Matthew 12:46-50
With all the obsession today over genetic testing, ancestry, race, etc…, you can define yourself by traits such as skin or hair color, dialects, or even the actions of ancestors. Who we grew up with can be a huge factor in how we define ourselves, but is that correct? Some hold real tight bonds to their relations, others not so much. How much weight does the Bible put on the genetic link between each other? Today we are looking at how God flipped the script on the definition of family.
Matthew 12 shows how Jesus’ teachings draw different, but intense, responses by others. When informed His family was there, Jesus responds with a bold redefinition of the family – defined not by genealogy, but by obedience to God. In fact, the Bible offers a picture of “family” that echoes the plan and purpose of God. Even in the Old Testament.
The Old Testament Definition of Family
The concept of “family” plays a unique and important role, starting at the beginning of scripture. By the time we get to Genesis 12, we see God use one specific family to bring God’s blessing to the whole world. God sets up the family to:
- Preserve bloodline to bring ultimate blessing (Gen 12:1-3)
- Unify through experiences and culture to protect genealogy (Psalm 78)
- Serve as a beacon to the world (Psalm 15)
This development of the genealogical family unit is vital to the protection and preservation of the line of the promise and thus is a natural grouping designed to protect the future generations. However, it was designed with a purpose larger than just ancestral survival. Kind of like Transformers – there is more to them than “meets the eye”.
The New Testament Definition of Family
The Bible’s natural climax and midway point is the cross. Everything before it looks towards the cross, and everything after it is about life in light of the cross. While God never changes, He does develop things over time as He works within each of us, and a deeper understanding of the family fits with that. While we see the same concepts about family in the New Testament, the outward appearance does change a bit. God shows family to be:
- Defined not by blood, but by faith in Christ (Galatians 3:29)
- Unity through shared passion and purpose (Acts 2:42-47)
- A light in all the dark corners of the world (Acts 16:6-10)
With this growing definition of family, God puts the emphasis and importance throughout the New Testament on our spiritual family. We are either to be living in unity with our spiritual family or bringing others into that family. Through this, God is developing a focus on spiritual ideals.
The Physical Leads to the Spiritual
Just like Jesus would always heal the physical ailment before focusing on the spiritual, our physical families are designed to move us from a focus on physical families to spiritual ones, like how Jesus defined his family as those who obey God. This doesn’t mean we neglect the physical, but grow in relation to the spiritual. Consider God’s heart in regard to non-bloodline families:
- God always wanted outsiders included (Joshua 8:33-35)
- Blessing is meant to be shared (Matt 28:19-20)
- Working in us, He puts us where he wants us and uses us with the others He has placed in those areas (1 Corinthians 12:12-20)
Paul moves from that conversation on being in the body of Christ right into chapter 13 (where most people misunderstand that as a passage for spouses), which is written about love we should have for our church family! The point is, that as we grow in Christ, we should see the vital importance of our spiritual family and invest in its health/growth as much as we can.
SO WHAT?
How can we invest in our spiritual/church family?
- Build your community (live, work, play) by connecting with people
- Develop relationships with church family – outside of the building
- Partner with church family on mission-focused projects
We all have blood relations, but this here, those you can see around you in your church (along with those we can’t see yet), are your family. We are a family that is called to grow and invest in each other. Let’s be all we can be as God’s family!
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