Luke 2
TFGLuke 2:1-7
(At Bethlehem of Judζa, B. C. 5.) L 1-7. [the days of the birth of John the Baptist] [a law] [Octavius, or Augustus, Cζsar was the nephew of and successor to Julius Cζsar. He took the name Augustus in compliment to his own greatness; and our month August is named for him; its old name being Sextilis] [This enrollment or census was the first step in the process of taxation.] [27] [Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was governor of Syria, A. D. 6-11, and made a census of his province at that time, as Luke well knew . We have no other record showing either his governorship or a census made by him But he was held in high favor by the Emperor, and was, about the time of the birth of Christ, carrying on a war just north of Syria, in Cilicia, and it is therefore easy for us to accept Luke’s statement that as imperial commissioner or as governor of Syria he made such a census.] [Quirinius was doubtless twice governor of Syria, his first term being about B. C. 5-1. The Greek word which Luke uses for governor, would be used for either of the Roman titles, viz.: Proprζtor, or senatorial governor; or Quζstor, or imperial commissioner.
Quirinius may have commenced the enrollment as Quζstor and finished it ten years later as Proprζtor. He was well-known character in that age.
Harsh and avaricious as a governor, but an able and loyal soldier, earning a Roman triumph for successes in Cilicia, and being honored by a public funeral in A. D. 21] [A Roman province including all Palestine, and a tract four or five times as large lying to the northeast of Palestine.] [The enrollment may have had no reference to taxation. It was more probably to ascertain the military strength of the various provinces. The Romans enrolled each person at the place where he was then residing; but permitted the Jews to thus return to their ancestral or tribal cities and enroll themselves as citizens of these cities] [The city where his ancestors had been settled by Joshua when he divided the land–Josh. xiii.-xviii.] [see ch. i. 26] [after the lapse of ten centuries the name of David still cast its fragrance over the place of his birth– ] [Meaning “house of bread.” It was the later or Jewish name for the old [28] Canaanitish village of Ephrath, the Ephrath near which Rachel died . It was marked by Micah as the birthplace of Messiah– , , ] [see ] [The early Christians made no record of the date of Christ’s birth; we find no mention of December 25 earlier than the fourth century. The Eastern church celebrated Christ’s birth by a feast called Epiphany, which means manifestation.
They chose January 6 as the date for this feast, for they reasoned that if the first Adam was born on the sixth day of creation, the second Adam must have been born on the sixth day of the year. The Western church celebrated Christ’s birth on the 25th of December by a feast called Natalis, which means Nativity.
But Pope Julius I. (A. D. 337-352) designated December 25 as the proper day, and the Eastern churches soon united with the Western churches in observing this day; and the custom has become universal. We do not observe this day because of the Pope’s decree, but because of the tradition on which the Pope’s decree was founded.] [This word in no way implies that the Virgin subsequently had other children. Jesus, the only begotten, is also called the firstborn– ] [having none to help her, she swathed him in bands with her own hands] [the new-born Jewish child was washed in water, rubbed with salt, and then wrapped in bands or blankets, which confined the limbs closely– ] [Justin Martyr, who born about the beginning of the second century and suffered martyrdom A. D. 165, first tells us the tradition that the stable in which Jesus was born was a cavern. Caves, however, were never used for stables except when opened on the sides of hills.
The one at Bethlehem is a cellar fourteen feet under the level [29] surface. Justin must, therefore, be mistaken] [Eastern inns had landlords like our own.
The inn was full at this time because of the number who had come to be enrolled. Inns contained rooms for persons and stalls for animals: there was no room in the former, but there was in the latter.] [FFG 27-30]
Luke 2:8-20
(Near Bethlehem, B. C. 5.) L 8-20. [they were in the same fields from which David had been called to tend God’s Israel, or flock] [When the flock is too far from the village to lead it to the fold at night, these shepherds still so abide with it in the field, even in the dead of winter.] [He stood upon the earth at their side, and did not float above them in the heavens, as he is usually pictured. His standing upon the earth shows a fuller fellowship and sympathy with men–comp. ] [The Shechinah, or bright cloud, which symbolizes the divine presence . It was seen by the three apostles upon the mount of transfiguration , by Stephen , and by Paul– ] [Christianity is a religion of present joys, and leads onward to joy eternal] [born as a gift to us– ] [the angel omits the name of [30] Jesus, but gives the meaning of his name] [Messiah is the Hebrew and Christ is the Greek for our English word “anointed.” Prophets, priests, and kings were anointed. Jesus held all these three offices for all our race for all eternity] [The token by which to identify the child. A babe in a manger was not ordinary sight] [“What fearful odds! What a strange contrast!
