers that the Lord fully honors His blessed Mother? His words are a clear testament to this: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” There is no doubt that He did not violate, but rather fulfilled, the commandment to honor one’s parents. Would He not hold His Mother in the highest regard? Saint John Chrysostom noted that if He wished to deny her, He would have done so when mocked by the Jews. On the contrary, He demonstrated such care for her that even while on the cross, He entrusted her to His beloved disciple. However, since His siblings viewed Him merely as an ordinary man and were caught up in their pride, He refrained from involving His Mother in their misguided thoughts, choosing to instruct them gently instead. The Sacred Heart, aware of their vain intentions, aimed to shield His Most Pure Mother from even the slightest hint of association with those thoughts. Here, the Lord adhered to His Mother’s example by eschewing any semblance of human fame. Simultaneously, He manifested through His actions what He taught in His teachings: “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). His actions demonstrated that He cherished His earthly Mother completely, yet not above His heavenly Father. He willingly placed His filial, human affection aside to devote Himself to the work of God. Had He acquiesced to the desires of His relatives, His adversaries might have seized upon that moment to portray Him as someone dependent on their care, thus leveraging it for their scorn. It is as if the Lord articulated, “Why do you seek to divert Me from fulfilling the will of My heavenly Father through the desires of My earthly Mother? When these two paths diverge, I know which to pursue and how resolute I must be. I renounce My earthly lineage and affiliations as if they were non-existent; I dedicate myself entirely to the will of My Father in heaven, His work, and His kingdom. Herein lies my quest for kinship, if I must have one: ‘Who is My mother? and who are My brothers?’”"},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Since her desire to speak with Him was relayed while He was still addressing the crowd, He declined her request. \\"Who is My Mother? and who are My brothers?\\" - Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow, interprets Christ's words: \\"Why would you seek to draw Me away from completing the will of My heavenly Father by the will of My earthly Mother? When these two desires conflict, I will clarify which path you should pursue. Who are My Mother and My brothers? They are those who do the will of My Father in heaven.\\" When Christ commissioned the Apostles to preach, He stated: \\"Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me\\" (Matthew 10:37). He also prevented His disciple from burying his father, demonstrating that He needed to exemplify for His followers how to live according to His commandments and teachings. Thus, in the first instance that arose, He illustrated that fulfilling His Father's heavenly will superseded fulfilling His earthly Mother's desires. However, within these statements, we do not find a rejection of His Mother or a lack of concern for her; He demonstrated His love for her on the Cross by entrusting her care to His beloved disciple. This is all we understand about the events in the life of Jesus during the Apostles’ ministry to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:6). Our knowledge of this phase of the Lord's ministry is limited because the Apostles were not with Him during this period, and those reliable witnesses whose accounts form our Gospels were absent. The gaps in the Evangelical accounts serve as evidence of the accuracy of their writings: they do not recount events of which they were not direct witnesses or for which they lacked trustworthy accounts from others. This gap in the narratives represents a significant duration. Even if the Apostles, sent out in pairs, were to cover all the regions of Palestine populated by Jews, distributing the places into six groups, they could not have visited one-sixth of those locations quickly. The length of their preaching remains unknown; we only understand that they returned before the Passover (John 6:4), the third since Jesus' baptism."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Had He yielded to the desires of His earthly relatives, the cause of God would have suffered. This would occur not only because His message would have been cut short, but His adversaries might have exploited this to propagate the falsehood of His madness. Christ, however, distinctly revealed that He was ‘not only the son of His mother, but also the Lord’ (St. John Chrysostom), as if to convey: ‘Why seek to deter Me from fulfilling the will of My Father in Heaven by the wishes of My earthly mother? Who is My mother? Who are My siblings?’ He then gestured towards His disciples and declared, ‘This is My mother and My brethren; whoever does the will of My Father who is in Heaven, this is My brother and sister and mother,’ or as recorded by the Evangelist Luke, ‘My mother and My brethren are those who hear the word of God and act upon it’ (8:21). In these statements, the Lord did not distance His fleshly mother from the joy of hearing and obeying the word of God, for she had listened and acted on it even more than many others. Rather, in keeping with her own humility, which sought to avoid earthly accolades, He elevated and inspired all who embraced and practiced the word of God. As Blessed Theophylact observes, without rejecting the bond of natural kinship, He enriched it with a kinship of virtue."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The arrival of Christ's mother and brothers occurred under the circumstances outlined by Hebrews, Matthew, and Mark. Before the news about their approach reached Him, it circulated among the people surrounding Him, moving from one person to another. When it finally reached the ears of a sensitive and fervent woman, who may have been childless or dissatisfied with her children, she could not help but exclaim, \\"Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts which nursed You!\\" This proclamation came at the conclusion of Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees, who accused Him of casting out demons by the spirit of Beelzebub, as recorded in Luke 11:27-28. Following this, Christ addressed those seeking a sign from Him, received the news of His mother and brothers approaching, and in response, He pointed to His faithful disciples, acknowledging them as His true mother and brothers, thus indicating a deeper spiritual connection with them than with His physical family, provided they too were among His devoted followers."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"After the Lord unveiled the plots of the Pharisees and exposed their wicked hearts, they informed Him that His mother and brothers were seeking to see Him, unable to approach due to the throngs of people. The Pharisees even claimed that He was out of His mind (Mk. 3:21), and they, aiming to avoid more severe denunciations, sought to use His family—some of whom still did not believe—to illustrate the contradiction between their views of Jesus as the Messiah and the humble origins and disbelief of those closest to Him. Thus, they orchestrated for them to go to the place where Jesus was. The Blessed Virgin came solely driven by her motherly affection for her Son, particularly after a period of separation. Her brothers accompanied her with the intent to take Him home. However, the Lord thwarted this cunning scheme of His adversaries. What is the significance of pointing to mother and brothers? The Son of Man does indeed have a mother and brothers. For the Messiah, those who hear and accept the words of life are regarded as both mother and brothers."}]}
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