#soap # Matthew 12 ## Title: God’s Family ## Scripture: (Matthew 12:49-50) And pointing toward his disciples he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (NET) ## Observation: Jesus is making a powerful statement that the Kingdom of God is not made up of insiders and outsiders. All are welcome. All can become an insider if they are willing to bow to the Lordship of Christ. He leads and we follow. When we do this, it is called salvation. We exchange our sin for His sacrifice on the Cross. This provides our salvation. We are then invited into His family, not as slaves, but as sons and daughters. Jesus is reminding the crowd that His family is made up of those who follow Him. If you are a Christ-follower, you are now part of the Kingdom of God. Elsewhere in the New Testament, it is likened to a wild branch being grafted into an olive tree. We are now part of the family of God. ## Application: Have you ever thought about this meaning the people in the Bible are your adopted family? You’re related, by salvation, to King David and Moses. We are all part of God’s Heavenly family. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for accepting us into Your family.