Matthew 12:46Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

is my mother, and who are my brethren?” He posed this question not out of shame for His mother or a rejection of her who bore Him (for had He been ashamed, He would not have come through her), but to emphasize that her position would not benefit her should she fail to fulfill her duties. Her actions stemmed from an excessive possessiveness concerning her rights. She sought to assert her authority over the Son, whom she did not yet fully understand, prompting her to act at an untimely moment. Thus, observe the folly displayed by her and her brothers! They should have entered and attentively listened alongside the others, or, if they refused to do so, at least bided their time until the discussion ended to then approach Him. Instead, they called Him forth publicly, displaying an overzealous desire to assert their authority. The Evangelist also reflects on this with a hint of reproach. He seems to question, Was there no other suitable moment? Shouldn’t they have spoken privately? What was their purpose? If the matter concerned true teachings, they ought to have addressed it openly for the benefit of all; but if it pertained solely to their personal interests, they should have shown more restraint. If Christ would not permit His disciple to delay his following for the burial of his father, how much less should His engagement with the people be interrupted for trivial concerns. Thus, it is evident that their actions reflected vanity alone, which John highlights by stating that even His brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5). He recounts their foolish remarks, indicating that they summoned Him to Jerusalem solely to elevate themselves through His miracles: “If thou do these things, show thyself to the world; for no man doeth any thing in secret, and seeketh to be known.” (John 7:4). Christ ultimately rebuked them for such carnal thinking, emphasizing their misunderstanding in light of the disapproving views held by the Jews, who questioned, “Is not this the Son of the carpenter, whose father and mother we know? And are not his brethren here with us?” (Matthew 13:55-56; Mark 6:3). If they intended to hide the humble origins of His lineage, they summoned Him to perform signs, but He resisted this request as a means to heal their misguided perceptions. Had He desired to distance Himself from His Mother, He would have done so in the face of the Jews' scorn. Instead, He demonstrated such care for her that even while crucified, He entrusted her to His beloved disciple. Nevertheless, He refrained from expressing providential love toward His mother and brothers in that moment. Since they perceived Him merely as an ordinary man and succumbed to vanity, He sought to alleviate their afflictions, correcting them without causing offense. Note well not just the words carrying a mild rebuke, but also the audacity of His brothers in daring to address Him, recognizing that their reproach came from none other than the only begotten Son of God, and understand the intention behind His admonition. His goal was not to offend, but to liberate them from their distress and gradually lead them to a correct understanding of His identity; to show them that He was not solely the Son of His mother, but the Son of the Lord as well. Thus, you will find that this gentle rebuke is fitting and beneficial to both Him and His mother.

The use of "brothers" in regard to maternal cousins is validated throughout Holy Scripture.

We can also interpret this passage differently. While the Lord is addressing the crowd within the house, His mother and brethren—representing the synagogue and the people—await outside, eager to enter but deemed unworthy of His teachings. Although they sought to connect with Him and sent a message, the response indicated that their access was contingent upon their own faith. Ultimately, they could not enter without the intercession of others.

If He, at a young age, recognized and honored His Mother according to the natural law, could He, upon reaching maturity, disregard her with any less respect and gratitude? Thus, His statement does not signify a denial but expresses a different perspective. Would it be fitting for Him, who took pride in being born of her, to disavow her? From her, He took on mortal form, clothed in immaculate blood, establishing kinship both truly and in deed. If He was to willingly surrender Himself, why would He initially associate with her? Why adopt a form that is considered contemptible? Such questions might arise from audacity. Yet their folly can be countered with various arguments.

Perhaps someone close to the knowledge of the Gospel may postulate that the Savior's words were not meant to detract from His Mother's honor nor to deny natural affection—far from it. Instead, while He gives His Mother due respect, He prioritizes the salvation of humanity and the teachings that lead to it. For their sake, both the Mother, the birth, His humble descent from the Father, His dwelling among mankind, the voluntary passion, and His death among wrongdoers—all of this culminated in burial and resurrection. One could argue that Jesus had to weave the fabric of Providence into this history. Alongside His many salvific teachings, He instructed His followers not to place their father, mother, or spouse above His soul-saving truth. After all, He states, ‘whoever does not forsake father and mother [...] is not worthy of Me’ (Matt. 10:37). Meaning, whoever does not prioritize My redemptive teachings and love will lose access to the infinite blessings and eternal joy that those who favor My commandments and divine love will know.

Aware of the simplicity of this commandment, the Savior Himself exemplifies it, prioritizing His ministry to others over the comforts of His communion with His Mother. He implies, ‘In teaching and caring for your salvation, I place my Mother second; you too must set aside all familial attachments for your salvation and the observance of My teachings.’ It is for this reason that He did not grant permission to one who asked to attend his father's funeral (see Matt. 8:21-22; Luke 9:59-60) — not to disrespect his father or dismiss love, but as an ongoing exhortation to value the salvation of the soul above all earthly attachments.

