Matthew 13:56

KJV

And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this [man] all these things?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} his {G846} sisters {G79}, are they {G1526} not {G3780} all {G3956} with {G4314} us {G2248}? Whence {G4159} then {G3767} hath this man {G5129} all {G3956} these things {G5023}?

Complete Jewish Bible

And his sisters, aren't they all with us? So where does he get all this?"

Berean Standard Bible

Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?”

American Standard Version

And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 13:56 captures the profound skepticism of Jesus' hometown, Nazareth, as its inhabitants grapple with the extraordinary wisdom and miraculous power displayed by someone they knew intimately. Unable to reconcile His humble origins and familiar family with His divine manifestations, they rhetorically question the source of His authority, highlighting their deep-seated unbelief and the common human tendency to dismiss truth from an unexpected or ordinary source.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed at the conclusion of Jesus' extensive teaching in parables in [Matthew 13](/matthew/13 "Matthew 13 - The Parables of the Kingdom"). Having just explained the Parable of the Weeds to His disciples (verses 36-43) and presented several kingdom parables (verses 44-52), Jesus returns to His "own country" (verse 54) – Nazareth. The immediate preceding verses (13:54-55) describe the astonishment of the people at His teaching and mighty works, followed by their questioning of His identity based on their knowledge of His mother, Mary, and His brothers—James, Joses, Simon, and Judas. Verse 56 completes this familial reference by including His sisters, emphasizing that His entire immediate family was known to them and lived among them, thereby intensifying their bewilderment and skepticism about His extraordinary power and teachings.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Jewish society, a person's identity and standing were deeply intertwined with their family, lineage, and hometown. Nazareth itself was a small, obscure village, often viewed with disdain (as seen in [John 1:46](/john/1-46 "John 1:46 - Nathanael's Question About Nazareth")). For the Messiah or a great prophet to emerge from such a humble background, and from a family of carpenters, challenged their preconceived notions of divine manifestation. The people of Nazareth expected a prophet to have a more impressive origin or lineage, or at least not to be someone they had watched grow up. Their familiarity bred contempt, as they struggled to grant honor to someone they perceived as merely "the carpenter's son," a common laborer, rather than a divine figure.
* **Key Themes:** This passage powerfully illustrates several key themes. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **familiarity breeding contempt or unbelief**. The intimate knowledge the Nazarenes had of Jesus' earthly family and upbringing blinded them to His divine identity and mission, preventing them from recognizing the extraordinary in the ordinary. Secondly, it underscores the **challenge to Jesus' authority and identity**. Their questions, "Whence then hath this [man] all these things?" (Matthew 13:56), are not genuine inquiries but expressions of doubt and resistance to His perceived lack of proper credentials. This skepticism directly leads to their **unbelief and obstruction**, which, as recorded in [Matthew 13:58](/matthew/13-58 "Matthew 13:58 - The Impact of Unbelief"), limited Jesus' ability to perform many miracles there. Finally, this episode sets the stage for Jesus' poignant declaration in [Matthew 13:57](/matthew/13-57 "Matthew 13:57 - A Prophet Without Honor"), that "A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house," a theme that resonates throughout His ministry.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **sisters (Greek, _adelphḗ'_):** This word, referring to female siblings, completes the list of Jesus' immediate family members mentioned by the Nazarenes (following His mother and brothers in the preceding verse). Its inclusion emphasizes the comprehensive nature of their familiarity with Jesus' earthly household, underscoring that His entire family was known to them and lived among them. This intimate knowledge, ironically, became a stumbling block to their faith.
* **all (Greek, _pâs'_):** Used twice in the verse ("are they not all with us?" and "hath this man all these things?"), this word signifies totality and completeness. In the first instance, it highlights that every member of Jesus' immediate family was present and known, leaving no room for a mysterious, unknown origin for Jesus. In the second, it refers to the totality of Jesus' wisdom and mighty works, expressing the Nazarenes' utter bewilderment at the vastness of His abilities given His humble background.
* **Whence (Greek, _póthen'_):** This interrogative adverb denotes origin, source, or cause. The question "Whence then hath this [man] all these things?" is not a humble inquiry for understanding but a rhetorical challenge, implying that there is no conceivable earthly source for Jesus' extraordinary power and wisdom, given their knowledge of His ordinary upbringing. It betrays their inability to conceive of a divine, supernatural origin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And his sisters, are they not all with us?"**: This is a rhetorical question, the implied answer being a resounding "Yes." The Nazarenes are pointing to the undeniable fact that Jesus' entire family, including His sisters, lived among them and were well-known. This statement serves to reinforce their perception of Jesus as an ordinary local, making His extraordinary wisdom and miracles seem utterly incongruous with His perceived identity. It highlights their struggle to reconcile the divine with the familiar.
* **"Whence then hath this [man] all these things?"**: This second rhetorical question expresses their utter bewilderment and disbelief. "These things" refers to the "wisdom" and "mighty works" mentioned in [Matthew 13:54](/matthew/13-54 "Matthew 13:54 - Jesus' Teaching in Nazareth"). The phrase "this [man]" (the word "man" is supplied by translators, the Greek simply uses a demonstrative pronoun, emphasizing a dismissive tone) conveys a sense of contempt or disdain. They are questioning the very source of His power, implying that someone so familiar and ordinary could not possibly possess such divine attributes. Their question reveals their inability to look beyond outward appearances to recognize the divine presence.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 13:56 employs several powerful literary devices. The most prominent is **Rhetorical Question**, seen in both clauses: "And his sisters, are they not all with us?" and "Whence then hath this [man] all these things?" These are not questions seeking information but rather expressions of incredulity, doubt, and a challenge to Jesus' authority, designed to highlight the Nazarenes' disbelief. There is also significant **Irony** at play; the very familiarity that should have made Jesus accessible to His own people became the primary obstacle to their faith. Their intimate knowledge of His earthly family and upbringing, rather than fostering belief, led to their rejection. Furthermore, the passage presents a stark **Contrast** between Jesus' humble, known origins and the extraordinary, inexplicable power and wisdom He demonstrates, setting up the central conflict of the narrative and foreshadowing His broader rejection.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 13:56 serves as a poignant illustration of humanity's frequent resistance to divine truth when it appears in unexpected or unassuming forms. The Nazarenes' inability to see beyond Jesus' humble origins and familiar family highlights a pervasive theological theme: God often works through what the world deems weak, foolish, or ordinary to confound the wise and mighty ([1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1-corinthians/1-27-29 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God Chooses the Lowly")). This passage underscores the "scandal of particularity" – the divine choosing to manifest in a specific, seemingly un-Messianic, context. It reveals that true spiritual insight is not based on outward appearances or earthly credentials but on a revelation from God, which the Nazarenes lacked, leading to their spiritual blindness.

