The Ebionites, an early Jewish-Christian sect, revered Jesus not as a divine being but as a prophet chosen by God to guide humanity. For them, the Holy Family was an embodiment of humility and piety, a testament to God’s ability to work through the ordinary. Mary, in their view, was a devout young woman of deep faith, chosen by God for her purity of heart rather than supernatural qualities. Joseph, too, was a righteous man who provided for his family with the steady hands of a carpenter or stone mason, a reflection of the quiet virtues of diligence and faithfulness. Together, they symbolized the simplicity of God’s will being fulfilled through the lives of the meek and humble.
Jesus, to the Ebionites, was born not through divine conception but as the natural child of Mary and Joseph, a product of human love and obedience to God’s laws. They believed that Jesus’ wisdom and righteousness were the result of his devout upbringing and his unwavering devotion to the Torah. As a child, he would sit at Joseph’s feet, learning the trade of carpentry, while Mary taught him the sacred traditions and scriptures. The family was seen as a model of Jewish piety, adhering to the dietary laws, observing the Sabbath, and making annual pilgrimages to the Temple. The Ebionites found in them a relatable sanctity, a reminder that holiness was accessible to all who lived in alignment with God’s commandments.

The Ebionites also believed that the Holy Family’s way of life reflected an ethic of compassion, which extended to their dietary practices. They taught that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus adhered to a vegetarian diet, avoiding the killing of animals as part of their commitment to God’s creation. For the Ebionites, this was not just a matter of health but a profound spiritual discipline, rooted in the belief that the original harmony of Eden could be restored through nonviolence and reverence for all life. They saw Jesus as the perfect exemplar of this principle, teaching love not only for humanity but for all creatures. The vegetarianism of the Holy Family became, for the Ebionites, a symbol of their purity and their alignment with God’s original intent for the world, inspiring them to practice the same in their pursuit of righteousness.
This perspective on the Holy Family shaped the Ebionite understanding of salvation. They believed that Jesus, inspired by the Spirit of God at his baptism, became a teacher and guide for humanity, showing the way to live in harmony with God’s will. The family’s humble origins underscored their belief that salvation did not come from wealth, power, or divine favoritism, but from obedience to the law and a life of compassion and simplicity. For the Ebionites, the story of the Holy Family was not about miraculous interventions but about the sanctification of the ordinary, a message they sought to live out in their own lives.

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~Sakshi Zion
Most of the Saints are from poor families. Those who were rich left the family and lived like beggar. In Bharat the Sadhus beg regularly to eschew Ego and act as counselor.