Commentary on the Gospels

Jesus' Childhood
Luke 2:39-52

Exposition

Verse 39. The KJV reads as though Mary and Joseph went to Nazareth immediately after they dedicated their baby Jesus to the Lord. In fact, their sojourn in Egypt came between these two events. The apparent contradiction that a reader might see in the KJV is the result of an unfortunate translation. The Greek word rendered "when" simply means "after."¹ It does not necessarily imply that the return of Mary and Joseph and to Galilee directly followed their visit to the Temple. What Luke is merely saying is that Joseph and Mary went to Nazareth only after they had fulfilled their legal obligations arising from Jesus’ birth. He is emphasizing that they did all things according to the law.

Verse 40. Luke says that Jesus "grew," meaning that He grew physically. Also, He "waxed strong in spirit," meaning that He grew spiritually. And finally He was "filled with wisdom," meaning that He grew intellectually. According to Scripture, a man consists of body, soul, and spirit (1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 4:12), and the soul is essentially equivalent to the heart and mind (Matt. 22:37), for it is the seat of both emotion and conscious thought. Thus, by informing us that Jesus grew physically, intellectually, and spiritually, Luke is stressing that Jesus was fully human. Like any other man, He was a composite being with a body, soul, and spirit. And like any other man, He grew in all three aspects of personality.

Having shown that the KJV does not always provide the very best translation, we will digress and explain why we still use it. The KJV is based on the same text of the Bible written in its original languages that has been available to translators throughout much of church history. This is known as the received text. The basis of most modern translations is the so-called critical text compiled by modern scholars. Here in verse 40 we find a difference between the two texts that illustrates why we believe that the received text preserves the true Word of God. The words "in spirit" (one word in Greek) are missing in the critical text.² It says only that the child "waxed strong." This cannot possibly be the correct reading, for the omission causes Jesus to be unfavorably compared with John the Baptist. According to Luke 1:80, John "waxed strong in spirit," whereas, if the critical text is right, Jesus only waxed strong in body. But it is inconceivable that Luke would portray John as a spiritual giant and Jesus as only a muscular giant. The omission in Luke 2:40 must therefore be a mistake. Some careless copyist must have left out the word essential to convey Luke’s true meaning. Here we have one example of the countless readings peculiar to the critical text that show its corrupt state. It does not merit serious consideration.

Luke says that "the grace of God was upon" Jesus, implying that He enjoyed the fullest possible outpouring of divine grace. This heavenly gift was unusual not only in its size, but also in some of the forms that it assumed. For example, He said during the years of His ministry that instead of obtaining an ordinary education, He had been taught directly by the Father Himself (John 8:26-28). The Father met with Him and served as His teacher in all things pertaining to the Word and will of God. Yet the atmosphere of their times together was not that of a schoolroom but of a home where father and son dwell together in loving fellowship. Luke implies that Jesus entered into this fellowship when He was still a small child. More information comes from the Psalmist, who reveals that special communion between Jesus and His Father began even earlier, even before He was born (Psa. 22:9-10).

Long after the New Testament was completed, many stories were written about Jesus that had no basis in fact. Many of these so-called apocryphal stories imagined that He was a miracle worker even as a child. But as a child, He did not have supernatural ability (Phil. 2:6-8). "Of no reputation" should be translated "emptied himself." It means that when Jesus became a man, He emptied Himself of His divine power and knowledge. He never gave up their possession, for He was fully divine even when He was fully human, yet He did give up their use. Being a man by His own consent, He wanted to be a real man, and so He chose not to exercise such superhuman attributes as omniscience and omnipotence. His penetrating insights concerning matters beyond human knowledge came to Him from the Father and the Spirit. Likewise, it was by the Father and the Spirit that He performed wonders during His years of ministry. However, before the Spirit descended on Him at His baptism, He never performed a miracle.

Verse 41. Every year, Joseph and Mary attended the Passover celebration in Jerusalem. As we have said before, the law required all Jewish males to gather at the Temple for Passover (Deut. 16:16), but no such requirement was binding upon the women. They could, if they chose, stay home and take care of children. The exemption was perhaps designed to withhold a burdensome obligation from women going through childbirth at that time of year. Yet it seems that Mary always accompanied her husband.

The mandate that God laid on the men of Israel to participate in Passover and the other two principal festivals was a gesture of love. No doubt He wanted to give them respite from constant hard labor. The festivals allowed them to leave work and go on vacation. The men themselves probably looked forward to each festival as an occasion for fun and excitement as well as for worship of God.

It was not unusual for whole families to make the trip. Yet Mary’s regular attendance despite her growing family underscores her devout character. She not only wished to remain at her husband’s side, but she welcomed with great pleasure the opportunity to meet with God in His holy Temple—the same God, if she fully understood what the angel Gabriel had told her (Luke 1:32, 35)—that she had borne in her own womb.

