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Matthew 12:49
ESV And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!
NIV Pointing to his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers.
NASB And extending His hand toward His disciples, He said, 'Behold: My mother and My brothers!
CSB Stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!
NLT Then he pointed to his disciples and said, 'Look, these are my mother and brothers.
KJV And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

What does Matthew 12:49 mean?

Jesus' mother Mary and his brothers, born to Mary and Joseph after His birth, are waiting outside of a very crowded house. Jesus is in the house teaching. He has apparently been in there a long time without being able to eat. His family has come to "take charge" of Him because they believe Jesus is out of His mind (Mark 3:20–21).

The news brings a surprising response from Jesus. He asks the crowd who His mother and brothers truly are. Now He points to His disciples and says, "Here are my mother and brothers."

Christ is not permanently rejecting His mother or His brothers. He will continue to be in relationship with them, and at least some will eventually come to faith in Him as the Messiah (Acts 1:14). Likewise, He does not mean one of the Twelve (Matthew 10:1–4) is His mother. Jesus brings clarity to His point in the following verse (Matthew 12:50). For now, though, He is expanding the idea of what it means to be a family for those who follow Him.
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