Key Thought

Wow! This is one of those moments in Jesus' ministry that sizzles with intensity, drama, and significance. Jesus' words would clearly be hurtful to his physical family that was already struggling to know how to understand his ministry. In addition, these words would be liberating and joyous to those who had always felt left out of the political order, pushed aside by the religious elite, and disenfranchised by the social structure of their day. Jesus was promising that his family would be determined by obedience -- not blood, not genealogy, not politics, not power, and not money. That offer still stands today and the promise is just as true for us as it was for those who first heard Jesus' words.

Today's Prayer

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Abba Father, words cannot express what it means to me to have you as my eternal father. I can trust that my home is with you, and yet as I await my journey to that home, I also trust that you have made your home with me. Thank you for claiming me as your beloved child and living inside me through the presence of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law answered Jesus. They said, "Teacher, we want to see you do a miracle as a sign (proof)." Jesus answered, "Evil and sinful people are the ones that want to see a miracle for a sign (proof). But no miracle will be given as a sign to those people. The only sign will be the miracle that happened to the prophet Jonah. Jonah was in the stomach of the big fish for three days and three nights. In the same way, the Son of Man will be in the grave three days and three nights. On the judgment day, you people that live now will be compared with the people from Nineveh, and they will be witnesses to show that you are wrong (guilty). Why? Because when Jonah preached to those people, they changed their hearts and lives. And you are listening to someone greater than Jonah, {but you refuse to change}! On the judgment day, you people that live now will also be compared with the Queen of the South, and she will be a witness to show that you are wrong (guilty). Why? Because she traveled from far, far away to listen to Solomon's wise teaching. And I tell you that someone greater than Solomon is right here, {but you won't listen to me}! "When an evil spirit {from the devil} comes out of a person, that spirit travels through dry places looking for a place to rest. But that spirit finds no place to rest. So the spirit says, 'I will go back to the home (person) I left.' When the spirit comes back to that person, the spirit finds that home (person) still empty. That home is swept clean and made neat. Then the evil spirit goes out and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself. Then all the spirits go into that person and live there. And that person has even more trouble than he had before. It is the same way with the evil people that live today." While Jesus was talking to the people his mother and brothers stood outside. They wanted to talk to Jesus. A person told Jesus, "Your mother and brothers are waiting for you outside. They wantto talk to you." Jesus answered, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" Then Jesus pointed to his followers and said, "See! These people are my mother and my brothers. My true brother and sister and mother is any person that does the things my Father in heaven wants."

— Matthew 12:38-50 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.