This might provide some insight into why certain individuals might misinterpret Jesus’ intentions, perhaps believing, in an effort to honor His Mother equally, that comparison could humiliate her, further leading them into a misunderstanding of true respect. I recognize that some of our esteemed Fathers, whom I often admire, may take this view. For the sake of countering a misguided mindset, they suggest that Mary, having experienced human emotions and prideful joy, sought recognition for her Son and thus approached Him during His teachings to share in the accolades. However, a careful inquiry into the truth reveals no signs of pride on her part. She did not interrupt Him or cause a disturbance but stood respectfully outside, announcing His presence quietly, or perhaps not at all, relying on mere sight. Is this the behavior of one seeking glory through her Son?

His words to her were not intended as admonishment or correction since no fault existed. Rather, they sought to silence the taunts of the ungrateful Jews, who would mock Him for being ‘the son of a carpenter’ and deride His connections (Matt. 13:55-56). While He taught about the salvation of souls, they were filled with envy and contempt, seeking to undermine Him. They accused Him, querying, ‘Whom do You teach? Aren’t You the Son of a humble woman? Your kin are just laborers like You!’ When they slandered Him in this manner, the Savior responded with a calm and dignified assertion: ‘I am not ashamed of My Mother or brethren; rather, I hold those gathered here—who hear and heed sacred and saving truth—as fathers and brothers, as long as they fulfill the will of the Father, irrespective of whether these relationships are recognized by natural or social bonds.’

Thus, when He asks, ‘Who are My mother and My brethren?’ He redefines these relationships away from disdain. His statement contains no contempt or ingratitude for His Mother; rather, it grants Her the highest respect and honor, acknowledging both Her position and elevating those who do the Father’s will to a place of dignity comparable to familial ties. In this manner, Jesus emphasizes that He regards those devoted to the divine call as equally cherished, showing His commitment to honoring those who pursue His will. Hence, His words not only convey no disrespect towards His Mother but indeed reflect a profound glory and honor due to her.

Similarly, misguided interpretations may warp the significance of His statement, ‘What is that to Me and to Thee, O Woman? My hour has not yet come’ (John 2:4). A deep and prayerful examination will reveal that these words elevate rather than diminish the honor owed to His Mother. The miracles performed originate from the divine and not merely from human interaction, with human nature acting only through the Word. Nevertheless, even amidst their distinct roles, His response to His Mother honors her at a level transcending both time and divine power dynamics. This clarifies that Jesus appreciates the maternal bond more than the measured timing of divine acts.

So distant is His statement from undermining her legacy that it amplifies it greatly. Valuing her request above all natural expectations and the classical frameworks of miracles shows how deeply He respects her influence and role. His words and actions indicate that while familiar ties are significant, the love and glory extended to His Mother surpass even the confines of time or natural order—demonstrating that her honor is paramount in His eyes.

It is quite likely that the faithful inhabitants of Nazareth, the Lord’s relatives by blood, might have paused to consider: Could there be any truth to what the respected scribes and elders were saying about Jesus? The evangelist John notes that at that point, the brothers of Christ did not yet believe in Him as the Messiah. He recounts their unwise suggestion to Jesus to go to Jerusalem in order to display His signs for their own glory: “If You do such works,” they urged, “then show Yourself to the world” (John 7:4). Clearly, they were still envisioning a triumphant Messiah—a conquering king—and naturally wished to see their brother Jesus in that exalted role. Consequently, upon hearing that He was deemed “out of Himself” and needed to be monitored for irrationality, they decided to rush to Capernaum with the intention of looking after Him, if necessary. However, the Blessed Virgin, more than all the apostles, recognized the divine nature of her Son; she had faith in Him as the true Son of God. This faith, which she embraced from the moment of His conception during the Archangel’s announcement, surpasses the faith of any believer. When shepherds proclaimed Him the Savior, the Christ, the Lord, what moved “His mother to keep all these words in her heart” was her faith. Even before He displayed His glory through miracles—after which His disciples came to believe—His Mother had already shown profound faith in His miraculous abilities, prompting Him to perform His first miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. In this way, she possessed a deeper and more complete belief in Him than others. Could she have entertained for a single moment the accusations of His adversaries? Undoubtedly, she dismissed their blasphemies with righteous anger; yet her loving maternal heart was pained at the prospect of the Pharisees presenting her beloved Son to the authorities in Jerusalem as an apostate. Would that not expose Him to further dangers? Therefore, she accompanied Joseph’s children to ensure there was no threat to Him. Nevertheless, the Pharisees seized upon this as an opportunity to demonstrate to the crowds how absurd it was to regard Jesus as the Messiah, especially considering the ignorance of His relatives, humble craftsmen from Nazareth. The Lord's family approached Him at a time when the multitude, stirred by the recent miracle, filled the house and courtyard, hanging on His every word. When they drew closer, they found it difficult to navigate through the throngs to reach Him, so they requested those in front to inform Jesus that they wished to speak with Him. As He continued to address the people, His mother and brothers stood outside the door, eager to communicate with Him.

Therefore, we should interpret the designation of the Lord's brothers in this manner, meaning as close relatives rather than siblings sharing the same bloodline; these individuals were likely the children of Joseph, the presumed husband of the Blessed Virgin, from a previous marriage.