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“Do Not Go Beyond What is Written”

Thoughts for Today:

Those of you who are familiar with Roman Catholic doctrine know that the perpetual virginity of Mary is one of the fundamental precepts. As this topic applies to our passage today, the all-important question is: Can this doctrine find support in Scripture? Catholics teach Mary's virginity remained in place even through the birth of Jesus (Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Profession of Faith, section 2, #499): "The deepening of faith in virginal motherhood led the Church to confess Mary's real and perpetual virginity even in the act of giving birth to the Son of God made man. In fact, Christ's birth did not diminish his mother's virginal integrity but sanctified it."

So where did they get this idea? Because of a little word "until" in Matthew 1:25a: "But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son." When I read Catholic support for Mary's continuing virginity some say the word "until" can mean "not anymore" or "forever". For example, they point to Psalm 110:1: "The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.'" Their argument is: Are protestants saying that God will only allow Christ to sit at His right hand until His enemies are defeated and not afterward? From my point of view, the "until" in Psalm 110 does not represent the length of time Christ will sit, but on the defeat of His enemies. However, in Matthew 1:25 the emphasis is on how long Mary was a virgin, not that she was a virgin "forever".

Mary's perpetual virginity is just one of the many examples where our Catholic friends have established doctrine not based upon Scripture, but on the teachings of men throughout Church history. Together with Mary's perpetual virginity are many other non-Biblical doctrines about her: she is co-redeemer or co-mediator with Christ; she was preserved from the stain of original sin at her conception; and the belief that Mary was taken to heaven physically, her body and soul intact. None of these doctrines have basis in Scripture. In His prayer on the night He was betrayed, Jesus told us how to find truth (John 17:17): "Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth." In other words, if it isn't found in Scripture, it isn't true!

Questions to Ponder:

I think it will surprise many Protestants to find a great number of Catholics in heaven. I also believe Mary was a very godly woman; however, I don't believe she deserves worship. Only the Lord: Father, Son and Holy Spirit are worthy of our reverence and praise. Yet Catholics aren't the only ones who have gotten off course by placing more emphasis on church doctrine, tradition, or the interpretations of man, than on the writing of Scripture. So how do we avoid this potential pitfall? By opening, reading, and studying our Bibles each and every day. Have you read your Bible today? Do you accept the teaching of men? Do you find support for it in Scripture? Has a teaching you've heard gone "beyond what is written"?

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About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.