Devine Scripture

Matthew 12:50

What does Matthew 12:50 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 12:50 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 12:50 means

Jesus states the criterion for spiritual kinship: whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother. The family of God is defined by obedience to God’s will, not by biological descent. This radical reorientation places discipleship and conformity to God’s purposes as the basis for belonging. It calls listeners to active commitment and identifies true family members as those who participate in God’s redemptive work through obedience.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For whoever does the pleasure of my Father in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for whoever may do the will of my Father who is in the heavens, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, that is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

for whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in [the] heavens, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Context

This concluding verse brings the chapter’s themes together—loyalty to Jesus, the primacy of God’s will, and the community formed by obedience. After debates about law, spiritual authority, and judgment, Jesus ends with a personal demand: true belonging derives from doing the Father’s will, a fitting close to the chapter’s call to authentic faith.

v.49And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold, my mother and my brethren!

v.50This passage

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 28:10

    Then saith Jesus unto them, Fear not: go tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

  • Hebrews 2:11

    For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

  • Psalms 22:22

    I will declare thy name unto my brethren: In the midst of the assembly will I praise thee.

  • 1 Timothy 5:2

    the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.

  • Ephesians 5:25

    Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;

  • 1 Corinthians 9:5

    Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

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