Luke 2:41 - Exposition

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover . The Law required the attendance of all men at the three great Feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles ( Deuteronomy 16:16 ). The dispersion and subsequent residence of so many Jews in distant lands had much broken up the regular observance of these directions. Still, many devout Jews were constantly present at these feasts. This Mosaic ordinance was only binding upon men, but R. Hillel recommended women always to be present at the Passover. The constant yearly presence of Joseph the carpenter and Mary at this feast is another indication of the rigid obedience of the holy family of Nazareth to the ritual of the Law of Moses.