I’ve spent hours on this post, which was going to be a list of verses for one friend in particular. I wanted to get it into a pdf so she could take it to church with her. But since I was doing it for her, I wanted to make it useful for others and now it is a blog post (and pdf).
You can download it and save it to your computer or print it out if you like. I hope you find it helpful. Here’s the link: A Biblical Look at Mary
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If Mary, Jesus’ mother, were alive today, I imagine she’d be a bit shocked about all the hub-bub that has been made about her and in her name throughout religious history.
Does it really matter what we believe about Mary, Jesus’ mother?
Well, it does, if you are trusting in her for things that aren’t backed up by clear scripture. According to the bible, you shouldn’t be trusting in her at all. For anything – especially your eternal salvation according to Acts 4:10-12. (See below.)
“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.” (Acts 4: 10-11)
“Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (II Peter 1:1a) wrote that even though he (and others) were present at Jesus’ transfiguration and heard a voice from heaven (II Peter 1:18 and Mark 9:2-8) which was a physical experience, that experience was still not as sure as the written word of God! II Peter 1:19-21 (see below).
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (Emphasis mine.)
1. Does the Bible really teach that Mary, Jesus’ mother, was sinless? No.
Mary admits that the Lord is her Savior in Luke 1:46-47 . Sinless people do not need to be saved from their sins.
Romans 3:10 says, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”
Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
I Timothy 2:5-6 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
So, was Jesus sinless? Yes.
Hebrews 4:15 assures us, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
II Corinthians 5:21 is clear: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” I Peter 2:21-22
Revelation 5:1-5 <—- Look it up here on biblegateway.com
2. Did Mary continue to be a virgin after birthing Jesus? No.
In fact the bible clearly says that he had brothers and sisters who are mentioned specifically apart from “disciples or apostles”.
Matthew 1:24-25 “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”
Genesis 4:1 explains to us that to “know” meant to have sexual intimacy.
“Is not this the carpenter’s son? 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? Whence then hath this man all these things?” Matthew 13:55-56
Matthew 12:46 “While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.”
John 2:12 “After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
John 7:3 “His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.”
Acts 1:13-14 “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”
Galatians 1:19 “But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.”
3. Was Mary “assumed”, taken up into heaven? No.
The Bible does not teach anywhere that Mary was ever taken up to heaven, but the bible does say that Enoch (Genesis 6;24) and Elijah (II Kings 2:1-8) were! If Mary were also taken up, wouldn’t God tell us?
4. Mary, Queen of Heaven and co-redeemer with Christ? No.
The title “Queen of Heaven” only shows up 5 times in the bible (KJV). All five places refer to the pagan worship of a false god/queen of heaven mentioned in Jeremiah 7 and Jeremiah 44. God did not approve of this.
Hebrews 7:25 tell us who is the only one who has the power to intercede and save us: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Ephesians 3:12 “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”
Psalm 148:13 “Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.”
Revelation 4 & 5 – No mention of Mary here and no one worthy to open the book but Jesus.
In conclusion, the Bible does not teach us that Mary was sinless, that she remained a virgin, that she escaped death, nor that she has co-redeeming abilities to save souls or hear and answer prayers.
Visions and apparitions of an image of “Mary” help fuel these false beliefs. Remember, God has an enemy who wants your worship or would at least like to keep you from worshiping God in truth. And this enemy, Satan, can appear as an “angel of light” according to II Corinthians 11:13-15 (see below).
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Did you catch that?
Not only can Satan transform himself but so can his ministers! I believe the apparitions at Fatima are an example of this. So what do you do when you come across a seemingly miraculous event such as Fatima?
You need to be like the Bereans mentioned in the book of Acts and study the scriptures. If the experience is contrary to clear biblical teaching then it very well could be Satan or one of his minister’s masquerading as an “angel of light”. Don’t fall for it. God’s word is complete– in fact, God has some hard things to say to those who would add or take away from his word. (See below.)
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
– John 8:31-32
All scripture came from the KJV. Download and save or print A Biblical Look at Mary <—- from this link. For more info on the same topic see this post.
