Metaphors of the Church: God’s Family Household

^{Matthew 12:46} While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. ⁴⁷ Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” ⁴⁸ He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹ Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus does not deny that his biological mother and brothers are his family, but he broadens his family to all those who follow him. When Peter questions what the disciples’ reward will be for following Jesus, he replies that they will “receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life” (Mark 10:30). The family of the church will be our reward in this life, the support of our spiritual family.

The metaphor of the church as a family, as a spiritual household, is repeated many times in the New Testament:

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:10).

And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more. (1 Thessalonians 4:10)

…if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15)

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. (1 Timothy 5:1-2).

Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. (Hebrews 2:11)

Show proper respect to everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the emperor. (1 Peter 2:17)

For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)

Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (1 Peter 5:9)

All the possible family relationships are represented, highlighting the nature of the Church as a family. We are a band of brothers (and sisters), a holy Christian fraternity (and sorority), who are to love one another, support one another, pray for one another, suffer together and rejoice together.

Families don’t always have the greatest of relationships. They have conflict, disappoint one another, are even disloyal to one another. It is critical to families to be able to resolve conflict and to forgive each other.