Church Fathers Commentary Luke 2:42-50

"And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day`s journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him. And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions: and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father`s house? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them." — Luke 2:42-50 (ASV)

St. Cyril of Alexandria: The Evangelist, having said before that the Child grew and grew strong, verifies his own words when he relates that Jesus went up to Jerusalem with the holy Virgin, as it is said, And when he was twelve years old, etc.

Greek Expositors: His display of wisdom did not exceed the measure of His age. Rather, at the time when our powers of discernment are generally perfected, the wisdom of Christ revealed itself.

St. Ambrose of Milan: The twelfth year marked the beginning of our Lord’s disputation with the doctors of the law, for twelve was the number of the Evangelists necessary to preach the faith.

The Venerable Bede: We may also say that just as the number seven signifies universality and perfection, so does the number twelve (which consists of the parts of seven multiplied alternately). Therefore, it is fitting that the glory of Christ, which is to fill all places and times, takes its beginning from the number twelve.

The fact that the Lord went up to Jerusalem every year for the Passover signifies His humility as a man, for it is humanity’s duty to gather to offer sacrifices to God and win His favor with prayers. Accordingly, the Lord, as a man among men, did what God, through angels, commended for people to do. Hence it is said, According to the custom of the feast day.

Let us, then, follow the journey of His mortal life if we delight in beholding the glory of His divine nature.

Greek Expositors: After the feast was celebrated, while the others returned, Jesus secretly stayed behind. As it follows, And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew not of it. It says, When the days were accomplished, because the feast lasted seven days.

The reason He stayed behind in secret was so His parents would not be a hindrance to His discussion with the teachers of the law, or perhaps to avoid appearing to disrespect His parents by disobeying their commands. He therefore remained secretly, so that He might neither be kept away nor be disobedient.

Origen of Alexandria: We must not be surprised that they are called His parents, seeing that the one, from her childbirth, and the other, from his knowledge of it, deserved the names of father and mother.

The Venerable Bede: But someone will ask, how could the Son of God, brought up by His parents with such care, be left behind out of forgetfulness? The answer is that it was the custom of the children of Israel, when assembling at Jerusalem for the feast days or returning home, for the women and men to travel separately, and for the infants or children to go with either parent. And so both Mary and Joseph mistakenly thought that the Child Jesus, whom they did not see with them, was returning with the other parent. Hence it follows, But they, supposing him to have been in the company, etc.

Origen of Alexandria: But just as He escaped from the midst of the Jews when they plotted against Him and was not seen, so it seems that now the Child Jesus remained behind, and His parents did not know where He was. As it follows, And not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem seeking for him.

Glossa Ordinaria: They were on their way home, one day’s journey from Jerusalem. On the second day, they searched for Him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find Him, they returned on the third day to Jerusalem, and there they found Him. As it follows, And it came to pass, after three days they found him.

Origen of Alexandria: He is not found as soon as He is sought, for Jesus was not among His relatives and kinsfolk—among those joined to Him by fleshly ties. Nor can He be found in the company of the multitude. Learn where those who seek Him find Him: not just anywhere, but in the temple. Therefore, you also must seek Jesus in the temple of God. Seek Him in the Church, and seek Him among the teachers who are in the temple. For if you will seek Him in this way, you shall find Him.

They did not find Him among His relatives, for human relations could not comprehend the Son of God; nor among His acquaintances, for He passes far beyond all human knowledge and understanding. Where then do they find Him? In the temple! If you ever seek the Son of God, seek Him first in the temple. Go up there, and you will truly find Christ, the Word and the Wisdom (that is, the Son of God).

St. Ambrose of Milan: After three days He is found in the temple, so that it might be a sign that after three days of victorious suffering, He who was believed to be dead would rise again and manifest Himself to our faith, seated in heaven with divine glory.

Glossa Ordinaria: Or, it signifies that the coming of Christ, which was looked for by the patriarchs before the Law, was not found; nor again was it found when sought by the prophets and righteous men under the Law. Instead, it is found only when sought by the Gentiles under grace.

Origen of Alexandria: Because He was the Son of God, He is found in the midst of the doctors of the law, enlightening and instructing them. But because He was a small child, He is found among them not teaching but asking questions, as it is said, Sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. He did this out of reverence, to set an example for us of the proper behavior for children: that even if they are wise and learned, they should listen to their teachers rather than teach them, and not boast. But He did not ask so that He might learn, but so that by asking He might instruct. For from the same source of learning comes the power both to ask and to answer wisely, as it follows, All who heard him were astonished at his wisdom.

