But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”
Parallel Translations
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But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”
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He answered and sayd to him that tolde hym: Who is my mother? or who are my brethren?
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But he answered, and said to him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Cross-references (7)
Passages linked to Matthew 12:48 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Mark 3:32-33 A multitude was sitting around him, and they told him, “Behold, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside looking for you.” He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”
- Matthew 10:37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.
- Deuteronomy 33:9 He said of his father, and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him.’ He didn’t acknowledge his brothers, nor did he know his own children; for they have observed your word, and keep your covenant.
- Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
- Luke 2:49 He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
- John 2:3-4 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (7 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 48 But he answered and said unto him that…
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Ver. 48. Who is my mother, and who, &c.] This meekest lamb was stirred with a holy indignation at so absurd an interruption, and sharps him up that delivers the message. Great is the honour that is due to a mother. Solomon set Bathsheba at his right hand, and promised her anything with reason. Nescitne Antipater unicam matris lacrimulam omnes istius criminationes posse delere? Knows not Antipater that one tear of my mother’s can easily blot out all his accusations against her? said Alexander the Great. Brethren also, or near allies (as these were to our Saviour), are dearly to be respected, and greatly gratified, as were Joseph’s brethren by him in his greatness. But when these relations, or their requests, come in competition with God’s work or glory, they must be neglected, nay, rejected and abominated. For is there any friend to God? or any foe like him? Men be they pleased or displeased, he must be obeyed, and his business despatched, be the contrary occasions never so urgent in show, the pretences never so specious and plausible.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain And he answering, said - Our Lord's knowing why…
And he answering, said - Our Lord's knowing why they came, sufficiently justifies his seeming disregard of them.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 48. Who is my mother? and who are…
Verse 48. Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?] The reason of this seeming disregard of his relatives was this: they came to seize upon him, for they thought he was distracted. See Mr 3:33.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain But he answered and said unto him that told…
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? Who are they who are such in the truest sense? they for whom I must therefore primarily care?
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 48, 49. Who is my mother, and my brethren?…
48, 49. Who is my mother, and my brethren? An allusion to his Divine character, which lifted him above the ordinary ties of the flesh. Behold my mother and my brethren. His real relatives are those bound to him by spiritual ties.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Connecting Statement:
Connecting Statement:
This is the end of the part of the story that began in Matthew 12:1, where Matthew tells of growing opposition to Jesus' ministry.
Read full note →
who told him
The details of the message the person told Jesus are understood and not repeated here. AT: "who told Jesus that his mother and brothers wanted to speak to him" (See: Ellipsis)
Who is my mother and who are my brothers?
Jesus uses these questions to teach the people. AT: "I will tell you who are really my mother and brothers" (See: Rhetorical Question)
See
"Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"
here are my mother and my brothers
This is a metaphor that means Jesus' disciples belong to Jesus' spiritual family. This is more important than belonging to his physical family. (See: Metaphor)
whoever does
"anyone who does"
Father
This is an important title for God. (See: Translating Son and Father)
that person is my brother, and sister, and mother
This is a metaphor meaning that those who obey God belong to Jesus' spiritual family. This is more important than belonging to his physical family. (See: Metaphor)
translationWords
Jesus
disciple
will of God
God the Father
heaven
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 12:48-50 Those who are true members in Jesus’ family…
12:48-50 Those who are true members in Jesus’ family do the will of the Father, as expressed in the commands of Jesus (see 7:21). Obedience does not earn entrance into this family, but one cannot be considered a member if he or she is not obedient (see 3:15; 5:17-48; 6:10, 12; 7:13-27; 21:31).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.