Luke 2:47

And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. AND ALL THAT HEARD HIM WERE ASTONISHED AT HIS UNDERSTANDING AND ANSWERS. This confirms what we have said above, that while His "answers" to their questions made His attitude appear throughout to be that of a learner, "His understanding" peered forth to the amazement of all....

47._And all who heard him _Two things here claim our attention. _All who heard him were astonished: _for they reckoned it a miracle, that a child should frame his questions with such correctness and propriety. Again, they _heard _Christ, and thus acted the part rather of scholars than of teachers. He had not yet been called by the Father, to avow himself a public teacher of the Church, and therefore satisfied himself with putting modest questions to the doctors. Yet there is no room to doubt that, in this first attempt, he already began to tax their perverse way of teaching: for what Luke afterwards says about _answers, _I consider as denoting, agreeably to the Hebrew idiom, any kind of discourse....

41-52 It is for the honour of Christ that children should attend on public worship. His parents did not return till they had stayed all the seven days of the feast. It is well to stay to the end of an ordinance, as becomes those who say, It is good to be here. Those that have lost their comforts in Christ, and the evidences of their having a part in him, must bethink themselves where, and when, and how they lost them, and must turn back again. Those that would recover their lost acquaintance with Christ, must go to the place in which he has put his name; there they may hope to meet him. They found him in some part of the temple, where the doctors of the law kept their schools; he was sitting there, hearkening to their instructions, proposing questions, and answering inquiries, with such wisdom, that those who heard were delighted with him. Young persons should seek the knowledge of Divi...

Verse 47. _ANSWERS:_] The word αποκρισις here seems not to mean _answers_ only, but what Jesus said by way of question to the doctors, Luke 2:46. So in Revelation 7:13, one of the elders is said to have _answered, saying _- when he only asked a question. Bp. PEARCE....

EXPOSITION LUKE 2:1 _The Redeemer's birth_. LUKE 2:1 THERE WENT OUT A DECREE FROM CAESAR AUGUSTUS, THAT ALL THE WORLD SHOULD BE TAXED; more accurately, _that there should be a registration_, etc.; that is, with a view to the assessment of a tax. On the historical note of St. Luke in this passage much discussion has arisen, not, however, of much real practical interest to the ordinary devout reader. We will glance very briefly at the main criticism of this and the following verse. Respecting this general registration it is alleged (1) no historian of the time mentions such a decree of Augustus. (2) Supposing Augustus had issued such an edict, Herod, in his kingdom of Judaea, would

AND ALL THAT HEARD HIM WERE ASTONISHED,.... All in the sanhedrim, both the doctors, and their disciples, were amazed, AT HIS UNDERSTANDING; in the knowledge of the law, and of the Scriptures: AND HIS ANSWERS; which he returned to the questions the doctor's put to him, which were made with so much wisdom and judgment, that it was surprising in one of his years....

CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The Birth of Christ at Bethlehem (Luke 2:1)_ 2. The Glad Tidings Announced to the Shepherds. (Luke 2:8) 3. The Circumcision and Presentation (Luke 2:21) 4. Simeon and His Prophecy (Luke 2:25) 5. Anna the Prophetess (Luke 2:36) 6. In Nazareth (Luke 2:39) 7. In the Temple (Luke 2:41) 8. The Increase ...

AN INCIDENT IN JESUS-' BOYHOOD. The lad grows in body and mind and is blessed by God. When He is twelve years old He accompanies His parents to the Passover at Jerusalem, and when the week's Feast is over, remains behind unknown to them. They return to seek Him, and after a long search find Him in one of the Temple porticos joining intelligently in the discussions of the scribes. He goes home and Uves obediently with them, and continues His allround development (_cf._ Luke 2:40, also Luke 1:80; 1 Samuel 2:26). LUKE 2:42. Like Samuel's parents, those of Jesus go to the central shrine once instead of three times ...

JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM (Luke 2:1-7)...

The Passover Visit to the Temple 41. _his parents_ The great Rabbi Hillel had _recommended_women to attend the Passover. It was not enjoined by the Law, but the Jews admired it as a pious practice. (_Mechilta_, f. 17. 2 in Schöttgen.) _at the feast of the passover_ Exodus 23:15-17; Deuteronomy 16:1-16. The custom of going up _three times_a year seems long to have fallen into abeyance with most Jews. 1 Samuel 1:21, "the yearly sacrifice....