The Venerable Bede: To show that He was a man, He humbly listened to the teachers; but to prove that He was God, He divinely answered those who spoke. Greek Expositors: He asks questions with reason, listens with wisdom, and answers with even more wisdom, so as to cause astonishment. As it follows, And they who saw it were astonished.

St. John Chrysostom: The Lord performed no miracles in His childhood, yet St. Luke mentions this one event that made people look upon Him with wonder.

The Venerable Bede: For from His tongue came divine wisdom, while His age showed human helplessness. Hence the Jews, amid the lofty things they heard and the lowly things they saw, were perplexed with doubt and astonishment. But we can in no way wonder, knowing the words of the Prophet that a Child is born to us in this way, who remains the mighty God.

Greek Expositors: But the ever-wonderful mother of God, moved by a mother’s feelings, as it were, with weeping, makes her mournful inquiry—in every way like a mother, with confidence, humility, and affection. As it follows, And his mother said to him, Son, what have you done?

Origen of Alexandria: The holy Virgin knew that He was not the Son of Joseph, yet she calls her husband His father, in keeping with the belief of the Jews who thought He was conceived in the usual way. Generally speaking, we may say that the Holy Spirit honored Joseph with the name of father because he raised the Child Jesus. More specifically, it was so that St. Luke's effort in tracing the genealogy from David to Joseph would not seem pointless.

But why did they seek Him sorrowing? Was it because they feared He might have perished or been lost? That could not be. For what reason would they dread losing Him, whom they knew to be the Lord? But just as you search out the meaning of the Scriptures with great care—not because you suppose they have erred or contain anything incorrect, but because you are anxious to find the truth inherent in them—so they sought Jesus. They feared that perhaps He had left them and returned to heaven, to descend from there when He chose. Therefore, whoever seeks Jesus must not do so carelessly or idly, like the many who seek Him but never find Him, but with labor and sorrow.

Glossa Ordinaria: Or, they feared that Herod, who sought Him in His infancy, might find an opportunity to put Him to death now that He had grown into boyhood.

Greek Expositors: But the Lord Himself sets everything to rest. Correcting, as it were, her statement concerning His reputed father, He reveals His true Father, teaching us not to walk on the ground but to raise ourselves on high. As it follows, And he says to them, What is it that you ask of me?

The Venerable Bede: He does not blame them for seeking Him as their son, but compels them to raise the eyes of their minds to what was due to Him whose eternal Son He was. Hence it follows, Knew you not? etc.

St. Ambrose of Milan: There are two generations in Christ: one from His Father, the other from His mother. The Father's is more divine, while the mother's is that which has come down for our use and benefit.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: He says this to show that He surpasses all human standards, hinting that the Holy Virgin was made the servant of the work of bringing His flesh into the world. He shows that He Himself was, by nature and in truth, God and the Son of the most high Father. Now from this, let the followers of Valentinus, hearing that the temple was of God, be ashamed to say that the Creator—the God of the Law and of the temple—is not also the Father of Christ.

St. Epiphanius of Salamis: Let Ebion know that at twelve years old, not thirty, Christ is found to be the astonishment of all people, wonderful and mighty in the words of grace. We cannot therefore say that He was made the Christ (that is, anointed with divinity) only after the Spirit came to Him in Baptism. Instead, from His very childhood He acknowledged both the temple and His Father.

Greek Expositors: This is the first demonstration of the wisdom and power of the Child Jesus. For as to the so-called acts of His childhood, we can only suppose them to be the work not only of a childish mind but even of a demonic and perverse will, attempting to slander the things contained in the Gospel and the sacred prophecies. But if one desires to accept only those things that are generally believed, are not contrary to our other declarations, and also accord with the words of prophecy, let this suffice: Jesus was distinguished in form above all others, obedient to His mother, and gentle in disposition. In appearance, He was full of grace and dignity; in speech, He was eloquent, kind, and thoughtful of the needs of others. He was known among all for a power and energy as of one filled with all wisdom. And as in other things, so also in all human interaction—though He was above humanity—He was Himself the rule and measure. That which most distinguished Him was His meekness, and that a razor had never come upon His head, nor any human hand except His mother’s.

We can derive a lesson from these words. For when the Lord reproves Mary for seeking Him among His relatives, He aptly points to the need to give up all fleshly ties. He shows that a person who is still surrounded by and walks among the things of the body cannot attain the goal of perfection, and that people fall from perfection through their attachment to relatives.

The Venerable Bede: It follows, And they understood him not; that is, they did not understand the word He spoke to them about His divinity. Origen of Alexandria: Or, they did not know whether His words, about my Father’s business, referred to the temple or to something higher and more edifying. For every one of us who does good is a temple of God the Father, and whoever is a temple of God the Father has Christ in their midst.