Jesus’ own words about his mother and family – Matthew 12:46-50 :

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.

Jesus Himself shoots down any sort of inherited merit that would have accrued to his biological family in this one verse. Then the Councils of Ephesus (431 AD) and Chalcedon (451 AD) come around and give Mary a title as “Theotokos” (God-bearer or Mother of God), and effectively elevate her status within the Catholic community as some sort of divine symbol. And here we are.

The only time “queen of heaven” is used in the Bible is in Jeremiah and refers to pagan worship.

The term “Queen of Heaven” is used in the Book of Jeremiah in the Bible, specifically in Jeremiah 7:18 and 44:17-25, to condemn the worship of a pagan goddess

The “queen of heaven” was originally Asheroth, the wife of the god El, and when his son Yihweh took over his throne, she became his wife.

God does not want us worshipping or venerating anyone but him.

17 Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven; they pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger. 19 But am I the One they are provoking? declares the LORD. Is it not themselves they spite, to their own shame? (Jeremiah 7:17-19)

If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant,

3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; Deuteronomy 17:2-3)

And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven. (Deu 4:19)

“The concept of Mary as the Queen of Heaven is not based on pagan worship or goddesses. Instead, it is tied to the Old Testament concept of the royal household. In ancient times, since a king had multiple wives, it was impossible for one wife to be queen. Therefore, the king’s mother served in that role. The queen mother sat on a throne at the king’s right hand and helped rule the kingdom. Access to the king would often be through the queen mother, who would intercede on behalf of those who approached her.”

“In the case of Jesus, who is considered the Son of David and inherits his father David’s throne, his mother Mary assumes the role of Queen Mother in his kingdom3. This analogy is established in 1 Kings 2:17-25, where Solomon sits on the throne next to his mother Bathsheba3. Since Jesus is seen as the King of the Kingdom of God (also known as the Kingdom of Heaven), Mary is regarded as the Queen Mother in this eternal kingdom3. This understanding is further supported by Revelation 12, where a woman who gives birth to a child destined to rule over all nations is depicted”

I have seen this argument laid out before with people like Father Stephen De Young. They say that his is basically a carry over from 2nd temple Judaism. I got this specific paragraph from Bing Ai, because it perfectly summarizes the argument. I’m looking for a protestant defense. It seems pretty convincing on the surface level. Especailly when you add in the buzz word of 2nd temple Judaism.

Quotes from Father Stephen De Young’s book:

“As just one example, there is a clear parallel between the interaction between Bathsheba and Solomon in 1 Kings 2 and that between the Theotokos and Christ at the wedding at Cana (John 2), though the Theotokos shows herself a wiser and holier woman than her ancient ancestor. In both cases, the mother of the king brings a request for aid to the king and then follows the judgment of the king. Bathsheba’s request is denied because it would have been a disastrous mistake (1 Kin. / 3 Kg 2:13–25). The Theotokos’s request for aid at the wedding feast is honored, and through it, new wine and joy are brought to the feast.”

De Young, Stephen . Religion of the Apostles: Orthodox Christianity in the First Century (p. 155). Ancient Faith Publishing. Kindle Edition.

“For example, Celsus, a second-century pagan and enemy of Christianity, devoted a portion of his refutation of Christianity to disparaging the understanding of the Theotokos as queen and mother. Specifically, he attacked the gospel of Christ by arguing that St. Mary, as a common peasant, was not worthy to be the mother of a king.”

De Young, Stephen . Religion of the Apostles: Orthodox Christianity in the First Century

Free PDF Download of his book here: Archive.org