Bible Questions & Answers Archive 

 
Did Christ Have Any Brothers or Sisters?
By Dr. Max D. Younce
0004

 Question 

Did Jesus have any brothers and sisters? I asked a certain clergyman and he told me that Mary did not have any other children. What is your opinion concerning this?

 Answer 

May I say this in a non-sarcastic but truthful manner? God does not care about my opinion or anyone else’s. His Word is pure, not my opinion. In Psalms 119:140 we are told "Thy word is very pure", and in verse 169 the Psalmist states "...O LORD: give me understanding according to thy WORD. So, if we want the TRUTH about something, we must go to the Word of God for the answer.

In Matthew 12:46,47 we are given the information concerning Christ's mother and his brothers. In reality, they were Christ's half-brothers as Mary received the conception from the Holy Spirit for Christ's birth, while his half-brothers had Joseph for their father.

"While he (Christ) yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and BRETHREN stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother AND 'THY BRETHREN stand without, desiring to speak with thee."

A short time later, when Christ was speaking in the synagogue, they were astonished and stated in Matthew 13:55,56 the following:

"Is not this the carpenter's son (Christ)? Is not his mother called Mary? And his BRETHREN, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas. And his SISTERS, are they not all with us..."

Here are the names of four other sons of Mary, and since the reference to "his sisters" is in the plural, this indicates two and maybe more. This, therefore, shows Mary had, at least six other children besides Christ.

Paul also makes mention of one of Mary's other sons in Galatians 1:19.

"But other of the apostles saw I none, save JAMES, THE LORD’S BROTHER.".

In Psalm 119:169, the Word of God concerning this question gives us an understanding of what is true and what is not. Mary had at least six other children besides Christ, their father being Joseph; therefore, they were half-brothers to Christ.