True Family

18. November 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Today we close out Matthew 12.  We are making progress. 

Here is our text. 

Matthew 12:46 “While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”  

Today in our text, Jesus makes a bold and it can appear to be uncaring statement for his family.    Let’s look at the text closer.    

Jesus had just finished his discourse with the Pharisees concerning the demon possessed man that was healed, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (the unforgivable sin), the signs of the time, the testimonies of Jonah and the Queen of Sheba and then the issue with the demons returning to a house that is clean but unoccupied and comparing it to this wicked generation. 

After he finishes, his mother and brothers have been standing outside waiting to see him and Jesus then makes the bold statement that his family are those who do the will of his Father and he points to his disciples as being his immediate family. 

We know that Jesus was concerned for his family.  When he was dying on the cross he entrusts the care of his mother to his beloved disciple John.   Jesus was emphasizing that if family members do not share the same values that you have and same mission concerning the things of God then your spiritual family actually becomes more important.  It does not mean that you neglect your family, the bible is clear that we should honor our father and our mother and that doesn’t mean with our lips but with our resources also.  We are to take care of our parents. 

We do not change or alter our belief system based on family influence.  I know that personally in my life, I have 13 brothers and sisters and I am really close to only a couple of them and those are the ones who share my convictions and passion for God and work together in the ministry with me.    I’m not saying that the others do not have strong convictions for God because some of them do but we do not work in the ministry together as I do with the siblings I mentioned above.    

There are some people in my church family who I am way closer to than some of my brothers and sisters.   Jesus is simply saying that family is people who are committed to carrying out the will of God.     A lot of times we let pressure from our unsaved relatives including moms and dads cause us to do things which we know are compromising to the faith.   We are not obligated to anyone who causes us to disobey or stray away from God’s word. 

Stay encouraged!!! 

God Bless!!!!!!!  Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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