Verse 42. Luke continues by telling what happened at the Passover when Jesus was twelve years old. His age at that time is significant. Today when a Jewish boy attains the age of thirteen years, he is ushered through a ceremony called Bar Mitzvah, which means "son of commandment."³ Its purpose is to confer upon him all the religious duties and privileges of an adult man. Afterward, he is considered part of the male congregation. A boy reaching that age in Jesus' day became subject to the law requiring male attendance at Passover and other major festivals. Yet Jesus going with His parents to observe Passover in Jerusalem when He was only twelve was by no means exceptional. The leading rabbis in His day taught that a boy should begin to participate in festivals one or two years before coming of age so that he might become familiar with his future responsibilities.⁴

Whether Jesus had attended earlier Passovers, we do not know. Perhaps He had stayed home under the care of aunts or grandmothers. But we do know that at age twelve He went with His parents and enthusiastically joined other Jews in celebration of the festival. Although He was still young and Luke refers to Him as a child (v. 43), He obviously viewed Himself as having already made the transition to manhood, for, as we will see, He conducted Himself like a man.

Verses 43-44. Joseph and Mary headed back home from the festival after they had "fulfilled the days." Luke does not mean that they stayed until its completion. Rather, he means that they stayed as long as they believed necessary to satisfy the law. The rabbis taught that attendance for only three days was sufficient, although the feast itself, encompassing both Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, lasted eight days.⁵ Joseph and Mary left Jerusalem thinking that Jesus was with them, but in fact He was still in the city at the Temple.

This development always raises questions in the mind of a reader. How could two parents embark on a journey and unknowingly leave behind their twelve-year-old boy? Did they simply forget about His existence? Of course not. Luke says that they supposed He was in their company. How then could they think He was with them when He was not? This implausibility marks the story as true. No one makes up such a story. Leaving Jesus behind was one of those crazy things that happen in the real world.

The explanation is that "the company" traveling together was larger than just the family of Mary and Joseph. For safety and companionship, Mary and Joseph traveled in a large group of friends and relatives from Nazareth. Luke refers to this group as their "kinsfolk and acquaintance." As the Parable of the Good Samaritan shows, there was danger on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho and probably in later stretches as well. So, moving in large groups was not only pleasant, but prudent.

Before leaving the city, Mary and Joseph probably knew that Jesus had been informed about the time and place of departure, so they made no special search for Him as they set out. They just assumed that He was somewhere in the scores or hundreds who were walking together. They did not quickly learn their mistake because the men probably walked separately from the women and children. Since Jesus had reached that awkward age when from one point of view He was still a child, but from another He was a man, Joseph may have assumed that He was with Mary, while Mary may have assumed that He was with Joseph. They continued without Jesus for a whole day’s journey. Then at day’s end, when Joseph regathered his family in one place so that they might spend the night together, he and Mary realized that Jesus was gone. Frantically, they searched for Him throughout their company, but no one had seen Him since they left the city.

None of us should be quick to fault the parents for leaving Jesus behind. Imagine what it was like to rear a perfect child, a child who never did anything wrong. He was so trustworthy that they had long ago given up close supervision. It was reasonable for them to assume that He was with their company because they did not remember one time when He failed to be where He was supposed to be. Thus, when we consider the character and intelligence of the boy Jesus, the story that His parents accidentally left Him behind is not hard to believe, as critics allege, but extremely easy to believe.

Verse 45. As soon as Mary and Joseph discovered Jesus’ absence, they immediately resolved to retrace their steps. If they had brought other children with them, they probably left these in the care of relatives. But apparently no one offered to help them find Jesus. So, they had no option but to dispense with caution and travel back to Jerusalem by themselves.

It is possible that the anxious parents started right away and pressed on through the night. But more likely they waited until morning so that daylight might assist them in their search. They had to look for Jesus along the road in case He had started off with their company but strayed from it during the first day of travel.

Verses 46-47. With heart-wrenching concern perhaps verging on panic, Mary and Joseph were still looking for Jesus after three days. These days include the one day of journey away from Jerusalem, the one day of journey back to the city, and one more day of actual searching within the city. Jesus’ desperate parents probably looked at their place of lodging and at other places they frequented before they went to the Temple. They knew that Jesus loved people, so they may have assumed that He had failed to come away with them because He was busy enjoying some new friends. They never imagined that a twelve-year-old boy would stay behind because He preferred going to school.

