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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 78 : The Biological and the Spiritual Family

Text: Matthew 12
20 August 2023

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 20 AUGUST 2023
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 12

Subject: The Biological and the Spiritual Family

46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.
47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”
49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21

THE BIOLOGICAL FAMILY

1. This is an important institution

a) Marriage
b) Offspring
c) The individual family unit
d) The extended biological family

2. Certain responsibilities

a) The Immediate Family
i) Responsibility to each other
ii) Care and Concern for the well-being of family members
b) The Extended Family
i) Responsibilities to be determined by the family
ii) Fulfilment of responsibilities as one is able to commit

THE SPIRITUAL FAMILY

1. This is a valid Concept

2. The Lord Jesus explains this Concept in this Text

THE CONTEXT

1. The Biological Family of the Lord Jesus appears as He was teaching the Multitudes

2. Note the following Details

a) The Family Members were standing outside
b) They were seeking to see Him
c) They sent someone to tell Him that the Family Members were outside (Mark 3:31)
i) They were not there to listen and to learn like the others
ii) They were not going to wait for Him to finish teaching
iii) They just wanted to see Him while He was teaching

3. There are Commitments

a) To the Biological Family
b) And also to the Spiritual Family
c) The Biological Family is not above the Spiritual Family

THE CLEAR TEACHINGS OF THE LORD

1. Who was His:

a) Mother?
b) Brothers?

2. Clear identification

a) Those who do God’s will
b) They are His:
i) Mother
ii) Brother
iii) Sister

AN IMPORTANT TEXT TO KNOW

1. John 7:5

His brothers did not believe in the Lord Jesus (at that point of time)

2. They were negative towards Him and His ministry

3. They did not believe that He was the Messiah

4. Their visit

a) No respect or regard to His ministry
b) They wanted the Lord Jesus to drop what He was doing and attend to them

CONCLUSION

1. The Biological Family is important

2. But so is the Spiritual Family

3. The Lord Jesus did not set aside the Spiritual Family in favour of the Biological one

4. He honoured all who were doing God’s will as His family