Idolatry on the throne (in the person of Augustus Cæsar), and the founder of a new religion and a new empire lying in a manger!”] [The event was too important to be heralded by any one angel. All heaven was interested in the departure of its Prince, and marveled at the grace of the Father who sent him– ] [God’s army .
The Deity is called “God of Sabaoth”; that is, God of hosts or multitude ; but at this time God’s army appeared to announce the coming of eternal peace] [in the highest heavens– , ] [The angels invoke blessing on God and peace upon man. Peace between God and man, and ultimately peace between man and man] [The love of God is shed abroad upon all, even the vilest of sinners ; but his peace comes upon those who have accepted his Son, and in whom he is therefore especially well pleased . Peace is the unfailing apostolic salutation toward Christians ( , , , etc.), and is attainable in the highest degree by Christians only– , , , .] [31] [They were the first evangelists. Among the heralds of Christ we note one great prophet, John the Baptist, and one learned Pharisee, Paul; the rest are shepherds, fishermen, and publicans, yet their gospel has triumphed over the wisdom of men . The shepherds were moved to publish by the same spirit which actuated the lepers at Samaria– .] [the gospel story excites wonder; the more we ponder it the more wonderful it becomes] [The silence of Mary contrasts with the talkativeness of the shepherds. But is the duty of Christians both to ponder and to publish] [Only Mary could know the fact here stated; and the statement indicates that Luke got the opening parts of his Gospel from the mother of our Lord.
She had much to think about. The angelic messages to Zacharias, to herself, and to the shepherds were full of significance, and her mind would search diligently to comprehend the fullness of their meaning.
In her quiet thoughtfulness the beauty of the Virgin’s character shines forth– .] [they did not make this glorious occasion an excuse for neglecting their humble duties] [because of the greatness of that which had been revealed] [because of the goodness of that which he revealed] [Jesus came in exactly the same manner in which his coming had been spoken of or described by the angels a few hours before; and also just as his coming had been spoken of or described by the prophets centuries and centuries before. God’s word holds good for eternity as truly as for one day. The shepherds doubtless passed to their reward during [32] the thirty years which Jesus spent in seclusion prior to his entering upon his ministry. But the rest of their commonplace life was now filled with music of praise, and their night watches lit by the glory of God, which could never entirely fade away.] [FFG 30-33]
Luke 2:21-39
(The Temple at Jerusalem, B. C. 4) L 21-39. [ ] [The rite was doubtless performed by Joseph. By this rite Jesus was “made like unto his brethren” ; that is, he became a member of the covenant nation, and became a debtor to the law– ] [see ] [ .] [Purification took place on the fortieth day after the nativity in the case of males, and eighty days in the case of females . Until it was performed the mother was not permitted to go to the temple, take part in any public service, or even to leave her house. It seems that the members of her family were also ceremonially unclean, because they came in daily contact with her] [to the temple] [When God slew the firstborn of Egypt he spared the firstborn of Israel. For this reason all the firstborn of Israel were regarded as being peculiarly the Lord’s ; and the firstborn male child of each family had to be redeemed with money . Originally the firstborn or eldest son was priest of the household after his father’s death; but God chose the Levites to serve in his sanctuary in the place of these [33] firstborn or household priests ; but this choosing did not annul the statute which required the payment of redemption money.
The redemption money for a male was five shekels of the sanctuary, or about $3.75– ] [for additional passages see , , ] [By redemption money and sacrifice the life of Jesus was ceremonially redeemed from God the Father, that his consecration of it to the will of the Father might be perfect. We likewise are redeemed by the blood of Christ, but are expected nevertheless to be more consecrated than ever] [ , ] [The required offering was a yearling lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon for a sin-offering.
