PDF Notes

(The notes in the PDF are color coded)

The virgin was prophesied

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

Isaiah 7:16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as mentioned in Scripture

Matthew 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Mary is here noted as the wife of Joseph, not as divine, or the one who answers our prayers.

Luke 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

Virgin does not mean equal or divine or without sin.

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Mary was not the Savior, nor the Holy Ghost, but found with a child (the Savior) of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Again, Mary is referred to as the wife of Joseph, not God, not a savior, and that which was in her was “of the Holy Ghost.”

Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

Favour does not mean divinity. Anyone can receive this favour from God: Proverbs 8:35 says, “Whoso findeth me [grace] findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.” Wisdom is known by the Bible as the Christ (see 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30).

Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Mary here showed her inability to understand, her lack of Bible knowledge, and foreknowledge or insight into the hidden things of God.

• • • Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

The Spirit was upon Moses and the seventy (Numbers 11:25) upon Balaam (Numbers 24:2), upon Joshua (Numbers 27:18), Othniel (Judges 3:10), Gideon (Judges 6:34) Samson (Judges 14:6), and many others had the Spirit come upon them, but we would never worship them, right?

Notice again that the child within her was called “that holy thing.” Mary was not called “that holy thing” by the angel.

• • • Luke 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

Mary was mentioned as having a cousin, so… if Mary were born divine, why not her cousin? How far would it go?

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Just as others should be, Mary was submissive to the ministry of God through His angels.

Luke 1:39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

Honorably, when she obeyed the Lord through His agents, the angels, she did it “with haste.” This is just as we ought to be—as long as it is in concert with God’s word.

Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

The babe leapt in the womb of Elisabeth, who was also filled with the Holy Ghost. Does that mean we would worship John the Baptist as well as as Mary and Elisabeth? (No.)

• • • Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

This verse shows that John was filled with the Holy Ghost from the womb because his mother was, not because she or he was divine. John was filled with, not born of, the Holy Ghost.

The reason we worship Jesus Christ is because He is God’s Son, not because He is the son of Mary. God’s Son took on flesh, as that person, before He took on flesh, is who we adore.

Luke 1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

She did not magnify herself or appeal to others to do the same.

Luke 1:56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Luke 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Mary is here espoused and great with child, but no focus is brought to her.

Luke 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Mary is here mentioned first, yet not honored, lauded, or worshipped by the shepherds. In fact, when the shepherds left they proclaimed what “was told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:17), not what they had learned of Mary.

Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Mary didn’t proclaim the message, but rather pondered what had happened. She was not the main vessel chosen by God for the proclamation of the message concerning His Son.

Luke 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

The prophet blessed them, not Mary. He spoke to Mary, and said nothing about her divinity or her praise. The child was “for a sign,” not His mother.

Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

When the wise men saw Mary, the did not worship her, but rather, worshipped her son, and gave him gifts.

Matthew 12:46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

Matthew 12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

Matthew 12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

Matthew 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister and mother.

This would have been a perfect time for Christ to say, “My mother! Everyone needs to know her, pray to her, worship her!” But instead He pointed out the truth that His family is with all the believers—just like her if she would believe.

Luke 11:27 It came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

This deserves an emoji! 🤯 “Yea rather” means, “No! Instead of that…”

Matthew 13:55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

Joseph was mentioned first here, yet Christ is still the subject. He would be the Son of Joseph and Mary, with His brothers spoken by name.

Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

His father is not mentioned, but He is now the carpenter. His brothers were in a different order as well, so it was not likely that they were from oldest to youngest in their order.

Matthew 27:56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

Here the sons are mentioned, but not the fact that Mary was the mother of Jesus. Mary Magdalene was mentioned first!

In the next two verses, is it that Mary was mentioned as the ‘other’ Mary?

• • • Matthew 27:61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
    • Matthew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. (See John 19:25)

Mark 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

This verse corresponds with the previous verses about the sons of Mary (though Bible commentaries say this is not the same as the mother of Jesus).

Mark 15:47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Again, because of the son, it is likely the mother of Jesus. Kept in hiding during this timeframe for some reason…

Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Because of the previous verses, could this be a reference to a sister of Jesus?

Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

If it was the mother of Jesus mentioned here, because of the name of the son, we see that the messengers of the risen Lord was not first referred to by the mother of Jesus Christ.

John 2:1 The third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

John 2:2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

John 2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

John 2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

John 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

It may sound rude in our ears, yet it must have been out of respect, Christ referred to His mother as “woman,” pointing out her human nature. His time was not yet, as He was on His Father’s time in Heaven. It may have been as a result of a glint in His eye and a smile that the mother told the servants to do everything that Christ had said. Notice, she did not request of them that they would do everything she told them to do. Even Mary pointed people to obey Jesus Christ.

John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

Mary was by the cross, not on the cross, so she could not be our savior, right?

John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

John recalled that he was the one whom Jesus loved, not mentioning the love or praise of the mother. Jesus called her woman, a direct reference to her being human.

John 19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

If Mary was to be worshipped, this would have been an incredible time to call people to do so.

Acts 1:13 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.

Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

Acts 1:16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

Acts 1:17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

Acts 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

Acts 1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

Acts 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

Acts 1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

If the apostles right before Pentecost were to want Mary because of her divine status with God to lead them, it was overlooked here. She could have been counted with the twelve, but lo! She was not considered. The group themselves were not clear and they choose male leaders, and God made it known that it would be Matthias.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Mary was the vessel for the Son of God, not the one that was born of God herself.

Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

We are all sons and daughters by adoption, and we praise God for His mercies.