The True Family of Jesus

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Christianity, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus, Luke, Mark, Matthew, religion, spirituality, synoptic gospels, tvaraj

Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time. The reading is from Gospel of Matthew 12:46-50.

Jesus by Akiane Kramarik

The True Family of Jesus – Matthew 12:46-50

While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him.

[Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.”]

But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”

And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.

For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Here is the marcan text

Jesus and His Family – Mark 3:31–35

His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him.

A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers [and your sisters] are outside asking for you.”

But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and [my] brothers?”

And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.

[For] whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.

And here is the parallel text in Luke

Jesus and His Family – Luke 8:19-21

Then his mother and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd.

He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.”

He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.

The point of the story is the same in all three gospels: natural kinship with Jesus counts for nothing; only one who does the will of his heavenly Father belongs to his true family.

This verse