But the law allowed a poor mother to substitute doves or pigeons for the lamb. We see here an early trace of the poverty of Him who had not where to lay his head. Knowing the greatness of the child, Joseph and Mary would never have used the lesser sacrifice if they could have afforded the regular and more costly one. Poverty is not dishonorable in God’s sight; for Mary was honored of him above all women.] [the name means “Hearing.” Some think that it was Rabbi Simeon, the son of the great teacher Hillel; but the context forbids such an idea] [Right in outward and devout in his inward life. The first prophet to tell the world that its Messiah had come was a thoroughly good man] [Waiting like Jacob , and Joseph of Arimathæa , he realized the truth of God’s promise . The Jews waited for a coming Prince, local, carnal, finite, temporal; we wait for a KING universal, spiritual, infinite, eternal, the Son of God.
Hence the magnitude of our expected consolation is to theirs as an ocean is to a drop of [34] water] [A common name for the era of the Messiah, which was so called because the advent of the Christ would bring comfort to his people . Jews swore by the consolation of Israel, and the phrase, “May I see the consolation of Israel,” was common among them.
A prayer for the coming of the Messiah was daily used by them] [ .] [probably in a dream] [A remarkable favor, a notable blessing– , .] [moved by the impulses of inspiration– , ] [those who go to church perfunctorily see little; those who go in the Spirit–according to the measure in which He is given them–see and hear much] [This hymn of Simeon is called the "" from the two words with which the Latin translation of it begins. Simeon regards his death as now near, since he had seen that for which God had kept him alive. He represents as a sentinel who, seeing the rising of the day-star which is the signal that his watch is relieved, knows his weary waiting is at an end] [God keeps his word, and never disappoints] [to the living the Jews said, “Go in peace” (Leshalom), as Jethro said to Moses; to the dying they said, “Go in peace” (Beshalom)– ] [Only the eye which sees Christ is satisfied with seeing . To one who has Christ in his arms and salvation before his eyes the world looks poor indeed, and the loss of it appears gain– ] [God prepared the gospel in his counsels before Christ came into the world , and foretold it by the [35] prophets– ] [The Jewish Scriptures were then scattered among all nations, and all people were acquainted with the Hebrew expectations of a Messiah. Simeon saw in the Babe the initial step of God toward fulfilling all these prophecies] [A reference to . Christ’s light has revealed the Father to the Gentiles.
That Simeon should prophesy this is an evidence of the large spiritual knowledge given him, since even the apostles were slow to grasp the fullness of Christ’s world-wide mission–see , , , ] [ . Israel is doubly glorified in Jesus, in that God chose this people to receive the Word, or divine Son, in that Jesus, as a Jew, presented to the world the picture of the perfect manhood.
In his divinity and his humanity Jesus glorified Israel] [The Gentiles and Israel are here contrasted. The Gentiles refused the knowledge of God , and Israel abused it– .] [Not because they heard anything which was really new, but because the words caused them to see the truth in a new way. They were also doubtless surprised to find that an utter stranger should speak thus about the child. Such manifestations of inspiration were no more common then than now] [While blessing the parents, he refrained from blessing the child, lest it might appear that he did it as a superior. He could bless God in the heavens without fear of being misunderstood; but to bless this little Babe might seem to be presumptuous] [thus distinguishing between Mary the real parent, and Joseph the supposed one] [either as a stone of stumbling , or a precious cornerstone . Jesus is the cornerstone of true religion.
Those who reject him fall over him and are broken; those who accept him, build upon him, and are lifted up and edified] [36] [Jesus has always wrought changes which were like fallings and risings. In his own early lifetime Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees, Nazarenes, Gadarenes, etc., sank down before his example and teaching; while fishermen, publicans and outcasts were elevated and encouraged by his sympathy.
