Luke 2:48 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”

NIV: When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, 'Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.'

NASB: When Joseph and Mary saw Him, they were bewildered; and His mother said to Him, 'Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You!'

CSB: When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

NLT: His parents didn’t know what to think. 'Son,' his mother said to him, 'why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.'

KJV: And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

NKJV: So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

Jesus has been found after a brief search by Joseph and Mary. When the family left Jerusalem after a yearly Passover visit, they assumed Jesus was with others in their travelling group. After a day's travel out and back, the married couple located Jesus in the temple. There, He was impressing everyone with the depth of His wisdom (Luke 2:41–47).

Translations such as the NIV, ESV, NLT, and CSB use the term "parents" here to refer to Joseph and Mary. Strictly speaking, the original Greek only contains the word for "they saw." In context, this is correct. Adoptive parents are still parents, so the fact that Jesus is Joseph's adopted stepson (Matthew 1:20–21) is no reason to dispute the use of this word.

The same logic applies to Mary's use of the word "father" in reference to Joseph. Scholars debate whether Mary had explicitly told Jesus about the circumstances of His birth at this time. His own comment about the temple being "[His] Father's house" suggests awareness (Luke 2:49). Regardless of who knew what and when, Joseph was most certainly Jesus' adoptive father. There would have been no reason for Mary to use any other title.

Scripture doesn't explain exactly how Jesus came to be separated from His family, leading to a multiple-day search including two days of travel (Luke 2:44–46). Mary's comment blames Jesus for their distress. Jesus, for His part, seems to think His presence at the temple was obvious. A subtext to His reply is something like "where else did you think I would be?" (Luke 2:49). Whether this satisfies Mary, or not (Luke 2:50), she continues to pay careful attention to these events (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.