. . . in light of Jesus’s positive reference to one’s biological
family as owed honor (Mark 7:8-13; 10:17-19; Matt 19:19; Luke 18:20), Jesus
does not redefine family disjunctively but subordinately. That is, Jesus still
agrees that Torah requires honor toward one’s biological parents. Thus, while
allegiance to one’s spiritual family may override what one owes to one’s
biological family when requirements compete, the deadness of the nonspiritual
family does not negate the requirement to support them. Therefore, Jesus’s
instruction is not strictly a redefinition of family but a definition of the
discipleship community as family that is prioritized over—but does not negate—the
biological family when requirements compete. (Paul T. Sloan, Jesus and the
Law of Moses: The Gospels and the Restoration of Israel Within the First-Century
Judaism [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2025], 151 n. 52)