In the ecclesiastical field Jesus has brought down the powers of superstition and priestcraft, and exalted the common worshiper, giving him liberty of conscience. In the political field Jesus has brought down the pride of kings and lifted up the common people, and given them sovereign powers. In the spiritual realm this work of Jesus is most clearly displayed. Not only did he bring down the pride of Judah and lift up the despised Gentiles ; but he has worked a leveling and a lifting work in the life of each of his followers. Those proud of their manhood, he has made as children, that they might become truly men ; those wise in their own conceit, he approaches with the foolishness of preaching, that they might be instructed in true learning ; those strong in self-confidence, he makes weak, that he may fill them with the divine power . Like Paul, we fall and rise in Christ– ] [Something which challenges attention, and is full of significant meaning.
Signs were intended to allay controversy, and to exclude contradiction, but Jesus provoked both. When he was thus first in the temple, opposition was prophesied; when he was last there it was fully realized– ] [during his earthly lifetime Jesus was called “deceiver,” “Samaritan,” “demoniac,” etc., and subsequently his followers were abused ; later the Jews wrote of him as “the deceiver,” “that man,” and “the hung.” Early Christians were charged by the pagans with committing cannibalism, incest, and every conceivable atrocity, and in this day “Christian” is–after Jew–the most stringing term of reproach known to the Eastern tongue] [Simeon had read and [37] understood the prophecies which told of the suffering Messiah .
Hence, to prepare the soul of Mary he touches this minor chord. By as much as the prophecies and annunciations concerning Jesus, led Mary to expect honor, and glory for her son; by so much did the rejection, persecution and cruel death of Jesus overwhelm her with piercing anguish and disappointment. It is also probable that at the time of the crucifixion Mary shared with the apostles the doubts as to the mission of Jesus, and these doubts must have been unspeakably bitter to her] [The word here translated “thoughts” is generally used to signify bad or evil thoughts. Jesus often revealed such ; but the context shows that Simeon had in mind the evil thoughts which were revealed by the sufferings inflicted on Christ. The human heart is desperately wicked ; but its wickedness was never more manifest than when it chose a murderer and crucified its Creator . Men are still revealed by their attitude toward Christ, the sincere being drawn to him, and the hypocrites being repelled from him.
But at the judgment he shall shine forth as the perfect revealer of all thoughts and actions– .] [the same name as Hannah , meaning “He was gracious”] [like Miriam, Deborah, Huldah– ] [the same as Peniel, meaning “Face of God”– ] [Asher was the second son of Jacob and Zilpah . The name means “happy.” Though the ten tribes were lost and scattered, many individuals belonging to them remained in Judah– , ] [She had been married seven years, and was now eight-four years old.
Her long widowhood is mentioned, because young widows who did not remarry were held in especial honor. Anna was about twenty-four years [38] old when Jerusalem was conquered by Pompey, and came under the power of Rome] [This may simply mean that she was unusually assiduous in her attendance at all the temple services ; or it may be taken literally, in which case we may suppose that her prophetic talents had secured for her the right of living in one of the temple chambers. Those who patiently frequent God’s house will sooner or later obtain a blessing] [Moses appointed one yearly fast, viz.: that on the day of Atonement; but the Pharisees introduced the custom of fasting twice a week to commemorate the days when Moses was supposed to have ascended and descended Mt. Sinai; viz.: on Monday and Thursday. They had also otherwise multiplied the fasts– ] [In Hebrew idiom night is mentioned before day, following the example of Moses . The Hebrew theory that “God made the world in six days and seven nights,” may have given birth to this idiom.
For instances of this idiom, see , . There were probably night services of sacred music held in the temple, at which priests sung anthems– , , .] [Jesus] [the parents of Jesus] [Luke here adds the words “into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.” We have omitted these words from the text here, and carried them forward to , , .] [39] [FFG 33-39]
Luke 2:39
(Egypt and Nazareth, B. C. 4.) M 19-23; L 39. [He died in the thirty-seventh year of his reign and the seventieth of his life. A frightful inward burning consumed him, and the stench of his sickness was such that his attendants could not stay near him. So horrible was his condition that he even endeavored to end it by suicide] [word did not come by the infant Jesus; he was “made like unto his brethren” , and being a child, “he spake as a child” , and not as an oracle] [Joseph had obeyed the command given at , and God kept the promise contained therein. God ever keeps covenant with the obedient] [Happy Joseph! his path was ordered of God. Let us also seek such ordering. “in all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths– ] [The phrase “land of Israel” originally meant all Palestine, but during the period of the kingdom of the ten tribes it was restricted to their portion of the country. After the captivities and the return of Judah from Babylon the phrase resumed its original meaning, and hence it is here used to include all Palestine.
