Among Christians this is a recurrent issue and in Christianity history was a issue that divided and helped to implement divisions and clashes. I am not a theologist, but as Catholic of course my directives and visions is going to the official Church guidelines about this issue.
I can't imagine that Mary with the huge task to raise Jesus and with the unique experience She had with their maternity, to be possible to imagine that Mary then could had more 6 or 7 children after Jesus birth.
Millions of Christians see this possibility as certain and reading Mathew 13:55 is giving to them the certainty they need. Bible do not give in my opinion concrete and no doubt guidelines about this issue, and Christianity records must be taken into account and the studies and opinions from so many people cannot be erased, not even the Protestantism views about this issue, but I am sorry to contradict who thinks Mary had more children, I tell you, do not doubt about Mary eternal virginity and have faith in Virgin Mary and in Her role besides His Son, JESUS CHRIST, our SAVIOUR.
Let's see some chapters from the bible linked to this issue:
- Mathew 1:25 is one of the strong verses where non-Catholics see as the best example to say that Mary had more children. "And he knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS."
The words Till and Firstborn are the strong allies for those that reading this sentence in a pragmatic way, sees with guarantee that Mary had more children. "Firstborn" only mention that Jesus was in fact the first Mary child, does not emphasize the possibility to have more than one child. "Till" is more complex, Isn't Mathew reinforcing Mary's virginity, even with the "Till" in this sentence you can't presuming that Mary had more children.
I can say, "I will not leave this place till it rains", Can you be so sure that one day it will rain!
Before I continue my reflections on this issue, I must say that I have a strong conviction for a huge possibility for those Brothers and Sisters mentioned in Matthew 13:55-58 can be Joseph's sons and daughters, this is a strong possibility instead to be only their relatives, so let's read these verses.
(Just a note about Anna Katherina Emmerich visons, where she points all these "brothers" as being Jesus' cousins, and Mary of Clopas' sons)
-Matthew 13:55-58 : "Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Jude. And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence therefore hath he all these things? And they were scandalized in his regard. But Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he wrought not many miracles there, because of their unbelief."
Where for most that sees in this verses the confirmation that Jesus had brothers and sisters, I see the opposite. "And he wrought not many miracles there, because of their unbelief." this unbelief can be seeing right now, where many see JESUS with those brothers and sisters like most people in that time, where He was brother of James, son of the carpenter and with Mary as His mother, but no, the carpenter was His tutor, Mary was more than only His mother and that unbelief was the sign of blindness where to see JESUS as the son of GOD was more than impossible.
Jesus not being Joseph's son, the possibility that all "Brothers and Sisters" to all those people was because Joseph could well be father of all them by a past marriage. No one can say NO to this possibility like no one can say YES.
GOD choose Mary to be Jesus's Mother, but we can't forget that Joseph was included in GOD plans, a man with experience would be more likely to be part of the plan than a young man unskilled for the task and what a hard task to raise Jesus and to protect their family, this gives to us a strong possibility that Joseph was much older than Mary.
Where are Jesus's brothers when He was missing for two days, wasn't that celebrations time, a strong family event, why aren't their brothers with Mary? WHERE ARE THEY? If you say, some are very young and can be with relatives, I can say that all they are older than Jesus and most of them have their own families.
I know you will say, words that wasn't written can't be used to contradict a thesis, we must accept that the exact meaning of some words can deceived a complete judgement.
I will not even put emphasis here about all the others references in the bible to Jesus's brothers, because for me they are only Joseph's sons, relatives or "brothers" referring to His Apostles or followers, so no matter where the word will be used to mention "brother".
The complexity with repeated names in the bible can for sure mix all the genealogical simplicity to see the references for Jude, James, Joseph and Simon.
The last strong reference that most use is when Jesus uses the word "Woman", so in John 19:26-27 we can read "When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own."
Some will be scandalized to see that JESUS in that particular and dolorous moment used the word "Woman" referring His mother. Try to understand the strong meaning of these verses. Jesus was "given" His mother to his predilect Disciple (John the Apostle), the meaning can be interpreted like JESUS "given" Mary to all of us in the figure of the Disciple, so all of us that love JESUS like His Disciple are "receiving" Mary as Our Mother. If Jesus used the word "Mother, behold thy son" can be viewed as Mary being only His Mother or only of the Disciples. From that hour all of us must receive Mary in our homes, because that "Woman" is Our Mother.
This issue will never see a end, there will be always a Christian that will see all the references with the several conclusions. Must important is faith and all these details can be surpassed by that!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL
The Bible references comes from Douay-Rheims.
