To try to disprove the fact that Joseph and Mary had other children after Jesus, some churches claim the brothers and sisters of Jesus mentioned several times in the Bible belong to Joseph from a previous marriage. Another idea put forward is that Joseph had adopted them before he married Mary.
Joseph
It is simple to disprove both of these fabricated ideas. The first possibility of Joseph having these children from an earlier marriage simply does not stand up for one excellent reason. If Joseph had other sons before he married Mary, then the eldest of them would have inherited the throne of David before Jesus, this would make Jesus ineligible to inherit the throne of David. It disproves the idea Joseph had other children from a previous marriage.
The second option is essentially identical to the first option. Any children legally adopted into Joseph’s family would have the same privileges as a son conceived naturally. This was the law 2000 years ago. This suggests the oldest adopted child would have a stronger claim to David’s throne than Jesus would.
This leaves us with only a third option. That Joseph and Mary had a normal sexual relationship after Jesus was born, and the brothers and sisters of Jesus mentioned in the Bible are his actual half brothers and sisters. Definitely not from a previous marriage and equally not from adoption.
The Betrothal of Joseph and Mary, mentioned earlier, should have cleared up the false teaching that Mary remained a virgin all her life.
Legal Father
I have one more thought to add to this, but I cannot prove it. But I believe it is worth mentioning here. Why would God complicate the birth of his son by using a previously married man to be the legal father of our Lord? My thoughts on this matter are that Joseph would have also been a virgin to keep the marriage bed pure and undefiled. God would have handpicked Joseph to be the legal father of Jesus. Therefore, his life before marrying Mary would not have come with “extra baggage” as we would describe it today.
It is also important that in verse 25 Jesus was called their “firstborn son”, he was not their only son. Jesus Christ was the first-born son of Mary. The rest of her children were from a normal marital relationship with Joseph. The following scriptures are evidence of Jesus having brothers and sisters. Starting in the book of John 2:11-12.