As Jesus was “not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” , it was fitting that he return thither from Egypt] [“They” is doubtless the plural of majesty; though it may include others unknown to us, who were employed by him or advised him] [How prophetic the words! Christ’s enemies die, but he lives on.
How innumerable this host of opposers! Persecutors, oppressors, infidels, critics, literatures, [53] organizations, principalities, and powers, a vast and motley array of forces, have sought the life of Jesus, have made a great noise in the world, and died away in silence. Pharoahs, Neros, Diocletians, many a Charles, Torquemada and Bloody Mary have come up and gone down, but the king of Israel lives on] [The length of his sojourn in Egypt is uncertain. It is variously estimated at from two weeks to more than seven months] [Joseph heard this on entering Palestine. As he knew of Herod’s death by revelation, and hence before any one else in Egypt, there was no one there to tell him who succeeded Herod] [By his last will and testament Herod divided his kingdom among three of his sons, and Augustus Cζsar consented to the provision of this will. Archelaus, under the title of Ethnarch, received Judζa, Idumζa, and Samaria; Antipas, under the title of Tetrarch, received Galilee and Perζa; and Philip, under the title of Tetrarch, received Trachonitis (with Iturζa), Batanζa, and Auranitis.
Each of these sons bore the name of Herod, like their father. Augustus withheld from Archelaus the title of king, promising it to him “if he governed that part virtuously.” But in the very beginning of his reign he massacred three thousand Jews at once, in the temple, at the time of the Passover, because they called for justice upon the agents who performed the barbarities of his father’s reign.
Not long after this a solemn embassy of the Jews went to Rome, and petitioned Augustus to remove Archelaus, and make his kingdom a Roman province. After a reign of nine years, Archelaus was banished to Vienne, in Gaul, where he died in A. D. 6. After him Judζa had no more native kings, and the scepter was clean departed from Judah. The land became a Roman province, and its governors were successively Quirinius, Coponius, Ambivius, Annius Rufus, Valerius Gratus, and Pontius Pilate] [These words sound like an echo of those employed by the [54] embassy just referred to, for it said to Augustus concerning this man, “He seemed to be so afraid lest he should not be deemed Herod’s own son, that he took special care to prove it”] [As Matthew has spoken of Joseph residing at Bethlehem (and he did reside there for quite awhile after the birth of Jesus), the use of word “thither” implies that Joseph planned to return to that town. Mary had kindred somewhere in the neighborhood , and doubtless both parents thought that David’s city was the most fitting place for the nurture of David’s heir] [God permitted Joseph to follow the bent of his fear.
Joseph’s obedience shows him a fit person for the momentous charge entrusted to him] [From the territory of Archelaus to that of Antipas, who was a man of much milder disposition. As the brothers were on no good terms, Joseph felt sure that in no case would Antipas deliver him and his to Archelaus] [It means “circuit.” It is the northern of the three divisions of the Holy Land.
Its population was very dense, and was a mixture of Jews and Gentiles. Hence all Galilζans were despised by the purer Jews of Judζa] [This town lies on a hillside, girt in by fifteen higher hills. It is a secluded nook. Here Jesus grew up in obscurity till he reached his thirtieth year. Here he spent about nine-tenths of his earthly life. Sweet humility!
Lowliness is as rare and precious a virtue as pride is a plentiful and repugnant vice] [Matthew uses the plural, “prophets,” because this prophecy is not the actual words of any prophet, but is the general sense of many of them. We have noted three kinds of prophecy; this is the fourth kind, viz.: one where the very trend or general scope of Scripture is itself a prophecy] [The Hebrew word means “branch” or “sprout.” It is used figuratively for that which is lowly or despised . [55] See also , .
