Matthew 12:50Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

13:8) Also men are called brethren by affection, which is of two kinds, special and general. Special, as all Christians are called brethren, as the Saviour says, Go tell my brethren. General, inasmuch as all men are born of one father, we are bound together by a tie of consanguinity, as in that, Say unto them that hate you, Ye are our brethren. (Is. 66:5 sec. LXX.) I ask then, after which manner these are called the Lord’s brethren in the Gospel? According to nature? But Scripture saith not, neither calling them sons of Mary nor of Joseph. By nation? But it is absurd that some few out of all the Jews should be called brethren, seeing that all the Jews who were there might have thus been called brethren. By affection, either of a human sort, or of the Spirit? If that be true, yet how were they more His brethren than the Apostles, whom He instructed in the inmost mysteries. Or if because they were men, and all men are brethren, it was foolish to say of them in particular, Behold, thy brethren seek thee. It only remains then that they should be His brethren by kindred, not by affection, not by privilege of nation, not by nature.

For whom could a righteous connection to a holy spouse benefit if he is devoid of virtue? It is indeed possible to recognize relatives as unrelated and to regard those outside the family as connected, distinguished by differences in the first instance and by shared values in the second.

Thus, when a woman proclaimed, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore Thee, and the breast that nourished Thee,’ He affirmed this sentiment but immediately added, ‘Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.’ O virtue, how it elevates those who embrace it and makes them kin to Christ! Chrysostom observes that the Mother of Jesus, feeling the weight of human emotion, desired to illustrate the honor Christ bestowed upon her. Consequently, when she approached Him while He was teaching, seeking to call Him out under the pretext of a household matter, she assumed He would respond immediately as her Son, disregarding the crowd. Aware of this, Christ chose another path; He not only refrained from exiting to her but also gently corrected her presumptuous intent and dispelled any hint of vanity in her desire.

After all, He, as a child acknowledging the rights of His parent, would hardly dismiss His mother's honor as an adult. His words convey a deeper meaning; it wouldn’t make sense for Him to deny kinship to her from whom He took on human form and whom He honored by His very birth. If He intended to relinquish connection to her, why did He align Himself with her from the beginning? Why would He assume a form He found abominable? Such folly could be easily rebuked by sound reasoning.

Perhaps, some might suggest that the Savior spoke not to diminish the honor due to His mother but rather to elevate divine truths above human relations. While He rightly honored His mother, He placed the salvation of humanity and the teachings associated with that above all else. Through His incarnation, His living among men, willingly accepting the cross, enduring death among wrongdoers, and ultimately rising from the grave, He underlined this priority. This perspective can be further substantiated by noting that the Savior taught that no one should prioritize familial ties over the profound teachings of the soul. He stated, ‘Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me’ (Matt. 10:37), implying that those who do not prioritize My life-giving message above earthly attachments are missing the boundless blessings of eternal communion with those who uphold My divine principles.

Aware of the simplicity and clarity of this teaching, the Savior exemplified it by placing the spiritual well-being of His followers above His relationship with His earthly mother. He communicated that just as He prioritized their salvation over concern for His mother, so too must His followers exchange earthly attachments for spiritual devotion. When He did not permit the man who sought to bury his father to delay for that reason (see Matt. 8:21-22; Luke 9:59-60), it was not to disrespect familial duty or to belittle love, but rather to exemplify the higher calling of the soul above all human plaints or inclinations. Some may argue that His intention was not to vilify His mother but to confront the oppressive expectations about her status and role.

Still, there are notable figures among our blessed Fathers whose interpretations, though often admirable, I would not endorse in this case. They have proposed that Mary, in her humanity, was somewhat prideful of her son's greatness and sought to bask in it, approaching Him to claim her own recognition when He taught. Therefore, the Savior’s words were aimed at correcting her potential pride with admonition: ‘Who is My Mother, and who are My brethren?’ However, a careful investigation reveals that Mary did not intrude or demand recognition. She approached with humility, not seeking glory but only to convey her presence. She neither interrupted Him nor boasted of her son’s status—hardly the behavior of one seeking to assert her pride.

Thus, Jesus’s statement toward His mother is not a reprimand or a correction for any fault—there was none to correct. Rather, it is a response to the scornful remarks from the wicked Jews who belittled Him, deriding, ‘Is He not the son of the carpenter?’ (Matt. 13:55-56) and ‘We know from where He comes’ (John 7:27). As they envied Him and sought to retaliate with slander, they even attempted to diminish the value of His mother. In response, Jesus firmly yet gently declared that far from being ashamed of His family on earth, He honored all who do the will of the Father as His true family, elevating them beyond mere biological ties.

The inquiry ‘Who are my mother and my brethren?’ shows His refusal to allow their scorn to eclipse His honor toward His mother and that of all righteous souls, demonstrating that it is indeed a privilege to be named among such as these. In doing so, He affirms that loving God and adhering to His will is paramount, granting a higher dignity to those who follow Him while still holding His mother in esteem. He wouldn’t diminish her honor but instead, elevates it through the profound relationship He establishes with those who embrace righteousness.

Similarly, the words ‘What is that to Me and to Thee, O Woman? My hour has not yet come’ (John 2:4) convey a message that could easily be misinterpreted. A thorough examination reveals that these words not only honor His mother but also highlight the distinction between divine power and human expectation. When she petitions Him for a miracle, He acknowledges that while the timing isn’t aligned for miraculous acts, His respect and love for her surpass this momentary concern—showing that the honor due to His mother outweighs the conventional understanding of miracle timing.

Thus, His statement cannot be seen as diminishing her glory. If anything, it amplifies it, reflecting that Mary's honor is so significant that even the divine timeline bows to it. Each response and action reveals His devotion to His mother, emphasizing that her maternal rights and His love for her take precedence over the natural order of events.

Remember Jesus, the Wisdom of God, who ‘was in obedience’ to Joseph the carpenter. However, when the unfortunate examples and wishes of your parents and relatives lead you towards actions contrary to the law, disturbing your peace of conscience, then reflect on the words of Jesus: ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ Recall that God is your Father, the Church is your mother, and all the saints are your brothers; do not degrade yourselves before such a noble kinship, do not distance yourselves from this blessed and beautiful family; fulfill the will of God rather than the will of man, so that the Lord may point to you and proclaim, ‘This is my mother and my brothers...’

He also instructed one disciple not to go back to bury his father, which reveals that He demonstrated His teachings and commandments through His example. Thus, when the opportunity arose, He showed that the will of His heavenly Father took precedence over the wishes of His earthly mother. However, this does not indicate a denial or indifference towards His Mother; He expressed His love for her on the Cross by entrusting her care to His cherished disciple.

This account encapsulates what we understand about the life of Jesus Christ during the Apostles’ ministry, who were sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:6). Our knowledge of this phase of the Lord's ministry is limited because the Apostles were not present at that time; they were essential eyewitnesses from whom our Gospels were formed. The lack of detailed narratives from the Evangelists underscores the authenticity of their writings; they refrained from mentioning events they did not witness firsthand or could not confirm through reliable witnesses. Furthermore, this gap in their accounts suggests a considerable passage of time. Although the Apostles were sent out in pairs to cover the Jewish-populated areas of Palestine, they could not have quickly visited even a sixth of these locales. We do not know how long their preaching lasted; all we know is that they returned prior to Passover (John 6:4), which was the third one since the Baptism of Jesus.