Brothers and Sisters

Brothers and Sisters of Jesus?

The question of whether Jesus Christ had biological brothers and sisters has been a topic of debate for centuries, often sparking discussions about the nature of the Holy Family and the perpetual virginity of Mary. Some point to Gospel passages mentioning Jesus’ “brothers” and “sisters” to argue that Mary and Joseph had other children. However, a careful examination of Scripture reveals a different story—one that upholds the sacred tradition of Mary’s perpetual virginity and aligns with the cultural and biblical context of the time. In this blog, we will explore key passages, Jewish customs, and the absence of any direct reference to Mary having other children, making a compelling case that the “brothers and sisters” of Jesus were not His siblings but rather close relatives. Once the truth is uncovered, it becomes clear that Scripture consistently points to Mary as the ever-virgin Mother of God, devoted solely to her divine Son.

“Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?” Matthew 13:55 KJV

“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” Mark 6:3 KJV

These verses from Matthew and Mark describe Jesus as the son of the carpenter and the son of Mary, not a son among many. The text mentions James, Joses, Simon, and Judas as His brothers, but they are not explicitly connected to Mary or Joseph, only to Jesus. Nowhere in Scripture do we find the phrases "Mary's sons" or "sons of Mary," which strongly indicates that Our Blessed Mother had no children other than Our Lord Jesus Christ. The same can be said for St. Joseph, who is never described as having sons of his own beyond his role as Jesus' foster father.

To understand who these brothers are, we can look at other Gospel accounts:

“…among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.” Matthew 27:56

“There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome ...” Mark 15:40

“So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” John 19:25

John refers to Jesus' mother as "his mother" without mentioning any other children. The brothers named in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3—James, Joses, Simon, and Judas—are the sons of another Mary, the wife of Clopas, who is described as the sister of Jesus' mother. This makes them Jesus' cousins, not His biological brothers.

Furthermore, Jewish law, rooted in the Fifth Commandment to honor thy father and mother (Exodus 20:12), required sons to care for their widowed mother. At the crucifixion, Jesus entrusted His mother Mary to the care of St. John the Apostle (John 19:26-27), saying, “Woman, behold your son,” and to John, “Behold your mother.” If Mary had other biological children, Jesus would have been expected to entrust her to their care, as this was a son’s duty under Jewish custom. By giving Mary to John, Jesus indicates that He was her only son, as entrusting her to another would otherwise suggest a neglect of this commandment. This further supports the understanding that Mary had no other children.

Another key moment in Scripture is the finding of the child Jesus in the temple, as described in Luke 2:41-51. When Jesus was twelve years old, Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover feast, and afterward, they realized He was missing. They searched for Him for three days and found Him in the temple, astonishing the teachers with His wisdom. Notably, this account mentions only Jesus as their child—there is no reference to any other sons or daughters accompanying them on this family journey. If Mary and Joseph had other children, especially younger ones, it would be reasonable to expect some mention of them in such a significant family event, yet Scripture is silent on this. This episode is also the last time St. Joseph is mentioned in the Gospels, suggesting he may have passed away sometime after, leaving Mary as a widow with Jesus as her only son.

If someone persists in claiming that Our Blessed Mother had other children, such a significant detail should be plainly evident within Scripture, yet it is not. The absence of any direct references to Mary having additional sons or daughters is striking, especially given the detailed genealogies and family accounts elsewhere in the Bible. As we delve deeper into these passages, the truth becomes undeniable: the "brothers and sisters" of Jesus are extended family, consistent with the broad use of those terms in ancient Jewish culture. This aligns with the perpetual virginity of Mary, a truth foreshadowed in the Old Testament, such as in Isaiah 7:14, which prophesies the Messiah's birth to a virgin, and in the tradition of betrothal and marriage emphasizing purity and dedication to God. Once these connections are uncovered, we cannot view the Scriptures any other way—the evidence points clearly to Mary as the ever-virgin Mother of God, devoted solely to her Divine Son.