Luke also noted Jesus’ normal development as a human being (Luke 2:40; cf. Luke 1:80; Luke 2:52). He was the object of God’s grace (help). Luke mentioned Jesus’ wisdom perhaps in anticipation of the following pericope. Luke 2:40 describes what happened to Jesus between His presentation in the temple and His return there when He was 12 years old (Luke 2:41-51). read more
Again Luke pointed out the godly characters of Mary and Joseph. Jewish males were to go to Jerusalem three times a year, at the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. In Jesus’ day, women usually attended with their husbands or fathers. [Note: Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, s.v. "pascha," by J. Jeremiah , 5:896-904.] Those who could not attend all three festivals tried to attend Passover at least. Customarily Jewish parents took their young sons with them for a year or... read more
6. Jesus’ visit to the temple as a boy 2:41-50This is the only inspired incident that God has given us of Jesus’ experiences during His boyhood. Luke stressed Jesus’ wisdom and His conscious awareness that He was the Son of God so his readers would have confidence in Jesus’ deity. There is a strong contrast between Jesus’ earthly parents and His heavenly Father. Stories of the precocious condition of a great person in his or her youth were and are common. They demonstrate the uniqueness of the... read more
Luke noted that Mary and Joseph stayed for the duration of the eight-day festival, another tribute to their piety. Mary and Joseph probably did not miss Jesus for a whole day because each may have supposed He was with the other since men often traveled with men and women with women. [Note: Liefeld, p. 852.] Perhaps they assumed He was with the other children or the other adults in their caravan of pilgrims. One of my colleagues once left his children at the church where he was the guest... read more
On the second day, Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem, which evidently took the whole day. Then on the third day they began searching for Jesus and found Him in the temple sitting among the rabbis listening to their teaching and asking them questions. Luke’s reference to His being in their "midst" suggests Jesus’ centrality in this august group, though He was then a learner and not a teacher (cf. Psalms 119:99-100)."Already early in life Jesus values the pursuit of comprehending God, as he... read more
Mary and Joseph were understandably anxious (Gr. edynomenoi) about their Son’s safety (cf. Luke 2:35; Luke 16:24-25; Acts 20:38; Romans 9:2). When they found Jesus, his participation in conversation with the rabbis astounded (Gr. exeplagesan) them."It is one of the characteristics of Luke to observe the various responses of awe at the words and deeds of Jesus, which is also consistent with ancient narratives touching on the observation of wonders." [Note: Liefeld, p. 852.] Mary’s question had... read more
Mary and Joseph’s anxiety contrasts with Jesus’ calmness. Mary’s reference to Jesus’ earthly father also contrasts with Jesus’ reference to His heavenly Father. Jesus’ first question prepared His parents for His significant statement that followed in His second question. Jesus’ response to Mary and Joseph showed that He regarded His duty to His heavenly Father and His house as taking precedence over His duty to His earthly father and his house."Jesus’ point is that his career must be about... read more
7. Jesus’ continuing growth 2:51-52Jesus’ obedience to His heavenly Father included obedience to His earthly parents (Exodus 20:12; cf. Colossians 3:20). Luke balanced the former revelation of Jesus’ deity with this indication of His humanity. His second reference to Mary meditating on these things continues the implication that his record of these events came from her or from someone close to her (cf. Genesis 37:11).Usually young people who give God His proper place in their lives develop into... read more
2:39 Lord, (d-14) 'Jehovah,' as chs. 1.38; 3.4 read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 2:39-40
5. Jesus’ development in Nazareth 2:39-40 read more