* [John 1:46](/john/1-46 "John 1:46 - Nathanael's Question About Nazareth") - Nathanael's skeptical question, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" echoes the disdain for Jesus' hometown.
* [Isaiah 53:2-3](/isaiah/53-2-3 "Isaiah 53:2-3 - The Suffering Servant's Appearance") - This prophecy describes the Messiah as having "no form nor comeliness" and being "despised and rejected of men," aligning with the Nazarenes' dismissal of Jesus based on His ordinary appearance.
* [Mark 6:1-6](/mark/6-1-6 "Mark 6:1-6 - Jesus Rejected at Nazareth") - The parallel account in Mark's Gospel provides further detail on Jesus' rejection in His hometown, emphasizing the impact of their unbelief on His ability to perform miracles there.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of Jesus' rejection in Nazareth, culminating in the question of Matthew 13:56, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It challenges us to critically examine our own predispositions and the subtle ways in which familiarity or preconceived notions might hinder our recognition of God's work. Just as the Nazarenes struggled to accept divine power from someone they knew as "the carpenter's son," we too can fall into the trap of dismissing God's truth or activity when it emerges from unexpected sources, through ordinary people, or in contexts that don't align with our expectations. This passage calls us to cultivate a posture of humility and openness, recognizing that God's wisdom and power transcend human categories and appearances. It prompts us to ask whether our own skepticism or comfort with the familiar is preventing us from experiencing the fullness of God's transformative power or from embracing truths that challenge our established perspectives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or ministry might my "familiarity" with people or situations be hindering my ability to recognize God's work or receive His truth?**
* **Am I prone to judging spiritual authority or divine intervention based on outward appearances or conventional expectations, rather than on the fruit of the Spirit or the truth of the message?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater openness to God working in unexpected ways or through seemingly ordinary individuals?**

