Mark iii.
31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him,
32 And the multitude sat about him, and said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren seek for thee.
33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
34 And he looked round about and said. Behold my mother and my brethren!
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister and mother.
Many of the same texts found in the Book of Matthew are repeated by the other Evangelists. It appears from the text that the earnestness of Jesus in teaching the people, made some of his friends, who did not believe in his mission, anxious. Even his mother feared to have him teach doctrines in opposition to the public sentiment of his day. His words of seeming disrespect to her, simply meant to imply that he had an important work to do, that his duties to humanity were more to him than the ties of natural affection.
Many of the ancient writers criticise Mary severely, for trying to exercise control over Jesus, assuming rightful authority over him. Theophylact taxes her with vainglory; Tertullian accuses her of ambition; St. Chrysostom of impiety and of disbelief; Whitby says, it is plain that this is a protest against the idolatrous worship of Mary. She was generally admitted to be a woman of good character and worthy of all praise; but whatever she was, it ill becomes those who believe that she was the mother of God to criticise her as they would an ordinary mortal.
Mark x.
2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.