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.  Matthew 12:46-50

Here we see Jesus use an incident as a teaching moment of the New Covenant. Mary, the mother of Jesus , and his brothers were looking for Jesus to talk to him. Instead of Jesus immediately acknowledging them, he was teaching us what it meant to be a true Child of God. Some would argue that Jesus was being rude or disrespectful to his mother, however from the gospels we know Jesus and Mary had a very strong relationship, and that is not the case here

Jesus asks the question “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Now from a biological sense we know the answer, but Jesus is speaking from a spiritual sense. Christ is trying to teach us that we are Children of God through Him (Christ). Just as the Jews are not saved by their bloodline, we are not Children of God by our bloodline either. We must become Born Again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (John 3:3) We can’t be Children of God, without the regeneration of the Holy Spirit

Jesus said “Whoever does the will of My Father (God) , which is in heaven, is my brother, sister, and mother” What is the will of God the Father? That everyone receives Christ and becomes saved (Matthew 18:14, 2 Peter 3:9) Outside of that Will , you are not a Child of God, outside of Jesus Christ, you can’t be saved (John 14:6, Acts 4:12)

Let me take this one more step further, there is a misconception that everyone is automatically a Child of God. This is not Biblical, we are all made in the Image of God (Genesis 1:27) however we are not all Children of God unless we are Born Again in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28)

Atheists are not Children of God, Muslims are not Children of God, you can only be a Child of God if you are Born Again (John 3:3) Nobody can come to the Father (God) except through Christ (John 14:6) We can’t stand before a Holy God unless we become regenerated or Born Again. Many people claim to know God without Christ, but God doesn’t know them. 

Who are the Children of God? They are the ones who do the Will of The Father, what is the will of The Father? That everyone receives Christ and becomes Born Again (John 3:3), Amen!