Since discussions of Mary the mother of Jesus keep coming up from time to time, Christians should know clearly what the Bible reveals about her and what it does not. The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches have gone way beyond Scripture to venerate Mary.
1. Mary as a fulfillment of prophecy
We read in Genesis 3:15 that God revealed to Satan (after the Fall) that “the seed of the woman” would crush his head (destroy the power of the Devil), but that he would bruise Christ’s heel (a reference to the crucifixion). Therefore, the Holy Spirit says through Paul in Galatians 4:4 that Christ was “made of a woman”, when the fulness of time was come. This is clearly a reference to the virgin birth, but it is also significant that Paul does not say “born of the virgin Mary”.
2. Mary in Christ’s genealogy
Even though Joseph was not the Father of Jesus, Matthew mentions Joseph as the one who descended from Solomon and then adds “... the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ” (Matthew 1:16). This was not to minimize the importance of Mary but to simply indicate how Hebrew descent was to be regarded. In Luke 3:23, Joseph is shown as “the son of Heli” meaning the son-in-law of Heli, the father of Mary, and here Mary’s descent is shown from Nathan, but Mary is not mentioned by name. We know from the Old Testament, that even though Nathan was older than Solomon, God had chosen Solomon to succeed David, and given him a promise regarding Messiah’s coming through his line (Psalm 72).
3. Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus
In order for Jesus to be fully sinless Man, He could not have a human father. Therefore the virgin birth of Christ was imperative, and Jesus was supernaturally conceived in Mary’s womb as her firstborn son (Matthew 1:18-24; Luke 1:26-56). At the same time, Mary did NOT remain a perpetual virgin (as taught by some), since the Bible makes it crystal clear that Joseph had conjugal relations with his wife after the birth of Christ (Matthew 1:25): And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. “Knew” is a euphemism for sexual relations (carnal knowledge).
4. Mary, blessed above all women
There is no question that Mary was blessed above all women since she was privileged to bring the Lord Jesus Christ into this world. Therefore, when her cousin Elizabeth met her, she said by the power of the Holy Ghost “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:41,42). But we are not told in Scripture that Mary contributed anything to our salvation. That was strictly and solely the work of the Savior.
5. Mary acknowledged her need of the Savior
Even though Mary was so highly favored, she was a humble woman who recognized herself as a mere human being and a sinner in need of the Savior (Luke 1:46-48):And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. Mary knew that Jesus was “Emmanuel” (God with us) hence she said “God my Saviour”.
6. Joseph and Mary’s children
The Bible reveals the Jesus had both brothers and sisters (Matthew 13:55-57), and that His brothers failed to believe on Him until after His resurrection (John 7:1-5). However they sought to impose their familial relations with Christ in a public venue, demanding that they meet with Him, and were roundly rebuked for it (Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35). Indeed, at one point, they regarded Christ as mad, and sought to shut Him up (Mark 3:20,21). While the KJV has “friends” in verse 21, the other versions have “family” and the Greek means literally “His own people”. In order to promote the myth of Mary’s perpetual virginity, some have tried to make His brothers and sisters into cousins, but that is tampering with the truth.
7. Mary always addressed as “Woman” by Christ
It is significant that each time Christ addressed Mary as recorded in the Gospels, He did not say “Mother” but always said “Woman”. This is certainly not because He did not love her. Indeed, He loved her very much, and handed her over to the apostle John to be cared for after His crucifixion (John 19:26-27). However, since Jesus is the God-Man, He would not allow men to elevate Mary to be seen as “the Mother of God”, so she was respectfully addressed as “Woman” (John 2:1-5; 19:26-27).
8. Christ’s “mother” now is the one who does the Father’s will
This is also why Christ made it clear to His disciples (and to all Christians) that His earthly relationship to His mother ended when He began His ministry (Matthew 12:46-50): While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
1. Mary as a fulfillment of prophecy
We read in Genesis 3:15 that God revealed to Satan (after the Fall) that “the seed of the woman” would crush his head (destroy the power of the Devil), but that he would bruise Christ’s heel (a reference to the crucifixion). Therefore, the Holy Spirit says through Paul in Galatians 4:4 that Christ was “made of a woman”, when the fulness of time was come. This is clearly a reference to the virgin birth, but it is also significant that Paul does not say “born of the virgin Mary”.
2. Mary in Christ’s genealogy
Even though Joseph was not the Father of Jesus, Matthew mentions Joseph as the one who descended from Solomon and then adds “... the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ” (Matthew 1:16). This was not to minimize the importance of Mary but to simply indicate how Hebrew descent was to be regarded. In Luke 3:23, Joseph is shown as “the son of Heli” meaning the son-in-law of Heli, the father of Mary, and here Mary’s descent is shown from Nathan, but Mary is not mentioned by name. We know from the Old Testament, that even though Nathan was older than Solomon, God had chosen Solomon to succeed David, and given him a promise regarding Messiah’s coming through his line (Psalm 72).
3. Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus
In order for Jesus to be fully sinless Man, He could not have a human father. Therefore the virgin birth of Christ was imperative, and Jesus was supernaturally conceived in Mary’s womb as her firstborn son (Matthew 1:18-24; Luke 1:26-56). At the same time, Mary did NOT remain a perpetual virgin (as taught by some), since the Bible makes it crystal clear that Joseph had conjugal relations with his wife after the birth of Christ (Matthew 1:25): And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. “Knew” is a euphemism for sexual relations (carnal knowledge).
4. Mary, blessed above all women
There is no question that Mary was blessed above all women since she was privileged to bring the Lord Jesus Christ into this world. Therefore, when her cousin Elizabeth met her, she said by the power of the Holy Ghost “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:41,42). But we are not told in Scripture that Mary contributed anything to our salvation. That was strictly and solely the work of the Savior.
5. Mary acknowledged her need of the Savior
Even though Mary was so highly favored, she was a humble woman who recognized herself as a mere human being and a sinner in need of the Savior (Luke 1:46-48):And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. Mary knew that Jesus was “Emmanuel” (God with us) hence she said “God my Saviour”.
6. Joseph and Mary’s children
The Bible reveals the Jesus had both brothers and sisters (Matthew 13:55-57), and that His brothers failed to believe on Him until after His resurrection (John 7:1-5). However they sought to impose their familial relations with Christ in a public venue, demanding that they meet with Him, and were roundly rebuked for it (Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35). Indeed, at one point, they regarded Christ as mad, and sought to shut Him up (Mark 3:20,21). While the KJV has “friends” in verse 21, the other versions have “family” and the Greek means literally “His own people”. In order to promote the myth of Mary’s perpetual virginity, some have tried to make His brothers and sisters into cousins, but that is tampering with the truth.
7. Mary always addressed as “Woman” by Christ
It is significant that each time Christ addressed Mary as recorded in the Gospels, He did not say “Mother” but always said “Woman”. This is certainly not because He did not love her. Indeed, He loved her very much, and handed her over to the apostle John to be cared for after His crucifixion (John 19:26-27). However, since Jesus is the God-Man, He would not allow men to elevate Mary to be seen as “the Mother of God”, so she was respectfully addressed as “Woman” (John 2:1-5; 19:26-27).
8. Christ’s “mother” now is the one who does the Father’s will
This is also why Christ made it clear to His disciples (and to all Christians) that His earthly relationship to His mother ended when He began His ministry (Matthew 12:46-50): While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
