Mark 3:32-34

The multitude sitting around Jesus evidently consisted of a group of His disciples (Mark 3:34). Jesus’ question focused on the quality of relationship with Himself. He meant, Who are the sort of people who are my family? Again Jesus looked around, but this time affectionately (cf. Mark 3:5). He identified His disciples as those closest to Him. This would have been a startling statement to Jesus’ hearers because the Jews valued natural family relationships highly. Jesus was not repudiating family relationships (cf. Mark 7:10-13). He was teaching the priority of spiritual over natural relationships.