Luke 2:50 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.

NIV: But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

NASB: And yet they on their part did not understand the statement which He had made to them.

CSB: But they did not understand what he said to them.

NLT: But they didn’t understand what he meant.

KJV: And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

NKJV: But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

Jesus has just explained to his flustered family that they should not have needed to "search" for Him. When He came up missing a day after the family left Jerusalem (Luke 2:41–45), they should have assumed that He would be in the temple (Luke 2:46–47). His mother was clearly upset about the situation (Luke 2:48), while Jesus responded that He would obviously have been in "[His] Father's house" (Luke 2:49). By saying this, Jesus alludes to His divine nature and His identity as the very Son of God (Luke 1:34–35; Matthew 1:18–21; John 1:34).

Hindsight is more powerful than we realize. Modern readers benefit from a perspective unavailable to Mary and Joseph: we can know in advance all that will happen, and all Jesus will do. That they don't understand the meaning of Jesus' comment is not worthy of condemnation. The same is true of the many times Jesus' disciples seem—again, in hindsight—to be slow to grasp concepts we now see as obvious (John 10:6; 12:16; Mark 6:52).

Whether or not Mary completely understands, she still displays a humble and open-minded approach. She once again (Luke 1:38; 2:19) is said to pay special attention, making a conscious effort to remember all that is happening (Luke 2:51).

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.