Jesus' true relatives


The saying of Jesus concerning his true relatives is found in the Canonical gospels of Mark and Matthew.

In the Bible

From :
There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing
without, sent unto him, calling him.
And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him,
Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my
brethren?
And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and
said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my
brother, and my sister, and mother.

From :
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and
his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren
stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my
mother? and who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and
said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in
heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Apocryphal version

A re-organized version also appears in the Gospel of Thomas :
99 The disciples said to him, "Your brothers and your mother are
standing outside." He said to them, "Those here who do what my
Father wants are my brothers and my mother. They are the ones who
will enter my Father's kingdom."
100 They showed Jesus a gold coin and said to him, "The Roman
emperor's people demand taxes from us." He said to them, "Give the
emperor what belongs to the emperor, give God what belongs to God,
and give me what is mine."
101 "Whoever does not hate and mother as I do cannot be
my , and whoever does love mother as
I do cannot be my . For my mother , but my true
gave me life."

Verse 100 is similar to Mark 12:13-17 and Luke 20.22-26. Verse 101 is similar to and.