For whoever does the will of My Father in heavenThis phrase emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's will as a defining characteristic of true discipleship. In the context of
Matthew 12, Jesus is addressing a crowd, including His biological family, to illustrate that spiritual kinship surpasses earthly ties. The "will of My Father" refers to living in accordance with God's commandments and teachings, as seen throughout the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). This aligns with the Old Testament emphasis on obedience, such as in
Deuteronomy 10:12-13, where Israel is called to love and serve God with all their heart and soul. The phrase also echoes Jesus' own submission to the Father's will, as seen in His prayer in Gethsemane (
Matthew 26:39).
is My brother and sister and mother.”
Here, Jesus redefines family in spiritual terms, indicating that those who follow God's will are as close to Him as His own family. This was a radical statement in a culture that placed high value on familial bonds and lineage. By including "brother and sister and mother," Jesus emphasizes inclusivity and equality among His followers, regardless of gender or social status. This concept is further supported by passages likeGalatians 3:28, which speaks of unity in Christ. The familial language also foreshadows the early Christian community's practice of referring to each other as brothers and sisters in faith, as seen inActs 2:42-47. This spiritual family is a type of the Church, the body of Christ, united by faith and love rather than bloodlines.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Jesus ChristThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching about the true nature of spiritual kinship.
2.
DisciplesPresent during this teaching, they are learning about the deeper implications of following Jesus.
3.
CrowdThe audience to whom Jesus is speaking, which includes both His followers and skeptics.
4.
Jesus' FamilyMentioned earlier in the chapter, they are seeking to speak with Him, prompting this teaching.
5.
HeavenThe dwelling place of God the Father, emphasizing the divine authority behind Jesus' words.
Teaching Points
Spiritual Kinship Over Biological TiesJesus redefines family not by blood but by obedience to God's will. This challenges believers to prioritize their spiritual family.
Obedience as a Mark of True DiscipleshipDoing the will of the Father is essential for being part of Jesus' spiritual family. This calls for a life of active faith and obedience.
Inclusivity of God's FamilyThe invitation to be part of Jesus' family is open to all who do God's will, emphasizing the inclusivity of the Gospel.
Heavenly PerspectiveAligning our lives with God's will requires a focus on heavenly priorities over earthly ones, encouraging believers to seek God's kingdom first.
Identity in ChristUnderstanding our identity as part of Jesus' family can transform how we live, offering security and purpose in our Christian walk.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Matthew 12:50?
2.How does Matthew 12:50 define who is part of Jesus' spiritual family?
3.What actions demonstrate being a "brother, sister, and mother" to Jesus?
4.How can we prioritize God's will in our daily decision-making?
5.Which other scriptures emphasize obedience to God's will as a family bond?
6.How can your church community better reflect the family described in Matthew 12:50?
7.How does Matthew 12:50 redefine the concept of family in a spiritual context?
8.What implications does Matthew 12:50 have for traditional family structures?
9.How does Matthew 12:50 challenge cultural norms about kinship and loyalty?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 12?
11.Who are my true family members?
12.Who are my true family members?
13.Psalm 128:5–6 envisions a long life and seeing future generations—what about believers who die young or never have descendants?
14.How do "men," "mankind," and "brothers" differ?What Does Matthew 12:50 Mean
For whoever does the will• Jesus opens the door to “whoever,” an all-inclusive invitation that stretches beyond ethnicity, social status, or background (John 3:16).
• The focus is on active obedience. “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22).
• Kingdom entrance is tied to doing, not merely saying: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
• The Lord’s call is consistent: “This is the work of God, that you believe in the One He has sent” (John 6:29). Obedient faith characterizes true discipleship.
of My Father in heaven• Jesus roots obedience in relationship to the Father. The will we follow is not cultural opinion but the settled purpose of the God who reigns from heaven (Psalm 115:3).
• We pray for that heavenly will to shape life on earth: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
• Delighting in God’s commands marks the faithful: “I delight to do Your will, O my God” (Psalm 40:8).
• Obedience springs from love, not compulsion: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
• A heaven-focused will anchors us amid earthly pressures, reminding us whose authority matters most (Acts 5:29).
is My brother and sister and mother• Jesus redefines family along spiritual lines. Physical kinship, precious as it is, yields to the greater bond of shared obedience (Mark 3:35).
• By faith we become God’s children: “To all who did receive Him … He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12-13).
• The Spirit confirms this adoption: “All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God … heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:14-17).
• Jesus gladly identifies with obedient believers: “Both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers” (Hebrews 2:11).
• This family language offers assurance—our connection to Christ rests on doing the Father’s will through faith, not on pedigree or performance quotas.
summaryMatthew 12:50 teaches that genuine kinship with Jesus is granted to anyone who actively trusts and obeys the Father’s will. The invitation is open to “whoever,” the standard is the heavenly Father’s purpose, and the reward is intimate family fellowship with Christ Himself. Obedient faith transforms strangers into brothers, sisters, and mothers in the household of God.
(50)
Whosoever shall do the will.--This is, then, what Christ recognises as the ground of a spiritual relationship. Not outward, but inward fellowship; not the mere fact of baptism, but that which baptism signifies; that doing the will of God, which is the essence of holiness--this is that which makes the disciple as dear to the heart of Christ as was the mother whom He loved so truly.
Sister, and mother.--The special mention of the sister suggests the thought that those who bore that name had joined the mother and the brethren in their attempt to interrupt the divine work.
Verse 50. -For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, thesame (he, Revised Version;αὐτός: ch. 1:21, note)is my brother, and sister, and mother. He is fall; he sums up in himself all such relations. Observe that our Lord does not raise the question whether or not his mother and brethren now believed on him. He is only speaking of the claims of relationship as such. FromMark 3:21, however (which seems to refer to the same occasion), we may conclude that the motive for this endeavour to interrupt him lay in unbelief. If so, Mary was either unaware of this or had herself been over-persuaded into momentary impatience (John 2:3) and distrust. If the latter alternative be adopted, she forms a parallel to the Baptist (Matthew 11:3, note).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
For
γὰρ(gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063:For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.
whoever
ὅστις(hostis)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3748:Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever.
does
ποιήσῃ(poiēsē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4160:(a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.
the
τὸ(to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
will
θέλημα(thelēma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2307:An act of will, will; plur: wishes, desires. From the prolonged form of ethelo; a determination, i.e. choice or inclination.
of My
μου(mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.
Father
Πατρός(Patros)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962:Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.
in
ἐν(en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.
heaven
οὐρανοῖς(ouranois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3772:Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.
is
ἐστίν(estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.
My
μου(mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.
brother
ἀδελφὸς(adelphos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 80:A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.
and
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.
sister
ἀδελφὴ(adelphē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 79:A sister, a woman (fellow-)member of a church, a Christian woman. Fem of adephos; a sister.
and
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.
mother.”
μήτηρ(mētēr)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3384:A mother. Apparently a primary word; a 'mother'.
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NT Gospels: Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of my (Matt. Mat Mt)
