The Text:
Mar 3:31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. (KJV)
Mar 3:31 And his mother and his brethren came; and standing without, sent unto him, calling him. (DRB, Douay Rheims Bible)
Mar 3:31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. (ESV, English Standard Version)
The Plot:
Mar 3:20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat.
Mar 3:21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” (ESV)
The Accusation:
Mar 3:22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” (ESV)
My Comment:
This surely was a dark chapter in the Gospel record. The family of Jesus, his brothers and even his mother, turned against him and did not believe him.
Joh 7:3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing.
Joh 7:4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”
Joh 7:5 For not even his brothers believed in him. (ESV)
This “advice” from his own brothers was misguided and knowingly would have placed Jesus in greater danger (Luke 13:32). The fact that these negative incidents are faithfully recorded in the Gospels is firm evidence of the historicity and authenticity of the New Testament record and represents the eye-witness testimony of those who were there when these things happened. No later anonymous writer would include such details for they reflect negatively on the character of the individuals involved–the family of Jesus, including his mother.
The Question: did Mary have other children after Jesus was born?
The New Testament record is clear that Mary had additional children by her husband Joseph after Jesus was born.
The Evidence (Mark 3:31):
Mark 3:31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
These are certainly his literal half-brothers, of which Scripture names four.
Jesus also had at least three half-sisters (Mat 13:56 uses “all,” not “both,” indicating more than two):
Mat 13:56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
“Brethren” here mentioned in such close connection with Mary, Christ’s mother, certainly points to their being his natural brothers, not cousins. Sons of another woman would not be following Mary around.
While Jesus is Mary’s firstborn son, this does not indicate she had no other children, for if that were the case, the word would have been monogenes, only begotten son (as in Luk 7:12; Luk 8:42; Luk 9:38), not “firstborn” (protokos, Mat 1:25, Luk 2:7, Rom 8:29, +*Col 1:15 note, Col 1:18, Heb 1:6; Heb 11:28; Heb 12:23, Rev 1:5).
For monogenes, only begotten son:
Luk 7:12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
Luk 8:42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
Luk 9:38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
For first born, protokos:
Mat 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Heb 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Heb 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
The term firstborn does not imply that there are no others, for Christ is the firstborn from the dead (Rev 1:5) that he may bring many sons into glory (Heb 2:10) by resurrection (1Co 15:20, 21, 22, 23).
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
It was foretold in prophecy that Jesus would have brothers, and his mother would have other children, **Psa 69:8; **Psa 69:9.
Psa 69:8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.
Psa 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
If his “brethren” were merely cousins, the term sungenes, used of kin, kinsmen, and kinsfolk (Mar 6:4, Luk 1:36; Luk 1:58; Luk 2:44; Luk 14:12; Luk 21:16; Joh 18:26, Act 10:24, Rom 9:3; Rom 16:7; Rom 16:11; Rom 16:21), and cousin (Luk 1:36; Luk 1:58) was available to indicate this, but was not used.
For kin, kinsmen, and kinsfolk:
Mar 6:4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
Luk 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
Luk 1:58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
Luk 2:44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
Luk 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
Luk 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Joh 18:26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
Act 10:24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
Rom 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Rom 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Rom 16:11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
Rom 16:21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
For cousin:
Luk 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
Luk 1:58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
Note that “brethren” is distinguished from “kinsmen” at Luk 14:12 and Luk 21:16. +*Mar 6:3, +*Mat 13:55, Joh 2:12; Joh 7:3; Joh 7:5; Joh 7:10, Act 1:14, 1Co 9:5, 2Co 5:16, Gal 1:19.
Luk 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
Luk 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
his mother. The kinsfolk of +Mar 3:21. +Mat 1:16, Act 1:14.
standing without. That they might more easily seize Him (Mar 3:21) [CB].
