The Visit of the Wise Men

21 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king , magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem , saying , 2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews ? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled , and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people , he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born . 5 They said to him, " In Bethlehem of Judea ; for this is what has been written by the prophet : 6 ' AND YOU, BETHLEHEM , LAND OF JUDAH , ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH ; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL .' " 7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared . 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said , "Go and search carefully for the Child ; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."

9 After hearing the king , they went their way ; and the star , which they had seen in the east , went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star , they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy . 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother ; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then , opening their treasures , they presented to Him gifts of gold , frankincense , and myrrh . 12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod , the magi left for their own country by another way .

The Slaying of the Infants

13 Now when they had gone , behold , an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said , "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt , and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night , and left for Egypt . 15 He remained there until the death of Herod . This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet : " OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON ."

16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi , he became very enraged , and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity , from two years old and under , according to the time which he had determined from the magi . 17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled : 18 " A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH , WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING , RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN ; AND SHE REFUSED e TO BE COMFORTED , BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."

19 But when Herod died , behold , an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt , and said , 20 "Get up, take the Child and His mother , and go into the land of Israel ; for those who sought the Child's life are dead ." 21 So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother , and came into the land of Israel . 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod , he was afraid to go there . Then after being warned by God in a dream , he left for the regions of Galilee , 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth . This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets : "He shall be called a Nazarene ."

The Return to Nazareth

39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord , they returned to Galilee , to their own city of Nazareth . 40 The Child continued to grow and become strong , increasing in wisdom ; and the grace of God was upon Him.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover . 42 And when He became twelve , they went up there according to the custom of the Feast ; 43 and as they were returning , after spending the full number of days , the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem . But His parents were unaware e of it, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan , and went a day's journey ; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances . 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. 46 Then , after three days they found Him in the temple , sitting in the midst of the teachers , both listening to them and asking them questions . 47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers . 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished ; 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." 49 And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?" 50 But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth , and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart . 52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature , and in favor with God and men .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 2:39-52

Commentary on Luke 2:36-40

(Read Luke 2:36-40)

There was much evil then in the church, yet God left not himself without witness. Anna always dwelt in, or at least attended at, the temple. She was always in a praying spirit; gave herself to prayer, and in all things she served God. Those to whom Christ is made known, have great reason to thank the Lord. She taught others concerning him. Let the example of the venerable saints, Simeon and Anna, give courage to those whose hoary heads are, like theirs, a crown of glory, being found in the way of righteousness. The lips soon to be silent in the grave, should be showing forth the praises of the Redeemer. In all things it became Christ to be made like unto his brethren, therefore he passed through infancy and childhood as other children, yet without sin, and with manifest proofs of the Divine nature in him. By the Spirit of God all his faculties performed their offices in a manner not seen in any one else. Other children have foolishness bound in their hearts, which appears in what they say or do, but he was filled with wisdom, by the influence of the Holy Ghost; every thing he said and did, was wisely said and wisely done, above his years. Other children show the corruption of their nature; nothing but the grace of God was upon him.

Commentary on Luke 2:41-52

(Read Luke 2:41-52)

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 Divine truth, attend the ministry of the gospel, and ask such questions of their elders and teachers as may tend to increase their knowledge. Those who seek Christ in sorrow, shall find him with the greater joy. Know ye not that I ought to be in my Father's house; at my Father's work; I must be about my Father's business. Herein is an example; for it becomes the children of God, in conformity to Christ, to attend their heavenly Father's business, and make all other concerns give way to it. Though he was the Son of God, yet he was subject to his earthly parents; how then will the foolish and weak sons of men answer it, who are disobedient to their parents? However we may neglect men's sayings, because they are obscure, yet we must not think so of God's sayings. That which at first is dark, may afterwards become plain and easy. The greatest and wisest, those most eminent, may learn of this admirable and Divine Child, that it is the truest greatness of soul to know our own place and office; to deny ourselves amusements and pleasures not consistent with our state and calling.