### FAQ
**Why were the people of Nazareth so surprised by Jesus' wisdom and miracles?**

Answer: The people of Nazareth were surprised because they had known Jesus since childhood as the son of Joseph, the carpenter, and Mary. They were familiar with His entire family, including His brothers and sisters, who lived among them ([Matthew 13:55-56](/matthew/13-55-56 "Matthew 13:55-56 - Jesus' Family in Nazareth")). They expected Him to be an ordinary person like themselves, and thus, His extraordinary wisdom and mighty works (as mentioned in [Matthew 13:54](/matthew/13-54 "Matthew 13:54 - Jesus' Teaching in Nazareth")) were completely incongruous with their preconceived notions of His identity.

**What "things" are the people referring to when they ask, "Whence then hath this [man] all these things?"**

Answer: The "things" they are referring to are the "wisdom" and "mighty works" (miracles) that Jesus had just displayed in their synagogue, as described in [Matthew 13:54](/matthew/13-54 "Matthew 13:54 - Jesus' Teaching in Nazareth"). They were astonished by His teaching authority and the power behind His actions, but could not reconcile these divine manifestations with His humble, familiar background.

**Does the Bible say what happened to Jesus' sisters?**

Answer: While the Bible explicitly names Jesus' four brothers—James, Joses, Simon, and Judas ([Matthew 13:55](/matthew/13-55 "Matthew 13:55 - Jesus' Brothers")), it does not provide specific names or further details about His sisters. They are mentioned here and in the parallel account in [Mark 6:3](/mark/6-3 "Mark 6:3 - Jesus' Sisters Mentioned"), confirming their existence and presence in Nazareth, but their subsequent lives are not recorded in Scripture.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 13:56, with its depiction of Jesus' rejection in His hometown, powerfully foreshadows the broader pattern of His ministry and ultimately, His atoning work. The Nazarenes' question, "Whence then hath this [man] all these things?", encapsulates the world's inability to comprehend the divine in the humble, the glorious in the ordinary. This rejection by His own people, those who knew Him best, is a poignant echo of [John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own"), which states, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." Jesus, the Son of God, willingly embraced a humble birth and an unremarkable upbringing, not for lack of divine power, but as part of His redemptive mission to identify with humanity in its lowliness ([Philippians 2:7-8](/philippians/2-7-8 "Philippians 2:7-8 - Christ's Humiliation")). His very presence, overflowing with wisdom and power, yet cloaked in the familiar, challenged the world's expectations of a Messiah. The stone "which the builders rejected" ([Psalm 118:22](/psalm/118-22 "Psalm 118:22 - The Stone the Builders Rejected")) became the cornerstone ([Matthew 21:42](/matthew/21-42 "Matthew 21:42 - The Parable of the Wicked Tenants")), precisely because His true identity was not discernible by human wisdom or familiarity, but by divine revelation ([Matthew 16:17](/matthew/16-17 "Matthew 16:17 - Peter's Confession")). Thus, the rejection in Nazareth underscores the profound truth that salvation is not found in human recognition or earthly credentials, but in faith in the One whom God sent, regardless of His humble earthly origins, culminating in His ultimate vindication through resurrection ([Romans 1:4](/romans/1-4 "Romans 1:4 - Jesus Declared Son of God")).

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.