Category:Jesus' True Relatives (subject)

Jesus' True Relatives refers to an episode in Ministry of Jesus. The episode is narrated in the Gospels of Mark (3:19b-21.31-35), Matthew (12:46-50), and Luke (8:19-21).

Overview

The Gospel of Mark presents the episode as a confrontation between Jesus and his family; they would like to bring back home a son who has gone "out of his mind." Matthew and Luke omit the embarrassing motivation of the visit of the family. Even more, Luke softened the tone of the conversation and Jesus' rejection of his own family.

Jesus' True Relatives in ancient sources

Gospel of Mark

Mark 3:19b-21.31-35 (NRSV) -- [19] ...Then he went home; [20] and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. [21] When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind"... [31] Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. [32] A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." [33] And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" [34] And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! [35] Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 12:46-50 (NRSV) -- 46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." 48 But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 And pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Gospel of Luke

Luke 8:19-21 (NRSV) -- [19] Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. [20] And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." [21] But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."

Jesus' True Relatives in Scholarship

Jesus' True Relatives in Fiction

External links

• Wikipedia