Did Jesus have biological brothers? If the Bible speaks about His “brothers,” does that mean Mary had other children? In this teaching, Fr. Chris Alar explains that the biblical word translated as “brothers” can refer more broadly to relatives or close kin. Likewise, Jesus being called Mary’s “firstborn” does not necessarily mean that another child came afterward. Catholic teaching has consistently professed that Mary remained perpetually virgin—before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. This ancient Christian belief was not challenged in the earliest centuries of the Church and was later defended more explicitly as controversies developed.
But there is an even deeper message. When Jesus speaks about His mother and brothers, He teaches that our relationship with God is greater than bloodline alone: “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:50).

Mary is not diminished by these words—she is the great example of someone united to Jesus both as His mother and through her complete obedience to God. Through Baptism, we too become members of God’s family, called to put God first and allow that relationship to guide every other relationship in our lives.

Readings for September 22nd 2026: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092226.cfm
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