Matthew 13:56
Saturday, 1 November 2025
And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” Matthew 13:56
“And His sisters, not they are all with us? Whence then this – these all?” (CG).
In the previous verse, the people of Nazareth questioned Jesus about His father, mother, and brothers. Their words continue with, “And His sisters.”
The word translated as “sister” is adelphé. It is the feminine form of adelphos, brother, and carries the same connotation, one of the same womb. As with the previous verse, however, the word can figuratively be extended to a person in a figurative sense –
“Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters [adelphé], with all purity.” 1 Timothy 5:1, 2
For this reason, the Roman Catholic Church and others who hold to the perpetual virginity of Mary insist that the words here extend to daughters of Joseph and not daughters of Mary, despite the obvious intent of the words to indicate actual sisters having been born to Mary.
Mary, not some unnamed former wife, is spoken of in the same context as the rest of the family, making her the natural connection to these sisters. As for the number of them, that is to be inferred from the next words, “not they are all with us?”
Although no number is set, it is telling us that there were three or more sisters. Otherwise, it would have said, “isn’t she here with us,” or “are not both of them here with us.” Not only was Mary not a perpetual virgin, apart from Jesus, but she had at least seven other children. Having noted Joseph, Mary, and the siblings of Jesus, demonstrating complete familiarity with the family, the people next exclaim, “Whence then this – these all?”
The words are referring to “this wisdom and the miracles” mentioned in verse 54. In other words, everything about Jesus and His family was laid out before the people through years of close interaction.
And yet, somehow, He suddenly appeared to them with incredible abilities that surpassed the normal life He previously lived. They could not understand how Jesus could have gone from a simple Son of an artificer to a great miracle worker and biblical scholar.
Life application: The supposed perpetual virginity of Mary is never taught in Scripture. It is unfathomable that God would present such a doctrine without clear and unambiguous evidence for it. And yet, a normal read through the text would lead anyone with a modicum of honesty to conclude that Jesus was the Son of Mary and the others mentioned here were as well.
The only result to be realized from this aberrant doctrine is to cause Scripture itself to be violated. The words of Hebrews 12:2 implore Christians to fix their eyes on Jesus, not Mary, Paul, David, or Moses. To highlight Mary’s role, as has been done by the Roman Catholic Church, destroys this precept.
Be wise, filled with prudence when dealing with doctrinal and theological issues, and consider what God is doing and why. Don’t accept people’s teachings just because they seem authoritative or because they have some particular trait that makes them seem special.
For example, it is as common as peanuts in peanut brittle in Christian circles today to highlight Bible teachers simply because they are Jewish. It is as if being Jewish elevates people to some supposed level of biblical knowledge that must be listened to and adhered to. It is a ridiculous way to handle one’s biblical studies.
Whether someone has a PhD, can read and write Hebrew and/or Greek, or has a large congregation, such things have nothing to do with adherence to Scripture. Evaluate your teachers based on how they teach the word of God. And guess what, this is impossible unless you yourself know the word well enough to do so. Read the Bible!
Glorious God Almighty, help each of us to desire knowing Your word above even the food we eat. May we listen to it, meditate on it, and cherish it in our hearts and minds all the days of our lives. To Your glory. Amen.
