Matthew 13:56
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Matthew 13:56
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Chapter Context
Matthew 13 is a biographical gospel chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of discipleship, redemption, creation. Written during the late first century CE (c. 80-90 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Written when Christianity was separating from Judaism following Jerusalem's destruction.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-58: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it addresses timeless questions about faith, suffering, and divine purpose. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Matthew and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Matthew 13:56
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Analysis
And his sisters, are they not all with us? (καὶ αἱ ἀδελφαὶ αὐτοῦ οὐχὶ πᾶσαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς εἰσιν;)—The plural ἀδελφαί (sisters) and the word πᾶσαι ('all') suggest at least two or three sisters, making Jesus part of a large family (at least seven siblings total). Are they not all with us? emphasizes ongoing local residence—'these people are still here, still ordinary.' The phrase πρὸς ἡμᾶς ('with us, among us') stresses familiarity: 'We know these people; they're our neighbors.'
Whence then hath this man all these things? (πόθεν οὖν τούτῳ ταῦτα πάντα;)—The repeated question (cf. v. 54) shows they were asking the right question but refusing the obvious answer. The πόθεν ('from where, from what source') demanded they acknowledge either divine origin or demonic power. They chose a third option: offense (v. 57). The inferential οὖν ('therefore, then') shows they're drawing a conclusion from the evidence, but the wrong one—that His humble origins disqualify Him from divine authority.
Historical Context
Women in first-century Palestine lived more private lives than men, so the sisters remain unnamed. Their mention demonstrates how thoroughly the townspeople knew Jesus's family. The text provides important counter-evidence to later Gnostic claims that Jesus was a purely spiritual being or that He descended into Jesus of Nazareth at His baptism. The incarnation means the eternal Son truly took on human nature in a specific family in a specific town.
Reflection
- Why do people often reject what they can explain naturally (Jesus's humanity) rather than accept what the evidence demands (His deity)?
- How does familiarity with Christianity's 'ordinary' trappings (church buildings, rituals) sometimes blind modern people to Christ's extraordinary power?