Saint Joseph’s Obedience, Mary’s Perpetual Virginity, and the Error About the “Brothers” of Jesus
“And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife.
And he knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.”
(Matthew 1:24–25, Douay-Rheims)
These final verses of Matthew 1 are extremely important.
Sadly, many modern Christians misunderstand them badly.
Some claim these verses prove:
• Mary later had ordinary marital relations
• Mary had other biological children
• Jesus had literal brothers and sisters born from Mary
But this is not the historic Christian belief.
The Catholic Church, together with the overwhelming witness of early Christianity, teaches:
Mary remained perpetually virgin.
This means:
• before the birth of Christ
• during the birth of Christ
• and after the birth of Christ.
This doctrine is ancient, biblical, theological, and deeply connected to the mystery of the Incarnation itself.
“Joseph… did as the angel commanded”
Before discussing Mary’s virginity, we must first notice Joseph’s obedience.
Joseph immediately obeys God.
He takes Mary into his home and accepts responsibility for both Mary and the Child.
This matters greatly.
Joseph becomes:
• guardian of the Redeemer
• protector of the Virgin Mother
• legal father within the house of David
True Obedience
Joseph teaches us that holiness often consists not in dramatic public acts, but in quiet fidelity.
He does not demand explanations endlessly.
He trusts God.
Modern culture glorifies self-assertion.
Scripture glorifies obedient faith.
“He knew her not…”
This phrase is often misunderstood because modern readers interpret biblical language according to modern English assumptions.
In Scripture, “to know” can mean marital relations.
Thus Matthew teaches clearly:
Christ’s conception was virginal.
Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father.
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost.
This is essential Christian doctrine.
The Modern Misunderstanding
Some people read:
“He knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son”
and assume this means:
“After Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary had ordinary marital relations.”
But this does not logically follow.
The word “till” or “until” in Scripture often says nothing whatsoever about what happens afterward.
This is extremely important for beginners to understand.
Biblical Examples of “Until” Not Meaning Change Afterwards
Scripture frequently uses “until” without implying reversal later.
Example 1 — 2 Kings / 2 Samuel 6:23
“Michol the daughter of Saul had no child till the day of her death.”
This obviously does not mean she had children after death.
The phrase simply emphasises what happened before a certain point without commenting afterward.
Example 2 — Matthew 28:20
Jesus says:
“I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.”
Does this mean Christ abandons believers after the end of the world?
Of course not.
The phrase does not imply reversal.
Example 3 — Genesis 8:7
Noe’s raven flew:
“till the waters were dried up.”
This does not mean it returned afterward.
Again, “until” does not automatically imply later change.
Therefore
Matthew 1:25 teaches:
Jesus was conceived virginally.
It does NOT teach:
Mary later ceased to be virgin.
The Catholic Church therefore reads the verse exactly as Christians historically always did.
“Firstborn Son”
Some also misunderstand “firstborn.”
They assume:
“Firstborn means later children existed.”
But biblically, “firstborn” is legal and covenant language.
A firstborn son was called firstborn even if no other children followed.
The term refers to:
• rank
• inheritance
• legal status
not necessarily later siblings.
Why Mary’s Perpetual Virginity Matters
Some people ask:
“Why does this doctrine matter?”
It matters because it points toward the uniqueness of Christ.
Mary’s womb became the dwelling place of God Himself.
The Incarnation is utterly unique.
The Church has always understood Mary as specially consecrated entirely to God.
The Ark of the Covenant Typology
This is very important.
In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant held:
• the Word of God
• the manna
• the rod of Aaron
The Ark was holy because of what it contained.
Mary is the New Ark because she carried:
Christ Himself.
The Fathers constantly recognised this.
Comparison
| Ark of the Covenant | Mary |
| carried Word of God in stone | carried Word made flesh |
| overshadowed by glory cloud | overshadowed by Holy Ghost |
| holy and set apart | holy and consecrated |
Because of this, the Church always viewed Mary’s perpetual virginity as fitting and holy.
The “Brothers of Jesus” Question
This is another major confusion.
Modern readers often see references to the “brothers” of Jesus and assume they were children of Mary.
But Scripture itself shows otherwise.
