Luke 2:39-40

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 2:39

And when they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord. Another note, which tells us of the rigid obedience which Mary and Joseph paid to the Law of Israel, under which they lived. Marcion, the famous Gnostic heretic (second century), who adopted this Gospel of St. Luke, to the exclusion of the other three, as the authoritative Gospel for his sect, omitted, however, all these passages of St. Luke's narrative in which the old Mosaic Law was spoken of with reverence. They... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 2:39-52

The childhood and the waiting-time. Before the age of twelve, nothing is told. In modern biographies, all kinds of traits, incidents, forecasts of the man in the child, are mentioned. The Apocryphal Gospels fall in with this custom. God's thoughts are not our thoughts. The child-life of "the Lord's Christ" is thoroughly simple. A bright-eyed boy, learning to read the Scriptures at his mother's knee, running out and in to shop and cottage, and joining sometimes in the innocent pastimes of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 2:40

And the Child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him . Another of this evangelist's solemn pauses in his narrative. In this short statement the story of twelve quiet years is told. From these few words St. Luke evidently understands the humanity of Jesus as a reality. The statement that "he waxed strong, filled with wisdom" (the words, "in spirit," do not occur in the older authorities), tells us that, in the teaching of SS . Paul and Luke,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 2:39

They returned into Galilee - Not immediately, but after a time. Luke has omitted the flight into Egypt recorded by Matthew; but he has not denied it, nor are his words to be pressed as if he meant to affirm that they went immediately to Nazareth. A parallel case we have in the life of Paul. When he was converted it is said that he came to Jerusalem, as if he had gone there immediately after his conversion Acts 9:26; yet we learn in another place that this was after an interval of three years,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 2:40

Strong in spirit - In mind, intellect, understanding. Jesus had a human soul, and that soul was subject to all the proper laws of a human spirit. It therefore increased in knowledge, strength, and character. Nor is it any more inconsistent with his being God to say that his soul expanded, than to say that his body grew.Filled with wisdom - Eminent for wisdom when a child - that is, exhibiting an extraordinary understanding, and “wise” to flee from everything sinful and evil.And the grace of God... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 2:39-40

Luke 2:39-40. And when they Namely, the parents of Jesus; had performed all things according to the law Which they made conscience of doing, that they might fulfil all righteousness; they returned into Galilee, &c. Full of admiration, doubtless, at the glorious testimonies that were given to their child; to their own city Nazareth Which was the place of their usual residence, and where this blessed infant passed the days of his childhood and youth. And the child grew, &c. In... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 2:39-40

12. Return to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23; Luke 2:39-40)Upon hearing of Herod’s death, Joseph and Mary returned with the infant Jesus to Palestine (Matthew 2:19-21). Since the new king Archelaus was as unjust and cruel as his father Herod, they considered it unsafe to stay in Judea, so went north to their home town of Nazareth. As the years of Jesus’ childhood passed, he developed in body, mind and spirit (Matthew 2:22-23; Luke 2:39-40). read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Luke 2:39

performed = ended. Nazareth . See note on Matthew 2:23 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Luke 2:40

in spirit . All the texts omit this. App-101 .Matthew 2:0 comes in here. the grace , &c. Compare John 1:14 .Isaiah 11:2 , Isaiah 11:3 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Luke 2:39

And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.Luke omitted the flight to Egypt and other important details of the life of Christ at this point, making it exceedingly unlikely that he had a copy of Matthew available to him. Even if he had, such omissions are characteristic of Luke's style. Another example was cited by Childers:The same sort of writing occurs in Acts 9:25,26, where it appears that Paul... read more