What is the perpetual virginity of Mary?

from the old testament

• The virgin birth is not just a curious fact; it’s highly theological. Humanity’s father, Adam, represented us to God. When he sinned (Genesis 3:1–7), though him all of humanity was judged with corruption and death (Genesis 3:15–19; cf. Romans 5:12). This is why David later commented, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). The implication of Adam’s sin is that all humans are conceived already in sin and under the curse.
• Approximately 750 years before Jesus came, Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be born to a virgin. Isaiah 7:14 reads, “The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” This hinted at how Jesus could be fully human while not under the condemnation of Adam’s line. Also notice that Mary’s virginity specifically functioned as a prophetic sign of the arrival of the Messiah. This implies that it was special and for just her first son, Jesus.

from the new testament

• Matthew, in Matthew 1:18–23, connected Jesus’ birth to the Isaiah 7:14 prophecy. From that account we learn that “before [Mary and Joseph] came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit,” which the angel explained to Joseph in a dream, saying, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew added, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet,” quoting from Isaiah 7:14. So, Jesus’ virgin birth was special. It signified that He was the Messiah and that He could take the sins of His people. It answered the question of how the Messiah could be fully human yet without any inherent sin, unlike the rest of humanity.
• By being conceived by the Holy Spirit, rather than by Joseph, Jesus was not counted as part of the sinful line of Adam. However, because He was born of Mary, He was still entirely human. This placed Jesus in the unique position of being able to die for the sins of other humans because He Himself had no sin. Hebrews 2:14-15 says, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” Jesus needed to be fully human to save. The virgin birth kept Him outside of Adam’s line, while Jesus’ perfect obedience of the Father (Philippians 2:8) proved that He was perfectly righteous and without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
• When the angel first came to Mary, he said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28). Mary was told that she would be called blessed from then on (Luke 1:48b) but not because of her greatness. Rather, she sang, “he has looked on the humble estate of his servant” and “he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Luke 1:48a, 49). Her focus was that she was merely a servant and that God’s great act brought this to pass. If Mary's focus was not on herself, neither should ours.
• God chose Mary because she honored Him, but that doesn’t mean she was perfect. Because she was born in the line of Adam, as with all humans born in Adam’s line, she was sinful and needed a Savior (Luke 1:46–47). The virgin birth was God's unique and special working through Mary.
• After Jesus was born, Mary continued having children. Matthew 13:55–56 reads, “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us?” There is nothing in Scripture that implies that Mary continued being a virgin. Rather, after Jesus’ birth, her life and marriage proceeded as in all other families. Mary was not unique in that sense, but Jesus was unique and was conceived in that unique manner.

implications for today

The doctrine of Mary’s perpetual virginity, besides diverging from what Scripture teaches, misplaces theological focus onto Mary. However, the point of the virgin birth was Jesus Himself, not Mary.

As the Son of God, Jesus was sent to bring salvation to those who believe in Him and His works (John 3:16). To bring salvation, however, He had to be made like us (Hebrews 2:14), adding on a true human nature so that He could die in our place (Philippians 2:6–8). Because God cursed humanity through Adam, and humans are born already sinful (Psalm 51:5), He sent His Son through the virgin birth so Jesus would not inherit the guilt and condemnation the rest of us are under. In this way, Jesus remained guiltless yet also human and able to die for sinners.

Mary was indeed blessed because God chose her (Luke 1:30), but we must be careful not to elevate any human besides Jesus—even Mary. That is because we are all, including Mary, sinful (Romans 3:23) and deserving of death (Romans 6:23).

The virgin birth was amazing. But we best celebrate it by remembering that it was through it that God brought His Son into the world to save us!