One of Jesus' premier teaching moments on family is found when His mothers and brothers come and ask to speak with Him (Matthew 12:46-50). On the surface, it might look like Jesus is writing off His earthly family; but in fact, contained in this sequence is the definitive grounds on which we can understand God's good design and purpose for our earthly families. The earthly family is cast in the image of the heavenly; to be Fathers of Mothers or Children or Spouses (etc) we must first be Children of our Heavenly Father.