Luke 2:51 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

NIV: Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

NASB: And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued to be subject to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

CSB: Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart.

NLT: Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.

KJV: And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

NKJV: Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

Mary does not understand everything which happens to her with perfect knowledge. Like anyone else, she would have had moments of doubt, confusion, or misunderstanding. One such incident is her frustration when a twelve-year-old Jesus is accidentally left behind in Jerusalem, only to be found three days later in the temple (Luke 2:41–47). Though Mary is upset that He "mistreated" her (Luke 2:48), He reassures her that the temple is the only place she should have expected Him to be.

In response to this, Mary once again is said to pay special attention. That she "treasures" what is happening implies that she deliberately chooses to remember it—holding it in her mind as something worth maintaining. This is the same way she reacted when shepherds arrived to see the newborn Jesus (Luke 2:19). Though she does not understand, at first (Luke 2:50), she remains open to the work of God in her life (Luke 1:38).

Luke's comment here about Jesus' submission resolves several interesting debates about the Bible and Jesus' early life. His remark does not suggest that Jesus was, only now, after the incident in the temple, being submissive to His parents. Rather, it seems Luke is clarifying that Jesus' attitude continued to be submissive. His remaining in the temple wasn't an act of rebellion. It was not careless. When His family arrived and wanted Him to leave, He did so, as part of a pattern of godly obedience (Exodus 20:12).

This remark also helps to clarify that submission in no sense implies inferiority. Jesus is God incarnate (John 1:1, 14)—He is literally the divine Creator and Master of the very parents to whom He submits. When Scripture speaks of submission between any two persons, such as within a marriage (Ephesians 5:22–24; Titus 2:9; 3:1; Hebrews 13:17), it allows no condescension from one to the other.

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.