12:48a

But: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But simply indicates a change from one speaker to another. In this context, it does not indicate a contrast. Many English versions do not translate this word. In many languages, it will not be necessary to translate this word either.

Jesus replied: This clause introduces Jesus’ rhetorical question. In some languages, it may be natural to shorten this clause. For example:

Jesus said to this person
-or-
Jesus asked (New Living Translation (2004))

Translate this clause in a way that indicates that Jesus spoke to the man who told him about his mother and brothers.

12:48b

Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used it to introduce a new idea. The new idea is that people who do the will of God are Jesus’ true family. Since Jesus and the crowd knew that the people waiting outside were his biological mother and brothers, Jesus said this to make them think. He wanted them to think about what kinds of people should be treated as brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers. His answer in 12:49–50 shows that we should treat our fellow Christians as brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers.

Here are some other ways to introduce this new idea:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? (New Century Version)

• As a statement. For example:

Let me tell you who my mother and my brothers are.

-or-

I will tell you who my mother and my brothers are.

Use a natural way in your language to introduce this new idea. Be careful to translate this in a way that does not imply that Jesus did not know who his family was. Also, be careful to translate this in a way that does not imply that Jesus was saying that the people waiting for him were not his mother and brothers.

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