Ancient Jewish Language
In Hebrew and Aramaic culture, the word “brother” was used broadly.
It could refer to:
• cousins
• relatives
• kinsmen
• close relations
The ancient languages did not always have separate precise words like modern English.
Important Biblical Example
Abraham calls Lot his “brother.”
Yet Lot was actually Abraham’s nephew.
Thus biblical usage is broader than modern English assumptions.
The “Brothers” Named in Scripture
The Gospels name:
• James
• Joses (Joseph)
• Simon
• Jude
as “brothers” of Jesus.
But Scripture elsewhere identifies James and Joses as sons of another Mary.
This is crucial.
John 19:25
At the Cross we read:
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.”
Another Mary is explicitly mentioned:
Mary of Cleophas.
Mark 15:40
We are told:
“Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joseph.”
Thus James and Joses are children of another woman, not the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This is one of the clearest biblical defences of Catholic teaching here.
Therefore
The so-called “brothers” of Jesus are not presented as children of Mary.
Rather they are close relatives or kinsmen.
This was the historic Christian understanding for centuries.
The Early Church Believed Mary Was Ever-Virgin
This is not medieval invention.
The earliest Christians overwhelmingly defended Mary’s perpetual virginity.
Saints Who Defended It
• St Athanasius
• St Jerome
• St Augustine
• St Ambrose
• St Epiphanius
and many others.
St Jerome Especially
St Jerome strongly answered those claiming Mary had other children.
He carefully showed from Scripture that the “brothers” were relatives, not sons of Mary.
Why Modern Confusion Exists
Much confusion comes from reading Scripture:
• with modern assumptions
instead of
• ancient Jewish context
and:
• apart from historic Christianity
instead of
• within apostolic Tradition.
Mary’s Virginity and the Whole Christian Life
Mary teaches total surrender to God.
She belongs entirely to Him.
Her virginity is not rejection of marriage.
Marriage is holy.
Rather, her virginity points toward:
• complete consecration
• divine initiative
• heavenly purity
• the uniqueness of Christ
Joseph’s Role
Joseph protects this mystery reverently.
The Church has always honoured Joseph as:
• guardian of the Virgin
• protector of Christ
• model of holy manhood
• righteous father
Obedience in the Spiritual Life
Modern culture glorifies self-will.
Scripture glorifies obedience to God.
True freedom is not doing whatever we desire.
True freedom is becoming holy.
Joseph models this beautifully.
Mary’s Perpetual Virginity
The Church teaches Mary remained perpetually virgin.
This protects the uniqueness of Christ and the holiness of the Incarnation.
The early Christians believed this universally.
Key Catholic Teachings in Matthew 1
| Passage | Catholic Teaching |
| Genealogy | real salvation history |
| Abraham | covenant fulfilment |
| David | Christ the eternal King |
| Virgin Birth | divine conception |
| Emmanuel | Christ truly God |
| Joseph | holy obedience |
| Jesus saves | salvation from sin |
| Fulfilment | unity of Scripture |
Christ at the Centre of Matthew 1
| Old Testament | Fulfilled in Christ |
| Abraham | promised blessing |
| David | eternal King |
| exile | restoration |
| prophecy | fulfilment |
| covenant | completion |
| Emmanuel | God truly present |
Final Spiritual Reflection
Matthew Chapter 1 teaches us:
God keeps His promises.
Human failure does not defeat divine providence.
Christ truly entered history.
Salvation comes from God’s initiative.
Jesus came to save us from sin.
God is truly with us.
And holiness begins with obedient faith.
Final Exhortation
The Gospel begins not with myth, but with fulfilment.
Not with philosophy, but with divine action.
Not with human achievement, but with grace.
Matthew Chapter 1 announces to the world:
The King has come.
The promises are fulfilled.
God is with us.
Salvation has begun.
Closing Prayer
Almighty God,
who in the fullness of time sent Thy only Son,
born of the Virgin Mary
for the salvation of the world,
grant us the faith of Abraham,
the obedience of Saint Joseph,
and the hope of Israel fulfilled in Christ.
Keep us faithful to the truth of the Gospel,
steadfast in holiness,
and joyful in the salvation won for us
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 