How does Matthew 13:56 challenge the belief in Jesus' divine origin? Text and Context Matthew 13:56 – “Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?” The line stands inside a Nazareth scene (13:53-58) where townsfolk list His mother, four brothers, and unnamed sisters to argue that His origins are thoroughly ordinary. Surface Objection If Jesus grew up in a normal household with siblings, some reason He cannot be uniquely divine; to them deity precludes commonplace family ties. They conclude the miracles and teaching must come from an unexplained human source, not from God. Incarnation, Not Myth Scripture links full humanity with full deity. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.” Philippians 2:6-7 affirms He “emptied Himself” yet remained “in very nature God.” The Nazareth questions actually highlight the incarnation: the eternal Son truly entered a village, a trade, and a family, thereby enabling a representative, atoning life (Hebrews 2:14-17). Four Historical Models 1. Post-nativity sons and daughters of Mary and Joseph. 2. Children of Joseph from a prior marriage (held in the second-century Proto-Evangelium of James). 3. Cousins, perhaps of Clopas (John 19:25), promoted by Hegesippus and Jerome. 4. Mixed household of relatives common in first-century extended families. Whichever view is adopted, none undermines the virgin conception reported in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:34-35. The miracle concerns Jesus’ conception, not Mary’s lifelong status. Early Church Witness Ignatius (c. A.D. 110) declares Christ “both of Mary and of God” (Ephesians 7:2). Justin Martyr argues that His miraculous birth fulfills Isaiah 7:14 (Dialogue 43). By the mid-second century, believers everywhere confessed His divine begetting alongside His ordinary upbringing. Prophetic Consistency Micah 5:2 foresees Messiah’s eternal nature yet birthplace in a small town. Isaiah 53:2 predicts an appearance with “no majesty.” Nazareth’s skepticism is itself a mark of messianic authenticity foretold by Psalm 69:8: “I have become a stranger to my brothers.” Matthew records that fulfillment. Psychological Insight Familiarity breeds contempt. Social-science studies of messenger credibility show that proximity can impede recognition of extraordinary authority. The villagers’ doubt illustrates a predictable human bias, not a historical disproof of deity. Miraculous Corroboration Immediately after this rejection, Matthew records ongoing healing works (14:14-36). Multiple attested miracle clusters, culminating in the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-8), outweigh hometown disbelief. Historic criteria of multiple attestation, enemy attestation (Matthew 28:11-15), and early creedal formulation (1 Corinthians 15:3-5) converge to affirm His divine vindication. Theological Synthesis 1. Virgin conception establishes divine origin (Matthew 1:20). 2. Ordinary family life establishes genuine humanity (Hebrews 4:15). 3. Resurrection establishes ultimate validation (Romans 1:4). Thus Matthew 13:56 does not challenge but reinforces orthodox Christology: the God-Man grew amid siblings who initially failed to see what the empty tomb later shouted. Practical Implications • Do not stumble over Christ’s accessibility; embrace the One who drew near (John 1:12). • Expect skepticism; respond with the combined evidence of fulfilled prophecy, changed lives, and the risen Lord. • Glorify God by acknowledging both the Word made flesh and the victorious Savior. |
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