Matthew 12: 46-50- The Highest Message

Matthew 12: 46-50- ‘While He was still speaking to the people, behold, His mother and His brothers stood outside, asking to speak to Him. But He replied to the man who told Him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”’

When I first read this passage, it caused me to stop and read it again because it initially sounded like he was dismissing his family in favor of those who considered themselves His followers. On second pass of the scripture, especially the last verse, I see the point Jesus was making at that time. He wanted the people to understand the greatness of His message and how important it is to follow Him.

This was not an effort to tell people their families were not important but to get people to see the magnitude of His message and how important it was for the people to accept Him as the Son of God. For many of us, our Christian life is part of our lives but compartmentalized and one of a variety of things we do in our lives. Jesus wants us to see our belief in Him is what all aspects of our lives are built upon.