But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Parallel translations
- WEB But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”
- BSB But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?”
- NKJV But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”
- NASB But Jesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?”
- NLT Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus responds with a probing question: who is my mother, and who are my brothers?
Overview
Rather than dishonoring his family, Jesus uses the moment to redefine kinship in the kingdom. The question redirects attention from physical descent to spiritual relationship. It prepares for his startling answer that true family is defined by obedience to God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Mark 3:32–33And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
- Matt 10:37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
- Luke 2:52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
- Deut 33:9Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.
- 2 Cor 5:16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
- Luke 2:49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
- John 2:3–4And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 12:48 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.