Luke 2:42 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.

NIV: When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.

NASB: And when He was twelve years old, they went up there according to the custom of the feast;

CSB: When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival.

NLT: When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual.

KJV: And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

NKJV: And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.

As Luke points out more than once, Jesus' youth was fundamentally the same as any other child (Luke 2:40, 52), other than a lack of sin (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22).

Just two verses ago, Jesus was described in His infancy (Luke 2:39–40). Scripture records almost nothing about the time between Jesus' birth and the beginning of His public ministry. This is partly a matter of efficiency; the Bible couldn't record every detail of Christ' life without becoming cumbersome (John 21:25). It also might be a question of distraction. As fallible people, we tend to obsess over details that aren't all that important. Had Scripture depicted Jesus' hair, eyes, or height, Christians would have to fight the temptation to treat those as a human ideal (Isaiah 53:2). Children would live under the intense pressure of parents who knew precisely when Jesus learned to walk, to read, and so forth.

The family is heading to Jerusalem as part of a required festival (Deuteronomy 16:16). Since these events were mandatory for all capable Jews, it's likely Jesus, Joseph, and Mary were travelling with a relatively large group. At the age of twelve, Jesus would have been close to His era's concept of adulthood. That His mother and adoptive father don't realize He's still in the temple until a day after they leave is awkward, but hardly negligent.

Luke 2:39–52 relates Scripture's only record of an event in Jesus' life occurring between His infancy and adulthood. His family travels to Jerusalem for a feast. When returning, Mary and Joseph lose track of Jesus, assuming He is with others in their large group. Once they realize He's missing, they find Him in the temple having a deep discussion with the teachers there. Jesus refers to the temple as His "Father's house," and the family returns to Nazareth. After this, Jesus grows and develops much the same as any other young boy.

The early part of this chapter is famously read at Christmas, while celebrating the birth of Jesus. Luke gives a relatively brief description of how Mary came to give birth in a stable, laying Jesus in a feeding trough. Nearby shepherds are informed of the news by multiple angels. Two people speak in praise of God at Jesus' circumcision. Years later, Joseph and Mary lose track of Jesus on the way back from Jerusalem, only to find Him astounding teachers in the temple with His wisdom.

Luke began his well-organized account by explaining the conceptions of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, in chapter 1. In chapter 2, he briefly summarizes Jesus' birth and the arrival of shepherds directed by angels. Prophecies and prayers celebrate His dedication at the temple. After briefly losing track of a twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple, Jesus' parents take Him home to Nazareth. There, He grows up relatively normally. Chapter 3 leaps forward many years to the beginning of John the Baptist's preaching. This is followed by Jesus' genealogy. Chapter 4 relates Jesus' temptations by Satan and the start of His public ministry.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.