Matthew 12:46 - Printer Friendly

ESV: While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.

NIV: While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.

NASB: While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.

CSB: While he was still speaking with the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to him.

NLT: As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.

KJV: While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

NKJV: While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.

Mark's account of this incident includes some additional helpful details: "Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat" (Mark 3:20 NIV). Jesus and His disciples may be so overworked that they have no time to eat. Or, perhaps, they can't get away to get food because the exits are choked with all the people who want to see Jesus.

In either case, Mark tells us that Jesus' birth family have come to speak to Him. According to Mark, they are concerned for His mental health (Mark 3:21). Jesus' family includes Mary, His mother, and His brothers: boys born to Mary and Joseph after the miraculous birth of Christ (Matthew 1:18–25). There is no mention of Joseph here. He may well have died by this point, since he was likely much older than Mary. The last we hear of Joseph in the gospels is during a trip to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve (Luke 2:41–51).

After hearing that Jesus and His disciples are continuing to teach the people inside this crowded house without stopping to eat, Jesus' family comes to the house and asks to speak with 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.

Matthew 11 depicted Jesus preaching and teaching after sending out His chosen disciples in pairs in chapter 10. Chapter 12 immediately picks up with more confrontation with the Pharisees. Jesus responds to those criticisms and rebukes their evil hearts as the source of their evil words. In the following chapter, Matthew will shift His focus onto Jesus' parables.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.