Matthew 12:46-47

Jesus’ brothers were evidently his physical brothers, the sons of Mary. Some Roman Catholics desiring to maintain their perpetual virginity of Mary doctrine have argued that they were Jesus’ brothers but the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage. [Note: E.g., John McHugh, The Mother of Jesus in the New Testament, pp. 200-202.] If they were, the oldest of these brothers would have been the legal heir to David’s throne.