About Jesus' Mother

Mike Winger Facebook post, 8/19/24

 Is it possible that many people think Mary had to stay a virgin because they, somewhere in the logic, feel that something is immoral about sex between a husband and wife?

I've heard it said that Joseph wouldn't defile the Ark of the Covenant (by which they mean Mary) through intercourse. Yet the idea that such an act is a defilement goes against Scripture which says "the marriage bed is undefiled." (Heb 13:4) 

And the idea that a husband and wife can vow chastity between themselves is far more problematic than many realize, violating Scripture and the nature of the marriage commitment. 

"The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband." 1 Cor 7:3

Read that passage in context and you'll see that Paul is saying "do not deprive one another" (1 Cor 7:5) in relation to sexual relations. Voluntary chastity is a single person's role and is inappropriate and unbiblical in marriage. 

Attempts to explain away the presence of Jesus' brothers and sisters in Scripture (spoken in the same context as his mother) or that Joseph NEVER was intimate with Mary instead of not being intimate with her "UNTIL" after Jesus' birth also fail.

"When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus."

Matt 1:24-25

Everything I've said here has a response from those who believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary. You can go deep into the rabbit hole on this if you choose. But I've done it already and find those responses not only unconvincing but obvious attempts to subvert the meaning of Scripture to support a doctrine of man which has contributed to the idolization of Mary.