Luke 2:41-52

Applebury's Comments

Scripture

Luke 2:41-52 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; 44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: 45 and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him. 46 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions: 47 and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father's house? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Comments

the feast of the passover.This is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover when He passed over the firstborn in the houses of the people of Israel and did not slay them when all the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain. See Exodus 12:27. The law required the men of Israel to appear before the Lord three times a year; one of those times was at the passover. Exodus 34:22-24. The parents of Jesus observed this custom and every year went to Jerusalem for the passover feast.

God promised the people of Israel that their lands would be protected during these feasts when the men were away from home (Exodus 34:24). But it was at the passover time that the Romans besieged the city of Jerusalem and destroyed the temple and killed thousands of those who had gone there to worship according to that ancient custom. That awful retribution came upon them because they had forfeited their right to claim God's protection; they had crucified His Son, and the Son had warned them in these words: Behold your house is left unto you desolate (Matthew 23:38).

supposing him to be in the company.Joseph had always exercised watchful care over Mary and the Child Jesus. There is no indication that he was negligent at this time. It was perfectly normal to suppose that Jesus was with the relatives and friends as the group made their way homeward. Mary seems to blame herself, for she said to Jesus, Your father and I sought for you, sorrowing. This is not a case of delinquent parents who never care for their children. Both Mary and Joseph knew that they could trust Jesus, for he was now twelve years old and had always been obedient to them.

The incident shows a brief glimpse of Him as the Son of God who was concerned about the things of His Father.

all that heard him were amazed.Not just a precocious twelve year old boy! We know that when He was mature all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge were hidden in Him (Colossians 2:3). We are inclined to look upon Him even at the age of twelve as the One who revealed the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:30). It must be admitted, however, that this reference alone would not necessarily indicate supernatural wisdom.

he was subject to them.The parents were obedient to the law of Moses and to the instruction of the Lord in caring for this Child who had been entrusted to them. Jesus was obedient to loving parents who had demonstrated before Him what it meant to obey.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and thy mother (which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth (Ephesians 6:1-3).

And Jesus advanced.His development was normal for He grew intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially.

Summary

With boldness born of complete confidence that what he was about to write was the truth, Luke told about the birth of Jesus.
The decree of Caesar had gone out and it had affected even the people who were living in the land where once David had reigned as king. Joseph was required to leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem, the city of David, to enroll himself with Mary his wife, And while they were there, Mary gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, for there was no room for them in the inn.
Shepherds were watching their flocks by night, when suddenly a brilliant light shone about them and they were greatly frightened. The angel of the Lord was standing by them, and he said, Be not afraid; I bring you good news of great joy for all the people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Then the choir of angels sang of glory to God in the highest and of peace on earth among men of good will.
Mary and Joseph, as the law of Moses required, presented the Child to the Lord in the temple at Jerusalem. There Simeon blessed God for permitting his eyes to see the One who is the salvation of all people, and Anna the prophetess spoke about Him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke had made careful investigation into all the reports and records of the things about Jesus and must have known about the flight into Egypt and return to Nazareth by way of Judea as Matthew reports it. But he was hurrying with his story and merely said that Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth, for he wanted to tell Theo-philus about another journey, the one that Jesus made with His parents to Jerusalem when He was twelve years old.
Jewish families must have made a great thing out of such occasions, especially those who would be on the road several days each way. Friends and relatives had gone with Mary and Joseph to the passover feast. When it was over, they all started home, but Jesus remained in Jerusalem. Sorrowing parents sought Him supposing He was with the group. But when they didn-'t find Him, they returned to Jerusalem. There they found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and the teachers were amazed at His understanding and His answers. To Mary's gentle rebukeor was she blaming herself for what had happened?Jesus said, Why did you seek me? Didn-'t you know that I must be about my Father's business? But Mary and Joseph didn-'t understand Him.
We do not know what rejoicing was theirs when they joined the group and journeyed on to their home. We do not know what resolutions they may have made to guard the trust the Lord had committed to them more carefully. Luke simply says that Jesus went with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them, and that Mary kept all these things in her heart. How precious were His mother's memories! In all probability, she is the one who shared them with Luke, and he with Theophilus, and we are blessed by the record that has been preserved for us.

Questions

1.

Why did Joseph take Mary and go to Bethlehem?

2.

What had Micah prophesied about the birthplace of Messiah?

3.

What is known about the power of Rome at the time of Micah?

4.

From the Christian point of view, what are the two most important events in the reign of Augustus?

5.

What do the Scriptures say about the children of Mary and Joseph who were born after Jesus?

6.

Why is He called Mary's firstborn Son?

7.

What can be said about the fact that there was no room for them in the inn?

8.

How does the story of the angels and the shepherds add to the evidence that proves that Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man?

9.

What good news did the angel of the Lord bring?

10.

What, in all probability, did the people understand the word Lord to mean when applied to Jesus?

11.

What is meant by peace on earth?

12.

What is meant by men in whom he is well pleased?

13.

What do Matthew and Luke say about the time of the visit of the shepherds and the wise men to Bethlehem?

14.

What does Luke say about the things that Mary kept in her heart?

15.

Why did the parents observe the law of circumcision and presentation of the Child to the Lord?

16.

What does the fact that they brought an offering of turtledoves or pigeons suggest?

17.

What is meant by the consolation of Israel?

18.

Who was Simeon?

19.

What had the Holy Spirit revealed to him?

20.

What did the Holy Spirit reveal about the Child in the words spoken by Simeon?

21.

In what way was He set for the falling and rising of many?

22.

What is the sign that is spoken against?

23.

What is the sword that pierced Mary's heart?

24.

Who was Anna?

25.

What did she say about Jesus?

26.

For what possible reason did Luke omit the account of the journey to Egypt?

27.

What was the passover?

28.

What was the custom of observing it in the days of Joseph?

29.

What had the Lord promised the men of Israel who left their homes unguarded on these feast days?

30.

Why, then, did the destruction of Jerusalem occur during their feast?

31.

Why would Mary and Joseph suppose that Jesus was with the group when they started home?

32.

Did they blame Jesus or themselves?

33.

How explain Jesus-' questions and answers before the teachers?

34.

What lesson is there for parents in the experience of Mary and Joseph when Jesus was twelve years old?

35.

What lesson for children?