Luke 2:52 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

NIV: And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

NASB: And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.

CSB: And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.

NLT: Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

KJV: And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

NKJV: And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

This is another reminder from Luke that Jesus' humanity was legitimate—it was complete (Luke 2:19). Like any other human being, He matured both physically and mentally. That included growing in physical ways, as well as learning and increasing His earthly knowledge. Jesus' experience of life on earth was the same as for any other man, other than His complete lack of sin (Hebrews 4:15. 1 Peter 2:22). He was not born with an instant ability to walk, speak, or build furniture. He learned as children learn. He grew as children grow.

Scripture provides very few details about Jesus' upbringing or His childhood. This is likely for the same reason the Bible gives no specifics about His appearance. As fallible people, we tend to obsess over irrelevant details. One can only imagine what would happen if parents were comparing their child's first steps, first words, or eye color to that of the Savior. Not only are those facts meaningless, spiritually speaking (Isaiah 53:2), but they would also have made God's Word cumbersome (John 21:25).

In keeping with that efficiency, the next passage of Luke's writing will leap ahead about eighteen years. This will move the story to the public ministry of John the Baptist. He will preach to great effect, preparing people for the official revealing of the Messiah (Luke 3:1–4).

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.