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The Queen of Heaven

There is an interesting figure mentioned in the book of Jeremiah. In 7:18 we learn, “The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven.” Who is this queen of heaven? She is only mentioned here and three times in chapter 44, where the Israelites insist they will continue to worship her instead of the Lord. 

Most scholars believe this was Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of war and fertility. Archaeologists have discovered statues and other images of her in ancient Israel, a place where Ishtar never should have been, but King Manasseh imported idol worship during his reign. This was a silly primitive practice. 

But today there is a modern queen of heaven that is just as silly to worship. Roman Catholics use this title for Mary, the human mother of Jesus. They pray to her, asking her to ask her Son to do things for them, not realizing they can talk directly to her Son and enter “boldly before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16)”. They believe she was without sin, yet in her Magnificat she called God her Savior (Luke 1:47). Only sinners need a Savior, so if she were without sin, she would have no need of a Savior.

They call her their mediator, not knowing the Bible says, “there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).” They say Mary was a perpetual virgin, as if there is something unholy about marital procreation (something God commanded of Adam and Eve before sin entered the world). Yet Matthew 13:55 lists Mary’s other biological children. (I know the Catholic arguments in favor of perpetual virginity; they do not hold up, but I do not have space to argue them here)

Mary is not our mediator. Mary is not a perpetual virgin. Mary is not without sin. And Mary is most definitely not the queen of heaven. She is as much the queen of heaven as Ishtar is, and elevating her to deity status is just as destructive. 

There is nothing another human can offer us that compares to what our God offers. That is why Paul only preached “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).” He didn’t preach Jesus plus Mary, but only Jesus, for He is all we need. 

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