Why was the Virgin Mary chosen to be the mother of Jesus?

Answer 1

Answer

Mary didn't choose this, God chose her to bear His Eternal Son. It was necessary for her to be a virgin at the time God sent His Son into the world, that He might be born without sin, not as we are born, as sinners. According to Scriptures, after the birth of Christ, Mary & Joseph had normal marital relations. They had four sons and at least two daughters after Christ was born, according to Scriptures. Even if they never had further children, Mary would not have remained a virgin, for the account in The Bible shows that Mary and Joseph had normal marital relations.

As the Gospel account in Matthew 1 shows us, Joseph had initially thought that Mary had somehow fallen morally into adultery, for he had not had sexual relations with her during their espousal, yet she was pregnant: "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." v. 18. So, Joseph thought it best to quietly divorce her (The espousal was more binding than an engagement of today.): "Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily." v.19.

But the angel Gabriel came to Joseph and clarified why and how Mary became pregnant: "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 (a normal marriage after the espousal): for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." vv. 20,21.

Mary had also been puzzled at Gabriel's announcement to her: "Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS." Luke 1:31. She asked: "How shall this be, seeing I know not (was not intimate with) a man?" Luke 1:34. The angel consoled 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. 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. For with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:35-37.

So, Joseph obeyed the angel's instructions. However Matthew, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit writes: "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet [Isaiah 7:14], saying, 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." Matthew 1:22,23.

Moreover, Matthew continues in explanation of Joseph's obedient actions: "Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not (was not intimate with Mary) till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS." The only understanding possible of this passage, without confusing it, is that Joseph did not have intimate relations with Mary, until after the birth of Jesus. This clearly means that he did have the normal marital relations with Mary, after the birth of Christ. "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled." Hebrews 13:4.

The normal relations between this married couple brought forth their sons, after Jesus: "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother (Greek: adelphos) of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon?" Mark 6:3. He certainly was known as "The Carpenter," and "the Son of Mary," so we should not contort the Scriptures, saying Christ had four brothers (in the original language). He also had at least two sisters: "are not his sisters here with us?" v.3. It is confirmed by Paul the Apostle in Galatians 1:19: "But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother." There would be no reason for Paul to say "the Lord's brother" in a generic spiritual sense, for James the Less and James, the son of Zebedee, and others named James were spiritual brothers to Christ.

The point of Mary being a virgin, was to bring the sinless Son of God into the world, into her womb, by the supernatural means of the Holy Spirit. The Bible clearly states of man born naturally: "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. Yet of Christ, it tells us: "For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Corinthians 5:21. Pilate said, "I find no fault in this man." Luke 23:4. The apostle Peter said: "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." 1 Peter 2:1.

God sent His Son into the world as sinless, to be the one who would pay for our sins. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sentnot his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:16,17(emphasis added). If He had sinned, in any way, He would have had to pay for His own sin, and would not have been able to pay for ours. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Hebrews 9:27. Jesus died for our sins on the Cross, so that we would not be condemned, if we trusted in Him as our Savior.

The virgin birth was essential to bring the sinless eternal creator God, Jesus Christ, into the world, so He could save us from the penalty of our sins. Mary, as a godly Jewish maiden who gave offerings for her own sins (compare Luke 2:24 with Leviticus 12), didn't choose to be a virgin, she already was so, previous to the birth of Christ. She obediently submitted to God's choice of her to bear the sinless Savior of the world by virgin birth. Afterwards she had normal marital relations with Joseph, and bore children.

See the Question link below for further study.

Answer

Catholics believe that Mary was always a virgin, before and after the birth of Jesus. That belief has been Tradition ever since the time of Mary.

The Catholic Church teaches Mary chose to be a virgin because she wanted to fully consecrate herself to God (Paul even says in his letters that an unmarried person is more fully able to serve God.) That is why she did not understand the angel's greeting; she did not know why God would ask her to do this.

But God made known to her His plan and she accepted it. The Catholic Church interprets the Scriptures from the Greek differently than do Protestant denominations, holding that Mary remained ever a virgin before and after Jesus' birth, and she chose to do it because she believed it to be the will of God.

Some will point to Matthew's gospel to say that Mary did not remain a virgin for he says "he knew her not, till she brought forth her son..." The Greek heos hou (till) however only deals with the time up to the birth of Christ and not after, Mattew 26:36 is a good example of this, where the disciples stay rather than leave Jesus.

Some also note that Jesus had brothers, but the Greek adelphos, had a much broader meaning including children of the father but not the mother. In Acts ch. 15 we read of about 120 brothers. In Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 we see that some of his 'brothers' are actually his cousins, their mother being another Mary.

There are also many cultural aspects such as the fact the Jesus was rebuked by his 'brothers' - something younger brothers did not do. On the cross Jesus gave Mary into the care of John yet under the law if Jesus had brothers the next oldest would take care of Mary, for the oldest child had to care for a widowed woman.

St Jerome wrote a whole piece titled 'the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary,' St Augustine referred to as "heretics" those who do not believe in her perpetual virginity, and St Basil said true friends of Christ believe in it.

Mary chose to be a virgin, and remain so, to consecrate and dedicate herself/her life wholly to God and his purpose.

Answer 2

Mary was born without Original Sin so that she would be a unique and appropriate mother for Jesus. So one might say she was destined, rather than chosen. But her purity in life and willingness to submit to God's will are usually cited as qualifications for her role.

First, you have to believe there is such a thing as "original sin" which makes everyone guilty of a mythological transgression. I doubt there's an answer to this question other than hearsay and opinion.

Answer 3

because he (jesus ) had to be born sinless and the holy spirit had to inpregnate her to do this..and just like the lamb for sacrifice had to have no blemish neither could jesus who had to be our sacrifice once & for all for our sins...

Answer 4

People are born as virgins, nothing "makes" them virgins.

Additional answer

In Catholic tradition, Mary is referred to as the Virgin Mary because of the doctrine of her perpetual virginity: even after giving birth to Jesus she never had sexual relations with her husband, Josephus, and never gave birth to more children. Many Protestants also believe that Mary remained a virgin, but for most it's not a doctrine of faith. References to brothers and sisters of Jesus in the gospels suggest that Mary did not remain a virgin. This is one of many cases where traditional Christian doctrine runs into direct conflicts with text in the Bible. Given a choice, most Christians go with tradition.

Why is the Doctrine of Perpetual Virginity Important?:

Mary's perpetual virginity means that she is the one human to be both a mother and a virgin; unlike other women, she escapes the curse of Eve. Other women are cursed with a sexuality that forces men to control and restrain them. This created in Christian tradition the virgin-whore dichotomy: all women are either virgins who follow in the footsteps of Mary (like for example becoming nuns) or who follow in the footsteps of Eve (by tempting men and causing them to sin). This, in turn, helped limit opportunities for women throughout Christian society.

Answer 5

so he would be born sinless