The Revolutionary Concept of Family in the New Testament

Jesus redefines the concept of family, emphasizing the importance of the new family he is creating. He states that whoever does the will of his Father in heaven is his brother, sister, and mother. This challenges the traditional loyalty to blood relatives and highlights the central role of God as the Father in this new family. Jesus defies the social fabric of his world by publicly denying his own family and endorsing the new family centered around him. The early church is also portrayed as a new family, sharing their possessions, spending time together, and forgiving one another.