Mary is Not An Intercessor

By David Ettinger

Unfortunate Doctrine
A recent Mother’s Day blog I read ended with these words: “I pray too, through an act of God, that Mary, Mother of Christ could intercede to help unite Christ’s followers throughout the world.”

Everything up this point on this sweet blog was well written and very dear, and I was all in for giving it a hearty “like.” And then I read this unfortunate prayer, which promoted very unfortunate doctrine.

Of course, the worship of Mary – including the idea that she is some kind of intercessor for God’s people – is a pillar of Roman Catholic doctrine, but goes back even further, to the mother-son cultic religions which have existed from before the Flood.

The reality is that Mary, the human mother of Jesus, was a righteous young Jewish woman named Miriam, who was probably between the ages of 12 and 15 when she gave birth to the Savior. She went on to become a believer in the Son she birthed, and then died a normal death.

Upon death, as all believers, Miriam’s soul went to Heaven, and as all departed believers, she awaits the return to Earth of the Lord Jesus, and the establishing of his 1,000-year kingdom. There is nothing God-like about Miriam that we should worship her, nor is there a single verse in the Bible indicating she intercedes for believers.

She has no power to intercede for believers, nor does any other mortal who has died and gone home to be with the Lord.

The True Interceder
However, the Bible is absolutely clear that there IS an Interceder in Heaven who “goes to bat” for those who believe in Him. His name is Jesus Christ, and the Bible teaches that He indeed is our Interceder:

• “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
• “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).
• “Therefore he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
• “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1).

A Plea
So, bloggers, I beg you, if you are presenting yourself as a Christian, please make sure you are reading your Bibles every day. Be sure your doctrine is correct. Be sure you are not promoting false doctrine which only does harm and benefits no one. Be sure you are seeking God’s truth that you may pass it on to others who need to know His truth.

Don’t be careless. Matthew 12:36 tells us: “But I [Jesus] tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.” This surely includes the promulgating of false teaching.

May God help all who call themselves “Christian” to be true studiers of God’s Word that we may shine as beacons of light in this dark and perishing world!

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Tagged: Bible teaching, Correct Doctrine, Mary Worship, New Testament, Proper Theology, Reading the Bible Correctly

Posted in: Application, Bible study, Bible teaching, Christ's Deity, Christian Behavior, Christianity, Commentary, doctrine, Editorial/Blog, Making a Point, New Testament, Obeying God, Practical, theology