Mark 3:33

KJV

And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} he answered {G611} them {G846}, saying {G3004}, Who {G5101} is {G2076} my {G3450} mother {G3384}, or {G2228} my {G3450} brethren {G80}?

Complete Jewish Bible

He replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?"

Berean Standard Bible

But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”

American Standard Version

And he answereth them, and saith, Who is my mother and my brethren?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 3:33 records Jesus's profound rhetorical question, "Who is my mother, or my brethren?", posed in response to the announcement that His biological family was seeking Him. This pivotal moment serves as a dramatic transition, shifting the focus from earthly kinship to a spiritual understanding of family, thereby setting the stage for Jesus's radical redefinition of true belonging based on obedience to God's will rather than mere biological ties.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a rapidly escalating period of Jesus's Galilean ministry, marked by intense activity and growing opposition. Immediately preceding this passage, Jesus has been performing powerful miracles, including casting out demons, which has drawn both massive crowds and fierce accusations from the scribes who claim He is possessed by Beelzebub, the prince of demons ([Mark 3:22](/mark/3-22 "Mark 3:22 - Accusations of Beelzebub")). Jesus refutes these accusations with logical arguments about a kingdom divided against itself ([Mark 3:23-27](/mark/3-23-27 "Mark 3:23-27 - Jesus's Rebuttal to Accusations")). Intertwined with this controversy is the concern of His own family, who, upon hearing of His relentless ministry and the public frenzy, conclude He is "beside himself" and come to take Him away ([Mark 3:21](/mark/3-21 "Mark 3:21 - Jesus's Family's Concern")). It is in the midst of Jesus teaching a large crowd that His family arrives, and His question in [Mark 3:33](/mark/3-33 "Mark 3:33 - Jesus's Question about His Family") is His direct, challenging response to their presence and the implicit societal expectation of familial obligation.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Jewish society, family (the _mishpachah_) was the foundational unit, deeply rooted in tribal and lineage identity. Biological ties were paramount, carrying significant social, economic, and religious weight. Honor and loyalty to one's family were central virtues, and a person's identity was largely defined by their family connections. For Jesus's family to come and attempt to take Him away, believing Him to be "beside himself" ([Mark 3:21](/mark/3-21 "Mark 3:21 - Jesus's Family's Concern")), was an act driven by concern for His reputation and perhaps their own, as well as a desire to restore order. Jesus's response, therefore, was not merely a casual inquiry but a radical challenge to deeply ingrained cultural norms. He was not dismissing His earthly family but elevating a new, spiritual kinship above traditional bonds, which would have been startling and counter-cultural to His listeners.

* **Key Themes:** Mark 3:33 powerfully contributes to several key themes within the Gospel of Mark and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it introduces the **Redefinition of Family**, asserting that true kinship with Jesus is not based on biological lineage but on spiritual connection and obedience to God's will. This theme culminates in [Mark 3:35](/mark/3-35 "Mark 3:35 - Defining True Family"). Secondly, it underscores the **Supremacy of God's Kingdom and Will**, demonstrating that Jesus's divine mission takes precedence over all earthly obligations, even those of family. His focus is entirely on the Father's purposes, a theme consistent with His teachings on discipleship, where followers are called to prioritize the kingdom above all else ([Matthew 6:33](/matthew/6-33 "Matthew 6:33 - Seek First the Kingdom")). Finally, the passage highlights the **Nature of True Discipleship**, implying that those who hear and obey God's word are the ones who truly belong to Jesus, aligning with the broader call to follow Him found throughout the Gospel ([Mark 8:34-38](/mark/8-34-38 "Mark 8:34-38 - Cost of Discipleship")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **answered (Greek, _apokrínomai'_):** This verb signifies a decisive conclusion or response, often implying a formal or significant reply. In this context, Jesus's "answer" is not a simple acknowledgment but a profound, intentional statement that redefines the terms of the interaction and the nature of His relationships. It's a response that carries weight and sets the stage for a deeper theological truth.
* **Who (Greek, _tís'_):** As an interrogative pronoun, "who" is used here not to elicit a factual identification, but to provoke thought and challenge assumptions. It functions as a rhetorical device, prompting the listeners to consider a new criterion for identity and belonging. Jesus is not asking for a name, but for a new category of understanding.
* **brethren (Greek, _adelphós'_):** This term literally means "from the same womb" or "brother." While it refers to Jesus's biological siblings here, its deeper implication in this context is to contrast this earthly, familial bond with the spiritual kinship Jesus is about to introduce. It sets up the tension between conventional understanding and the radical new reality of God's family.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he answered them, saying":** This introductory clause establishes Jesus's direct and deliberate engagement with the message delivered to Him. It indicates that His subsequent question is not spontaneous or dismissive, but a considered response designed to convey a specific, profound teaching. The context implies that "them" refers to those who informed Him of His family's presence, as well as the broader crowd listening.
* **"Who is my mother, or my brethren?":** This is a rhetorical question, central to the passage's meaning. Jesus is not genuinely asking for identification, as He knows who His mother and brothers are. Instead, He is using the question to challenge the conventional understanding of family and to prepare His audience for a radical redefinition of kinship. The disjunctive "or" (_ḗ_) highlights the choice or distinction He is about to make, drawing a clear line between biological ties and a deeper, spiritual relationship.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 3:33 is rich in **Rhetorical Question**, a device where the speaker asks a question not to elicit an answer, but to make a point or provoke thought. Jesus's "Who is my mother, or my brethren?" is a classic example, designed to challenge the listeners' assumptions about family and prepare them for His subsequent redefinition of spiritual kinship. This question also functions as a form of **Paradox**, as it seemingly dismisses His biological family while actually elevating a higher form of relationship. It creates a tension that draws the audience's attention. Furthermore, the passage employs **Dramatic Irony** in that the audience (and His family) expects one response—acknowledgment of His family—but Jesus delivers a response that subverts that expectation, revealing a deeper truth about His identity and mission. This re-framing of family can also be seen as a form of **Re-definition**, where Jesus takes a common concept and imbues it with new, spiritual meaning.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 3:33 serves as a foundational moment for understanding the nature of the new covenant community and the radical priorities of the Kingdom of God. Jesus's rhetorical question challenges the deeply ingrained cultural and theological emphasis on biological lineage, which was central to Jewish identity and the Abrahamic covenant. By shifting the focus from physical descent to spiritual obedience, Jesus inaugurates a new family, a spiritual household defined by doing the will of God. This redefinition is not a rejection of earthly family but an elevation of the spiritual bond, demonstrating that the call to follow Christ supersedes all other loyalties. It foreshadows the inclusive nature of the church, where all who believe and obey become part of God's family, regardless of their earthly background.

