Matthew 12:47 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 12:47 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.”

Someone told him: your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to you. The messenger's announcement creates the opportunity for the teaching that follows: the natural family who stands outside requesting access is contrasted with those who are inside listening to the teaching. The contrast is not hostile to the natural family (Jesus' mother and brothers) but uses the spatial metaphor to communicate the spiritual reality of the kingdom's family.

Church Fathers on Matthew 12:47

Because He had spoken all the aforesaid things in the power of His Father’s majesty, therefore the Evangelist proceeds to tell what answer He made to one that told Him that His mother and His brethren waited for Him without; 'While he yet spake unto the people, his mother and brethren stood without desiring to see him.'
Hilary of Poitiers · 4th century

We are to understand without doubt that this happened close upon the foregoing; for he begins to tell it with the words, 'And while he yet spake.' What can that 'yet' mean but that it was at the very time He spake the foregoing things?
Augustine · 4th century · De Cons. Ev., ii, 40

From this is taken one of Helvidius' propositions [margin note: Hieron. cont. Helvid. 14, et seq.], on the ground that mention is made in the Gospel of the brethren of the Lord. How says he, are they called brethren of the Lord, if they were not his brethren? But now it should be known that in divine Scripture men are said to be brethren in four different ways, by nature, by nation, by kindred, and by affection.
Jerome · 4th century

Read all 19 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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