But after several days of separation from Jesus, Mary and Joseph finally found Him. They looked in the Temple, and there He was. He had never left Jerusalem. He was discussing points of law with the doctors: that is, with experts on the law of Moses. Normally, these doctors sat as judges or taught rabbis in training, having a status rather like university professors. But during the feast, it was their custom to give classes in the Temple.⁶ Anyone could attend and participate in the discussion. Although three days had elapsed since Mary and Joseph left Jerusalem, the feast was still in progress.

Jesus was not merely observing a class from the fringes, but He was sitting in the midst of the learned doctors and engaging in dialogue with them. He was respectfully hearing their teaching, plying them with questions, and returning answers when they probed His understanding. As we said, He was conducting Himself like a man.

Everyone who heard Jesus speak was amazed. Never had they heard one so young express thoughts so mature. Never had they seen such a display of intelligence. The doctors, like all teachers everywhere, were delighted to have such a good student.

Yet although He was without equal in His keenness and quickness of mind, He did not seem at all proud. He was not a know-it-all. His depth of discernment was adorned with perfect humility. He spoke to the doctors with utmost respect both for them as teachers and for the law they taught. He ventured no opinion as though He wished to show His own acumen, but only as though He wished to show the greatness of truth. Permeating all His words was a manifest love for His heavenly Father.

Verse 48. As soon as Mary and Joseph found Jesus, they were astonished at His prominence in a Temple classroom. But it is likely that the setting did not prevent them from rushing to Him and pulling Him aside. You can imagine both their relief and their exasperation. Their first reaction showed them to be ordinary parents. His mother scolded Him for causing them so much worry and distress. Her words show how deeply she was hurt. In essence, she asked why He thought she deserved such callous treatment. But do not think ill of his mother. What would you as a parent say under such circumstances?

Verses 49-50. Jesus’ reply was no doubt respectful and kind, but He did not accept being reproved. Rather, He reproved His parents. For three reasons they were at fault.

1. They should have realized that there was only one place He could be—in the Temple preparing for His mission to save mankind. Thus He said, "How is it that ye sought me?"
2. They should have encouraged Him to be there. They should have watched Him and supported Him as He sought to learn from the doctors. They should have helped Him to stay as long as possible. Instead, they were so wrapped up in their own affairs that they paid no attention to where He was or what He was doing. Even worse, they departed from Jerusalem before the feast was over, leaving Jesus to pursue His duty alone. It was not that He neglected them. They abandoned Him. Thus He said, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?"
3. Notice the subtle rebuke in these words. Jesus was saying that Mary had a wrong view of her son. She rebuked Him for mistreating His father. But who was His father? It was faithfulness to His Father that kept Him in the Temple. Jesus is not demeaning Joseph here, but He is reminding both Mary and Joseph that His true father is God. By remaining in the Temple, He was not shirking His Father’s will but fulfilling it. The will of His Heavenly Father, the actual source of His being, superseded any expectation of Joseph, His legal guardian.

But Joseph and Mary did not understand what Jesus was saying. They were so overwrought by emotion that they could not think clearly. Probably without further discussion, they simply whisked their boy away from the crowd and resumed their journey home.

Along the road they no doubt attached themselves to another group of travelers. Yet the little family hung together, as Mary and Joseph sought words to say to each other and to Jesus. Their hearts were tender with wounded feelings. For the first time in their experience, Jesus had not stretched Himself to please their every desire, and instead He had rebuked them. It was only natural for them to feel that He had rejected them as parents. But Jesus understood the emotional wall that had suddenly risen in their midst. We can be sure that He did His best to comfort His parents with His love and to reassure them of His respect for their authority.

Verse 51. Luke concludes the story by informing us that Jesus went home with His parents and accepted the role of a child under their direction. In other words, He proved His respect for their authority by living in obedience to it.

Jesus’ behavior after coming to Nazareth shows that His failure to join His parents when they left Jerusalem was no act of adolescent rebellion. Nor was it an assertion of independence now that He had nearly come of age. It was in no way a rejection of proper authority. Rather, it was an act of obedience to higher authority, the authority of His heavenly Father. As soon as He reentered the home of Joseph and Mary, He transferred obedience to the authority with proper control of that home, His parents. The warm cooperation and helpfulness that had always bound the family together only grew stronger. The incident in the Temple created no permanent rift in the family, and no tension crept into His relationship with Joseph. Perhaps Joseph eventually understood what Jesus meant by His Father’s business.

Verse 52. After the Passover when Jesus was twelve, He entered His teenage years, and throughout these years He continued to exhibit well-balanced growth. He grew "in wisdom" (that is, intellectually), in "stature" (that is, physically), "in favour with God" (that is, spiritually), and in favour "with man" (that is, socially). The gradual maturing of His personality in all four aspects was another striking evidence that He was a real human being.

