Matthew 12:46-50

The True Household of God (12:46-50).

In contrast with the house of old one-time Israel is the household of the new Israel of God, the ‘household of God' (Ephesians 2:19). In describing this episode Matthew, unlike the other Gospels, has only one interest and that is to reveal that those who have come to Him and are His disciples are now His true family, replacing the old, just as new Israel will replace the old (Matthew 21:43). And the test of this is that they do the will of His Father in Heaven.

These verses cap both the exposition from Matthew 5:1 onwards, by confirming the new family to whom Jesus spoke in Chapter s 5-7 (with His emphasis there on their heavenly Father), and the section from Matthew 11:1 onwards, so as to confirm that with all the failure of Israel to respond, a new family was coming into existence (compare Matthew 11:27). John's fears in Matthew 11:3 had had no foundation, and in spite of the apathy of the crowds and the opposition of the Pharisees His cause was going forward. The Kingly Rule of Heaven was forcefully advancing, and the new congregation of Israel were being formed. Some might be ‘outside', even His own natural family, but there were some who were definitely ‘inside'.