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Mark 3:31-35, the Family of God BaptistWay Press® Premium Commentary By Dr. Stephen G. Hatfield Pastor, First Baptist Church Lewisville, Texas Studies in The reMARKable Journey Begins (Mark 1-3) Lesson Thirteen The Family of God Focal Text Mark 3:31-35 Background Matthew 12:46-50 Main Idea Jesus was not rejecting His earthly family. He was teaching us that a spiritual connection is stronger than a biological connection. Question to Explore How can I know God’s will? Quick Read Life’s greatest relationship is Jesus. Life’s greatest family is the church. And life’s greatest goal is to do God’s will. Introduction My wife, Marcie, and I have five children—four daughters and one son. They are all married. We also have fifteen grandchildren and will have sixteen before summer rolls around. The remarkable thing is they live near us—five blocks, one mile, and two miles. One daughter and our son live in neighboring cities. I told them both it was no big deal—we would see them on Christmas and Easter. We divide the grands into four Page 1 of 7 Premium Commentary. The reMARKable Journey Begins--Lesson Thirteen. Copyright © 2020 BAPTISTWAY PRESS©. A MINISTRY OF THE Baptist General Convention of Texas. Go to www.baptistway press.org or call 1-866-249-1799 toll-free for additional Bible study materials for all ages. This lesson is not to be sold or distributed beyond the subscription agreement. The copyright notice and identifying information in this note must be included on any copies made. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations in Premium Commentary are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Mark 3:31-35, The Family of God batches, based on age. We do not call the roll very often for fear we will leave someone out. Marcie has even considered tattooing their names and birthdates on her forearms. It’s evident family is a big deal to us. We are fortunate in that all our kids are close by. We consider it a blessing to have them live near us. We see each other quite often. We help when needed to make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there. As close-knit as our family of twenty-seven is, our family dynamic pales in comparison to the priority placed on family life in New Testament times. It was a priority that Jesus turned upside down. Commentary As mentioned in last week’s lesson, the structure of this week’s passage continues a technique where Mark introduces a story, and then interrupts it before bringing it to a conclusion. (See also 5:21-43 and 6:37-41.) He uses this method to emphasize points from both narratives. In this case, the accusation that Jesus is possessed by demonic spirits (3:22-30) is sandwiched between two passages that describe the attitude of Jesus’ own family (3:20-21; 31-35). In 3:20-21, Mark describes Jesus’ extended family traveling from Nazareth to Capernaum to confront Jesus. Mark then abruptly turns to the discussion between Jesus and the Jewish authorities in 3:22-30. Then just as abruptly, Mark switches back to the discussion between Jesus and his extended family in 3:31-35. All in the Family? (3:31) 3:31. Scholars have long debated the motivations and identity of Jesus’ family. Various interpretations concerning their relationship to Jesus emerged in the early church. Some suggest the brothers mentioned here were Joseph’s sons, thus protecting the doctrine of the virgin birth. Others suggest they were cousins. The most natural understanding is they were younger half-brothers of Jesus. Four of these brothers are named and sisters are mentioned in Mark 6:3. John 7:3-5 tells us the brothers of Jesus did not believe in his mission. The omission of Joseph in this passage suggests he had died. A New Understanding of Family (3:32-35) 3:32-35. Jesus appears aloof and distant in these verses. His words and attitude do depart from mainstream Judaism. The family bond was impenetrable. In many places today, it is normal for children to live close to parents, perhaps even in the same house. The family unit could be a business endeavor. N. T. Wright comments: Loyalty to the family was the local and specific out-working of loyalty to Israel as the people of God. Break the link, and you’ve undermined a Page 2 of 7 Premium Commentary. The reMARKable Journey Begins--Lesson Thirteen. Copyright © 2020 BAPTISTWAY PRESS©. A MINISTRY OF THE Baptist General Convention of Texas. Go to www.baptistway press.org or call 1-866-249-1799 toll-free for additional Bible study materials for all ages. This lesson is not to be sold or distributed beyond the subscription agreement. The copyright notice and identifying information in this note must be included on any copies made. Mark 3:31-35, The Family of God major pillar in the way Jews in the first century think and feel about the world and themselves.1 The family traveled to Capernaum for one reason—to find Jesus, to take Him back to Nazareth, and to put a stop to His hurtful behavior. If we do not read 3:33-35 “as deeply shocking, you haven’t got the message.”2 Jesus did not reject His family—He enlarged it. He opened his family to include anyone who followed God’s will. Apparently, His blood relatives came to understand and to accept this family model. After the cross and resurrection, Luke described the believers who gathered in Jerusalem: “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers” (Acts 1:14). Raymond Brown concludes: “Not blood, but faith, binds together the family of Christ.”3 Even though Jesus defined “family” as anyone who joined Him in his mission, the idea of family referring to blood relatives only is still alive and well. In Forrest Carter’s description of depression-era life in the 1930s, he recounts a conversation of a grandfather explaining the concept of “kin” to his grandson: Granpa said back before his time “kinfolks” meant any folks that you understood and had an understanding with, so it meant “loved folks.” But people got selfish, and brought it down to mean just blood relatives; but that actually it was never meant to mean that.4 Jesus’ stance on the definition of family is far different from what we expect or want to hear. This passage does not give us tips to make our blood relatives happier and more prosperous. However, if we are looking for God’s grander vision for the family, then we have come to the right place. Garland asserts, “God rejects the exclusiveness and selfishness that is often whipped up by biological kinship and claims that the anonymous crowds can become family to him and to one another.”5 Illustration: A reporter’s interview of two gang members living in a large American city reflects a similar but perverted understanding of family bonds. They were first cousins, who had been raised together in the same home by their grandmother but somehow wound up as members of rival gangs. They confessed that they would not hesitate to do harm to the other if the situation or the orders of the gang required it. The dedication to the gang family would override the commitment to blood relatives. They defined family according to their common purpose rather than according to blood relationships. Jesus’ definition of family is similar: Our shared commitments to God tie us more closely together than biological kinship. The key difference between the gang family and the family of God is the commitment to live out the will of the Father, to bring good rather than evil to others.6 Page 3 of 7 Premium Commentary. The reMARKable Journey Begins--Lesson Thirteen. Copyright © 2020 BAPTISTWAY PRESS©. A MINISTRY OF THE Baptist General Convention of Texas. Go to www.baptistway press.org or call 1-866-249-1799 toll-free for additional Bible study materials for all ages. This lesson is not to be sold or distributed beyond the subscription agreement. The copyright notice and identifying information in this note must be included on any copies made. Mark 3:31-35, The Family of God William Barclay comments on four things that constitute true kinship:7 1) True kinship is found in a common experience. Anyone who did the will of God was included in Jesus’ family. Note “anyone,” not just the twelve, was included here. Obedience alone does not earn the kinship; it only proves it. 2) True kinship lies in a common interest. A believer’s commitment to read God’s Word may wane over time. If you connect believers together to read and discuss God’s Word, then the common interest of understanding Scripture motivates people to know more about Jesus. 3) True kinship lies in a common obedience. The twelve were made up of a very diverse group. Matthew, the tax-collector, and Simon the Zealot should have hated each other and perhaps they did at one time. But their commitment to Jesus made them brothers. 4) True kinship lies in a common goal. Believers will have their differences. A common goal brings us together. Our common goal should be to take the gospel to a lost and dying world. Surely, we can rally around that goal.
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