When we compare His childhood growth, described in verse 40, and His adolescent growth, described in verse 52, we see one important difference. His adolescent growth included a new dimension. Besides growing in favor with God, He grew in favor with man by developing social relationships. The flowering of social skills and sensitivities is the type of growth especially important during adolescence, and Jesus was outstanding in this respect. He was moving upward into the adult world and forming a good reputation among adults.

After Luke’s account of Jesus’ visit to the Temple when He was twelve, the Gospel record skips over His subsequent youth and young manhood, saying nothing about almost twenty years of His life. It is clear that their purpose is not to furnish a biography in the ordinary sense, but to tell the story of redemption. In that story, the events during the years ignored by the Gospels have no significance. The Gospels take up His life again only after He entered His public ministry, for only then did He begin to fulfill His mission on earth.

Yet the Gospels incidentally reveal some facts that help us imagine some particulars in Jesus’ life as a young man. They tell us, for instance, that He belonged to a large family. According to Mark 6:3, He had four brothers and at least two sisters. It is evident that because Mary and Joseph accepted the hard task of rearing God’s Son, God blessed them by giving them many children of their own. At least two of the sons, James the second eldest son and Judas (Jude) the fourth eldest, later distinguished themselves as leaders of the church.

From the same verse we learn that Jesus was a carpenter by trade. As was common in His day, He learned His trade by serving as apprentice to His father, who was also a carpenter (Matt. 13:55). Jesus’ willingness to carry on Joseph’s manner of life and to pursue the same livelihood is conclusive proof that He indeed lived in subjection to His father. For many days and years they worked together, side by side. Through all this, Jesus the Lord of all meekly treated His human father as the boss. Since Jesus was perfect in all He did, think how much Joseph must have valued Him both as a son and as a coworker. You men who have authority over other men, how would you feel about a subordinate who never messed up, who never even failed to produce the best work? So we can imagine that Joseph and His eldest son had a sweet relationship.

In Jesus’ subjection to His father, we see His wonderful humility. We see it also in the trade He pursued. He was not too lofty to put in long hours perfecting manual skills, or to get His hands dirty, or to work until He was covered with sweat, or to meet the demands of unreasonable customers, or to forego meals and rest if necessary to meet a deadline He had agreed to.

Application

Why did Jesus consent to live many years as a mere assistant to Joseph? Day after day He followed His father and, without any complaint or even any look of discontent, did every trivial or exhausting task that Joseph asked Him to perform. He frequently spoke words of encouragement to Joseph, whether by complimenting his work or by noticing his progress or by assuring him he was getting near the finish line.

Why did the incarnate Savior devote much of His lifetime to menial tasks as another man’s helper? The answer is simple. Not only in His years of ministry, but also in His youth, every step He took and every word He spoke were intended as examples for us. Just as He gladly served as His father’s underling, so every boy and girl today should with a willing and joyful heart give help to parents whenever they need it. Just as the young Jesus never hurled words of disobedience at His father, so no child or teenager today should argue with a parent or teacher or pastor. Just as Jesus before His baptism never sought the limelight but remained in the shadows, so no one today who claims to be His follower should always be trying to make himself the center of attention.

Exposition

What exactly did Jesus’ work as a carpenter involve? This is a matter of some debate, since there was not much wood available in Nazareth. Nevertheless, the view of some scholars that Jesus did mainly stonework is extreme. There is much archeological evidence that the Jews of Galilee had in their possession many items made of wood. Let me quote from one authority: "Carpenters were not usually house builders because homes were not made of wood, but they did have wooden trim and fixtures. Jesus likely spent His time fashioning ox yokes, stools, plows, cabinets, carts and lattice windows. On occasion carpenters also made artificial teeth! The tools Jesus handled were the axe, hatchet, saw, knives, plane, and square. Hammers and bronze nails were in use at the time. It was also possible that he worked with a bow-drill."⁷ Perhaps the word "knives" in this quotation refers to wood chisels.

After Jesus began His career of preaching and performing miracles, He visited Nazareth on one occasion, and the people refused to believe in Him. They belittled Him by calling Him the carpenter (Mark 6:3). In other words, they could not believe that the Messiah had emerged from such a mundane occupation—that He had turned out to be the man who for years had been doing odd jobs for His neighbors. From their unflattering remarks, we gain further insight, however. We have argued in our discussion of Luke 2:34–35 that Joseph must have died sometime before Jesus began His ministry. The comments of Jesus’ fellow townsmen indicate that even after Joseph died, Jesus continued in His father’s trade, perhaps working on His own or in partnership with His brothers. We conclude that for nearly twenty years—more than half the total span of His life—Jesus spent His time doing nothing especially exciting or significant or spiritual; rather, just doing hard work.

Why in the counsels of eternity did Jesus choose to come to this world as a carpenter? It is an interesting question with an obvious answer. Can you think of a more fitting human occupation for the One who built the universe?