Bible Strands
Matthew 12:48
But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the unnamed messenger who just reported that His mother and brothers were waiting outside to speak with Him. He poses the question immediately upon hearing the report and before turning to gesture toward His disciples.
The words — The Greek ἀποκριθεὶς (apokritheis) literally means “answering,” marking a direct response to the interruption. The interrogative τίς (tis) translates as “who,” structuring the verse as a deliberate challenge to assumed family boundaries.
The thread — The same report of His family waiting outside appears in Mark 3:32. The underlying tension between biological kin and covenant allegiance runs through Matthew 10:37 and echoes the priestly disregard motif in Deuteronomy 33:9.
Why it lands — The text explicitly states that Jesus does not automatically acknowledge His biological family when approached during His ministry. It requires the reader to evaluate spiritual kinship by alignment with His teaching rather than by blood relation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Cross-references
- Mark 3:32 and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are outside, asking for You.”
- Matthew 10:37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;
- Deuteronomy 33:9 He said of his father and mother, ‘I do not consider them.’ He disregarded his brothers and did not know his own sons, for he kept Your word and maintained Your covenant.
- Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
- Luke 2:49 “Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
- John 2:3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.