Now, Nazareth, if derived from answered to its name, and was a despised place , and Jesus, though in truth a Bethlehemite, bore the name Nazarene because it fitly expressed the contempt of those who despised and rejected him.] [FFG 53-55]
Luke 2:40-52
(Nazareth and Jerusalem, A. D. 7 or 8.) L 40-52. [This verse contains the history of thirty years. It describes the growth of our Lord as a natural, human growth ; for, though Jesus was truly divine, he was also perfectly man. To try to distinguish between the divine and human in Jesus, is to waste time upon an impracticable mystery which is too subtle for our dull and finite minds] [His life expanded like other human lives. He learned as other boys; he obeyed as other children. As he used means and waited patiently for growth, so must each individual Christian, and so must the church. Though the latter is a mystical body, and animated by the Holy Spirit, it must nevertheless make increase of itself before coming to the perfect man– ] [These words describe briefly the life of Christ during the preparatory period at Nazareth.
It was a quiet life, but its sinless purity made the Baptist feel his own unworthiness compared to it , and its sweet reasonableness inspired in Mary, the mother, that confidence which led her to sanction, without reserve, any request or command which Jesus might utter– .] [Males were required to attend the Passover ; but women were not. The great rabbi, Hillel (born about B.
C. 110; died A. D. 10), recommended that they should do so, and the [56] practice was esteemed an act of admirable piety] [regular attendance upon worship is likewise enjoined upon us– ] [The Passover, one of the three great Jewish feasts, commemorated the mercy of God in causing his angel to “pass over” the houses in Israel on the night that he slew all the firstborn of Egypt. It took place at the full moon which occurred next after the vernal equinox. At it the firstfruits of the harvest were offered . The second feast, Pentecost, occurred fifty days later, and commemorated the giving of the law. At it the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, in the form of bread , were offered.
The third feast, or Tabernacles, occurred near the end of September, or beginning of October, and commemorated the days when Israel dwelt in tents in the wilderness. It was observed as a thanksgiving for the blessings of the year.
Every adult male Jews dwelling in Judæa was required to attend these three feasts. Josephus tells us that the members assembled at them in Jerusalem often exceeded two millions.] [The incident which Luke here reports is the only one given in the period between the return from Egypt and Jesus’ thirtieth year. It shows that Jesus did not attend the school of the rabbis in Jerusalem . But we learn that he could write , and there is little doubt but that he spoke both Hebrew and Greek] [the altitude of Jerusalem is higher than that of Nazareth, and the distance between the two places is about seventy miles] [the custom was that the feast was celebrated annually in Jerusalem] [eight days in all; one day for killing the passover, and seven for observing the feast of unleavened bread which followed it– , , ] [Luke narrates something about every stage of Christ’s life. He speaks of him as a babe , as a little child , here as a boy, and afterwards as a man] [to take advantage of the opportunity to [57] hear the great teachers in the schools] [As vast crowds attended the Passover, it was easy to lose sight of a boy amid the festal throng. Indeed, the incident is often repeated even to this day during the feast seasons at Jerusalem] [We see here the confidence of the parents, and the independence of the child.
The sinlessness of Jesus was not due to any exceptional care on the part of his parents. Jews going to and from their festivals traveled in caravans for pleasure and safety.
In the daytime the young folks mingled freely among the travelers, and sought out whatever companionship they wished. But in the evening, when the camp was formed, and the tents were pitched, the members of each family came together] [They probably returned by the way of Jericho to avoid passing through Samaria, because of the hatred existing between Jews and Samaritans. In more moderns times the first day’s journey is a short one, and it was probably so then. It was made so in order that the travelers might return to the city whence they had departed, should they discover that they had forgotten anything–should they find that they had forgotten a sack of meal, a blanket, or a child] [those with whom he was most likely to have traveled during the day] [Parents who have temporarily suffered the loss of their children can easily imagine their feelings. Christ, though a divine gift to them, was lost. So may we also lose him, though he be God’s gift to us.] [Each part of a day was reckoned as a day when at the beginning and ending of a series.