* [Matthew 12:48-50](/matthew/12-48-50 "Matthew 12:48-50 - Jesus's True Family")
* [Luke 8:19-21](/luke/8-19-21 "Luke 8:19-21 - Hearing and Doing the Word")
* [John 1:12-13](/john/1-12-13 "John 1:12-13 - Children of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 3:33 invites us to profoundly re-evaluate our understanding of family, belonging, and priority. In a world that often prioritizes biological ties, social status, or personal comfort, Jesus's words call us to consider where our ultimate loyalty lies. This passage challenges us to recognize that our deepest and most enduring identity is found not in earthly relationships, however precious, but in our spiritual connection to Christ and our commitment to God's will. It encourages us to cultivate genuine fellowship with fellow believers, recognizing them as our spiritual family, bound by a common faith and shared obedience. This doesn't diminish the importance of loving and honoring our biological families, but it places spiritual kinship in its proper, eternal perspective, reminding us that our primary allegiance is to the Kingdom of God and its King.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus's redefinition of family challenge my own cultural or personal assumptions about kinship and loyalty?**
* **In what ways do my actions demonstrate that "doing the will of God" is a priority in my life, reflecting my true spiritual family?**
* **How can I better foster a sense of spiritual kinship and belonging within my church community, treating fellow believers as true family?**
* **Are there any earthly relationships or obligations that I am allowing to hinder my full obedience to God's will?**

### FAQ

**Did Jesus truly reject His earthly mother and brothers in this moment?**

Answer: No, Jesus did not reject or disown His earthly mother and brothers. His question in [Mark 3:33](/mark/3-33 "Mark 3:33 - Jesus's Question about His Family") is a rhetorical device, not a literal disavowal. The purpose was to elevate the concept of spiritual kinship above mere biological ties. He was teaching that while earthly family is important, the bond formed through obedience to God's will is of even greater, eternal significance. Elsewhere, Jesus demonstrates care for His mother, such as entrusting her to John's care at the cross ([John 19:26-27](/john/19-26-27 "John 19:26-27 - Jesus Entrusts Mary to John")). This passage is not about abandoning family, but about establishing a new, higher priority for those who follow Him.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 3:33, with Jesus's radical redefinition of family, finds its ultimate fulfillment in His person and work as the Christ. Through His perfect obedience to the Father's will, Jesus inaugurated a new spiritual family, the church, which is His body ([Ephesians 1:22-23](/ephesians/1-22-23 "Ephesians 1:22-23 - Christ as Head of the Church")). No longer is kinship primarily determined by physical descent from Abraham, but by faith in Christ and adoption into God's family through Him ([Galatians 3:26-29](/galatians/3-26-29 "Galatians 3:26-29 - Children of God by Faith")). Jesus, the Son of God, became the "firstborn among many brethren" ([Romans 8:29](/romans/8-29 "Romans 8:29 - Firstborn Among Many Brethren")), inviting all who hear and do the will of His Father to become His spiritual siblings. His sacrifice on the cross not only atoned for sin but also tore down the dividing wall of hostility, creating one new humanity united in Him ([Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14-16 "Ephesians 2:14-16 - One New Humanity in Christ")). Thus, Jesus's challenging question in Mark 3:33 foreshadows the glorious reality of the new covenant, where all believers are united as co-heirs with Christ, members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone ([Ephesians 2:19-20](/ephesians/2-19-20 "Ephesians 2:19-20 - Fellow Citizens with the Saints")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Mark 3:21

And when his friends heard [of it], they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

Deuteronomy 33:9

Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.

Mark 6:3

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

2 Corinthians 5:16

¶ Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more.

John 7:3

His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

John 7:5

For neither did his brethren believe in him.

John 2:4

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.