What does Matthew 12:49 mean?
Jesus' mother Mary and his brothers, born to Mary and Joseph after His birth, are waiting outside of a very crowded house. Jesus is in the house teaching. He has apparently been in there a long time without being able to eat. His family has come to "take charge" of Him because they believe Jesus is out of His mind (Mark 3:20–21).The news brings a surprising response from Jesus. He asks the crowd who His mother and brothers truly are. Now He points to His disciples and says, "Here are my mother and brothers."
Christ is not permanently rejecting His mother or His brothers. He will continue to be in relationship with them, and at least some will eventually come to faith in Him as the Messiah (Acts 1:14). Likewise, He does not mean one of the Twelve (Matthew 10:1–4) is His mother. Jesus brings clarity to His point in the following verse (Matthew 12:50). For now, though, He is expanding the idea of what it means to be a family for those who follow Him.
Matthew 12:46–50 finds Jesus teaching inside a house. He receives a message that His mother Mary and His brothers are waiting outside to talk to Him. In response, Jesus points to His disciples. He declares that anyone who does the will of His Father in heaven is His brother and sister and mother, establishing the idea that those who follow Christ and do God's will are meant to be connected like family.
Matthew 12 features confrontations between the Pharisees and Jesus over several issues. Among these are working on the Sabbath, healing on the Sabbath, and the source of His power to cast out demons. Jesus counters each argument and rebukes the Pharisees sharply for their obstinate unbelief. He even notes that those who maliciously ascribe His miracles to demons are unforgivable. He warns them, and the rest of their current generation, about the judgment to come. Jesus calls the Pharisees a brood of vipers and rejects their demand for another miracle. All they'll be promised is the sign of Jonah. The Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days. Jesus also states that all who do His Father's will are His family.