The parents missed Jesus on the evening of the first day, returned to Jerusalem and sought for him on the second day, and probably found him on the morning of the third day. The disciples of Jesus also lost him in the grave for part of one day, and all of the next, and found him resurrected on the morning of the third day– ] [58] [Probably in one of the many chambers which tradition says were built against the walls of the temple and its enclosures, and opened upon the temple courts.
The sacred secret which they knew concerning the child should have sent them at once to the temple to seek for him] [Jewish scholars sat upon the ground at the feet of their teachers] [the teachers sat on semi-circular benches and thus partially surrounded by their scholars] [these teachers had schools in which they taught for the fees of their pupils, and are not to be confounded with the scribes, who were mere copyists] [He was not teaching: the God of order does not expect childhood to teach. He was among them as a modest scholar, and not as a forward child. The rabbinical method of instruction was to state cases, or problems, bearing upon the interpretation or application of the law, which cases or problems were to be solved by the pupils. For typical problems see ] [his parents] [Mary and Joseph stood as much in awe of these renowned national teachers as peasants do of kings, and were therefore astonished that their youthful son presumed to speak to them] [Her language implies that Jesus had been fully instructed as to the time when his parents and their caravan would depart for Galilee, and that he was expected to depart with them. Obedience to his higher duties constrained him to appear disobedient to his parents] [As legal father of Jesus, this expression would necessarily have to be used when speaking of Joseph. But Jesus does not accept Joseph as his father, as we see by his answer] [Because they thought him lost.] [What follows are the first recorded words of Jesus; he here speaks of the same being–the Father–to whom he commended his spirit in his last words upon the cross .
His last [59] recorded words on earth are found at , ; his last recorded words in heaven are found in , but these last words are spoken through the medium of an angel] [Mary, knowing all that had been divinely revealed to her concerning Jesus, should have expected to find him in the temple] [In this oft-repeated phrase, “I must,” Jesus sets forth that devotion to the will of the Father by which his whole life was directed] [Literally “the Father of me.” Jesus invariably used the article in speaking of himself, and said “the Father of me,” and invariably omitted the article, and said, “Father of you,” when speaking of his disciples. His relationship to the Father differed from ours, and God, not Joseph, was his father] [See , , .] [It may seem strange that Mary, knowing all that she did concerning the birth of Jesus, etc., did not grasp the meaning of his words, but we are all slow to grasp great truths; and failure to be understood was therefore a matter of daily occurrence with Jesus. ( , , , .) Christ spoke plainly, but human ears were slow to comprehend his wonderful sayings.
We need to be watchful lest our ears be censured for a like slowness] [Jerusalem was among the mountains, Nazareth among the hills] [A beautiful and healthful town, but so lacking in piety and learning as to form the “dry ground” out of which it was prophetically predicted that the glorious and fruitful life of Jesus would spring. Here Christ rose above all times and schools and revealed to man that “life more abundant” than all kings, lawgivers or sages ever discovered. His character, like the New Jerusalem, descended from God out of heaven, and no education obtained in Nazareth will explain it. The struggle of self-made men with their early environment is noticeable to the last, but it is not so with him. The discourses of Jesus are the outpourings of divine knowledge, and not the result of study or self-culture] [Our [60] example in all things, he here set before us that pattern of obedience which children should observe toward their parents. In these years Jesus learned the trade of his supposed father .
Christ was a laborer, and thereby sanctified labor, and showed that dignity and glory belong to inward and not to outward conditions] [His parents, Joseph and Mary. We find no mention of Joseph after this, and the probability is that he soon died] [She had many treasured sayings of angels, shepherds, wise men, and prophets.
She now began to add to these the sayings of Christ himself.] [He did not grow in favor with God. This is a phenomenal expression. The favor of God and man kept company for quite awhile; but the favor of God abode with Jesus when man’s good will was utterly withdrawn. Men admire holiness until it becomes aggressive, and then they fell an antagonism against it as great, or intense, as their previous admiration.] [61] [FFG 56-61]