The arrival
of Jesus’ mother and brothers occurs within a context of conflict and rejection
in Matthew 12. Previously Jesus was engaged in bitter controversy with the Pharisees,
who challenged him and attacked his honor (12:1-8, 9-14, 24). Immediately after
this, Jesus speaks a series of parables which seem opaque even to his
disciples. When these disciples draw him aside and ask why his speech is so
parabolic, Jesus distinguishes between insiders and outsiders. To the insiders,
who are designated as fictive kin (Pitt-Rivers 1968:408-13), it is given to
know the secrets of the kingdom; but outsiders are not given to know the
secrets of the kingdom of heaven (13:10-12). The context of Jesus’ meeting with
his blood relatives occurs between conflict and challenge by enemies (12:1-45)
and contrast between insiders and outsiders (13:10-17). Thus, when his
mother and brothers arrived, they “stood outside” (12:46), a small comment
which suggests that they are not “insiders” and disciples who hear his words.
This family, then, appears to lack typical family solidarity and unity; its
honor and reputation are questionable. (Jerome H. Neyrey, Honor and Shame
in the Gospel of Matthew [Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press,
1998], 53, emphasis added)
