Shroro:

Bible Study - Matthew Chapter 1
Verse 18

from Kaniyamparmabil Achen, the Great Teacher of Malankara

V18: our Lord’s Mother Mary

Mary’s father was Joachim (Yuyakhim, Yunakhir). Her mother was Anna (Hanna). Here are some notes about Mary from the “Gospel of Mary,” one book in the set of apocryphal books “The lost books of the Bible.”

St. Mary was born in Nazareth, in the tribe of David. She grew up in the temple of Jerusalem; her mother’s home was in Bethlehem. This family partitioned their family assets into three: one for the temple, the other for the poor and a third for themselves. They did not have children for 20 years. So they had taken vow that, if a child is born for them, they would submit their child for serving God. Joachim went to the temple along with some others for offering ‘presents’. Isakhar was the high priest of the temple then. At that time, he was insulted in the temple, saying that “one who do not have boy is accursed’. He was ashamed of this insult, and did not go back with his comrades, but went to nearby shepherds. There an angel appeared to him and told him that Hanna will become pregnant and delver a child, citing the examples of Sarah and Rahel, mothers of Simson and Samuel. The angel told him that Hanna will deliver a baby girl and that they should name the child as Mary (Maryam). She should not eat or drink any thing unclean and that she would grow up in the temple. When she is a virgin, she would deliver the Son of the Lord God. The angel also told him that, this child called Jesus will be the savior of all man kind. The angel told him that as a proof of all this, he would see Hanna waiting for him, when he gets out through the golden gate.

Then the angel appeared to Hanna and told her that she would deliver a girl who will be most blessed of all women and she would be called Mary. She has to stay for three years- the time she will breast feeding the child – at home and there after the child will grow up in the temple, with out going out at any time. She will deliver a world savior. So she, who is in distress for not seeing her husband should go to golden gate and will meet him there. The book goes ahead and states that all this things happened the way angel told Hanna, so they praised God and returned home, and in due time Hanna delivered a baby girl. Chapter 4 says that after she completed three, they took her to the temple and placed her in the lowest step of the 15 steps. They were changing their clothes, but the child of three years climbed all fifteen steps and entered the temple.

Angels appeared to the child Mary daily. Every one was surprised by her innocence and in her prayer life. The high priest suggested that every one who turned 14 should go back to their homes as was the custom. All except Mary went back. But she told the high priest that she and her parents have committed themselves for serving God and that she has taken a ‘virginity oath’. So she said that she could not leave the temple. Now the high priest remembered that commanded “if vowed it should be done” and so he decided to consult other priests. In that meeting a voice was heard reminding the Prophesy of Isaiah. (7:1-17). So it was decided in that meeting that all unmarried men in the David’s race should bring a staff and whose staff sprouts and on which Holy Spirit dwells in the form of Dove. The owner of that staff would be married to Mary. But Joseph was old and so he removed his staff from the group. But none of the staff sprouted. So Joseph was asked to bring back his staff too with others.

Now that staff sprouted and Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Then Joseph went to Bethlehem and “God’s virgin” went to her parents in Galilee. This is narrated in chapter 6 of the book. (The modern scholars may not accept all this, but St. Jerome who lived in the 4th century and Mar Epiphanius AD 310 the bishop at Salamis, all have quoted from this book)

Mother of Mary: was Hanna. She was infertile. She and her husband Yoyakim has promised to submit their child born to them, to God. Mary was that very child born to this couple. So at the age of three she was sent to Temple. There she lived with the bread in the church. Based on their custom, they tried to send her back home at the age of 14. (Mor Michael’s History – Mor Gregarious Bar Ebraya). It was permitted to give the dedicated girls for marriage (Mor Gregorious of Nyssa - AD 385). Therefore the priests decided to betroth her to suitable person. So they invited Joseph who is from the same tribe as Mary.

Mor Ivanious (the Golden-Tongued) says that Joseph was from Nazareth. He was a carpenter and was married before. He was the father of 6 children including one Simon, Jacob, and Yosi who are mentioned in the Epistles. (The Jewish law did not permit one to marry for 3 years after betrothal. But they regarded betrothal as marriage itself and couples were called husband and wife and they could even reside together.)

So why was his betrothal with Mary?

1) This would save Mary from stoning her. (Because according to the law if a unmarried became pregnant then she will be stoned to death)
2) The genealogical chain is not in woman- it has to come from man
3) For he would be a helper and protector to Mary.