Did Jesus have Brothers and Sisters (Siblings)?
The Roman Catholic church claims that Jesus was an only child and that those described as his “brethren” were cousins rather than siblings.
These brethren are mentioned numerous times in scripture. Matthew 12:46, “While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him.”
Luke 8:19, 20, “And there came to him his mother and brethren, and they could not come at him for the crowd. And it was told him, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.”
Mark 3:31, 32, “And there come his mother and his brethren; and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him. And a multitude was sitting about him; and they say unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.”
The Bible provides the names of these brethren. They were James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. Matthew 13:55, 56, “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us?” In addition to four brothers, this text suggests that Jesus also had at least two sisters. However, his sisters are not named.
Matthew states that Joseph “knew her [Mary] not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS” (Matthew 1:25). This suggests that after the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary had a normal conjugal relationship. Being the “firstborn son” of Mary also implies that she bore other children. It is the clear teaching of scripture that Jesus had half-brothers and half-sisters who were the children of Joseph and Mary.
AFTER JESUS’ DEATH
Jesus’ siblings continued to be mentioned even after our Lord’s death. In Acts 1:14, his brothers and mother are described as praying with the disciples. “These all with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” In Galatians 1:19 the Apostle Paul mentions that James was Jesus’ brother. “But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.”
The natural conclusion we reach from these passages is that Jesus had half-siblings related by blood. In each instance, the specific Greek word for “brother” is used. While the word can refer to other relatives, or even spiritual brethren (Acts 6:3), its normal and literal meaning is to a brother related by blood. There is a Greek word for “cousin,” but it was not used when referring to Jesus’ immediate family (Luke 1:36, 58). Further, if they were simply cousins, why would they be mentioned so often in company with Jesus’ mother, Mary? When his mother and brethren came to see him there is nothing in the context suggesting they were anything other than his half-brothers.
A CATHOLIC BELIEF
One argument presented is that Joseph was significantly older than Mary and that Jesus’ brothers and sisters were the children of Joseph from a previous marriage. Then, after being widowed, Joseph took Mary as his new wife. However, this conclusion again has no biblical basis or is even hinted at in scripture. If Joseph had six previous children, why are they not mentioned when he and Mary traveled to Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-7), or when they journeyed to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15), or even during their return to Nazareth (Matthew 2:20-23)?
Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fleeing from Bethlehem
The idea of the perpetual virginity of Mary appears as early as the second century. The Catholic church and others have held to this view assuming she is a symbol of the church, the virgin bride of Christ. Consequently, she is considered the mother of all Christians. The argument is based on the words of our Lord while on the cross. There he gave the care of his mother to John, saying “behold thy mother” (John 19:27). It is believed that this prefigured Mary’s relationship as the mother of Christians. This, they conclude, would make no sense if Mary had other children. Unfortunately, this confuses the real basis of a Christian’s relationship with God.
Mary’s care was given to John.
OUR TRUE MOTHER
In Galatians the fourth chapter the Apostle Paul teaches that our relationship with God is based on the Sarah feature of the Abrahamic Covenant. He compares Sarah, a free woman, to Hagar, a bondwoman (Galatians 4:23, 26). Paul describes these wives as “an allegory.” He states that Hagar represents the Law Covenant. Israel was in bondage to the Law. It was a covenant that could not give life because it could not provide a true atoning sacrifice. The sacrifices under the Law were merely typical of the greater ones to come. Therefore, the Law was unable to actually take away sin.
However, the Sarah feature of the covenant could bring life. In Hebrews 9:23 the apostle teaches that the heavenly salvation was made possible because of the better atoning sacrifice of Christ. Therefore, Paul could state in Galatians that the Sarah Covenant is our true mother because Jesus presented his perfect life as a corresponding price for Adam and, consequently, for his race. This better arrangement then is able to bring forth eternal life.
How rich and meaningful then is this understanding of our covenant mother? Mary is not our mother. She too was a sinner along with all the children of Adam.
CONCLUSION
There is no biblical reason to believe that Jesus’ siblings are anything other than the actual children of Joseph and Mary. This should not be surprising as it provided one additional human experience for our Lord, that of family and siblings. As the eldest brother it may have also provided some personal instruction for when Jesus became the shepherd of his first followers. In many ways, he was like their older brother and undoubtedly treasures the family relationship being developed through God’s plan of salvation.
— Br. David Stein
An Editor’s Suggestion — The article above mentions Galatians 1:19, “But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.” This text tells us that this apostle James was the “Lord’s brother.” But he would not have been the natural son of Mary, else when Jesus was on the cross he would have committed the care of Mary to that James, rather than to the unrelated John. This indicates that James, the apostle, who happened to be the leader of the Church at Jerusalem, author of the book “James,” and his brother Jude, another apostle, author of the book “Jude,” were relatives of Jesus, but not sons of Mary. That these two apostles were brothers of each other, and related to Jesus, suggests that Matthew 13:55, speaking of “his brethren, James … and Judas,” were likely these two apostles, but not direct sons of Mary.