Luke 2:43 (WEB)
and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it,
Catechism · 1
“The finding of Jesus in the temple is the only event that breaks the silence of the Gospels about the hidden years of Jesus.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Lk 2:41-52.
Fathers and councils · 36
Augustine of Hippo
“…behind in Jerusalem, and was found by His parents after three days’ space, “sitting in the temple among the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions.”” — editor's note: Luke ii. 42–46.
Read the whole comment“And Jesus increased in wisdom and age, and in favour with God and men.” — editor's note: Luke ii. 40–52.
Read the whole comment“For he first gives us the account of the return of Christ from Egypt after the death of Herod,—an incident, indeed, which took place at the time of His infancy or childhood, and with which, consequently, Luke’s statement of what befell Him in the temple when He was twelve years of age is quite consistent.” — editor's note: Luke ii. 42–50.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
“And concerning the expression, “knew her not,” he has himself shewn, that it must be referred to carnal knowledge, none doubting that it is often used of acquaintance, as in that, “The child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem, and His parents knew not of it.” [Luke 2:43]” — the author cites it
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Jerome
“Let them seek her upon the world’s highway amid the crowds and the throng of their kinsfolk, and let them find her nowhere but in the shrine of the scriptures, questioning the prophets and the apostles on the meaning of that spiritual marriage to which she is vowed.” — editor's note: Cf. Luke ii. 43–46.
Read the whole comment“And afterwards, “And when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew not of it.”” — editor's note: ib. ii. 43.
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Gregory the Great
“For it is written, When he was twelve years old, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem (Luke ii. 42, 43).” — the author cites it
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
The Evangelist having said before that the Child grew and waxed strong, verifies his own words when he relates, that Jesus with the holy Virgin went up to Jerusalem; as it is said, And when he was twelve years old, &c.
Read the whole comment - A Greek expositorCatena Aurea on Luke
His indication of wisdom did not exceed the measure of His age, but at the time that with us the powers of discernment are generally perfected, the wisdom of Christ shews itself.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Or the twelfth year was the commencement of our Lord’s disputation with the doctors, for this was the number of the Evangelists necessary to preach the faith.
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
We may also say, that as by the seventh number, so also by the twelfth, (which consists of the parts of seven multiplied alternately by one another,) the universality and perfection of either things or times is…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
Now that the Lord came up every year to Jerusalem at the Passover, betokens His humility as a man, for it is man’s duty to meet together to offer sacrifices to God, and conciliate Him with prayers. Accordingly the…
Read the whole comment - A Greek expositorCatena Aurea on Luke
The feast having been celebrated, while the rest returned, Jesus secretly tarried behind. As it follows, And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Luke
But we must not wonder that they are called His parents, seeing the one from her childbirth, the other from his knowledge of it, deserved the names of father and mother.
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
But some one will ask, how was it that the Son of God, brought up by His parents with such care, could be left behind from forgetfulness? To which it is answered, that the custom of the children of Israel while…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Luke
But as when the Jews plotted against Him He escaped from the midst of them, and was not seen; so now it seems that the Child Jesus remained, and His parents knew not where He was. As it follows, And not finding him,…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Luke
They were on their way home, one day’s journey from Jerusalem; on the second day they seek for Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance, and when they found Him not, they returned on the third day to Jerusalem, and…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Luke
He is not found as soon as sought for, for Jesus was not among His kinsfolk and relations, among those who are joined to Him in the flesh, nor in the company of the multitude can He be found. Learn where those who…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
After three days He is found in the temple, that it might be for a sign, that after three days of victorious suffering, He who was believed to be dead should rise again, and manifest Himself to our faith, seated in…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Luke
Or because the advent of Christ, which was looked for by the Patriarchs before the Law, was not found, nor again, that which was sought for by prophets and just men under the Law, but that alone is found which is…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Luke
Because moreover He was the Son of God, He is found in the midst of the doctors, enlightening and instructing them. But because He was a little child, He is found among them not teaching but asking questions, as it…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
To shew that He was a man, He humbly listened to the masters; but to prove that He was God, He divinely answered those who spake.
Read the whole comment - A Greek expositorCatena Aurea on Luke
He asks questions with reason, He listens with wisdom, and answers with more wisdom, so as to cause astonishment. As it follows, And they who saw it were astonished.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
The Lord truly did no miracle in His childhood, yet this one fact St. Luke mentions, which made men look with wonder upon Him.
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
For from His tongue there went forth divine wisdom, while His age exhibited man’s helplessness, and hence the Jews, amid the high things they hear and the lowly things they see, are perplexed with doubts and…
Read the whole comment - A Greek expositorCatena Aurea on Luke
But the ever-wonderful mother of God, moved by a mother’s feelings, as it were with weeping makes her mournful enquiry, in every thing like a mother, with confidence, humility, and affection. As it follows, And his…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Luke
The holy Virgin knew that He was not the Son of Joseph, and yet calls her husband His father according to the belief of the Jews, who thought that He was conceived in the common way. Now to speak generally we may…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Luke
Or they feared lest Herod who sought Him in His infancy, now that He was advanced to boyhood might find an opportunity of putting Him to death.
Read the whole comment - A Greek expositorCatena Aurea on Luke
But the Lord Himself sets every thing at rest, and correcting as it were her saying concerning him who was His reputed father, manifests His true Father, teaching us not to walk on the ground, but to raise ourselves…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
He blames them not that they seek Him as their son, but compels them to raise the eyes of their mind to what was rather due to Him whose eternal Son He was. Hence it follows, Knew ye not? &c.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
There are two generations in Christ, one from His Father, the other from His mother; the Father’s more divine, the mother’s that which has come down for our use and advantage.
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
He says this then by way of shewing that He surpasses all human standards, and hinting that the Holy Virgin was made the handmaid of the work in bringing His flesh unto the world, but that He Himself was by nature…
Read the whole comment - Epiphanius of SalamisCatena Aurea on Luke
Let Ebion know that at twelve years old, not thirty, Christ is found the astonishment of all men, wonderful and mighty in the words of grace. We can not therefore say, that after that the Spirit came to Him in…
Read the whole comment - A Greek expositorCatena Aurea on Luke
This is the first demonstration of the wisdom and power of the Child Jesus. For as to what are called thea acts of His childhood, we can not but suppose them to be the work not only of a childish but even of a…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
It follows, And they understood him not, that is, the word which He spoke to them of His divinity.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Luke
Or they knew not whether when He said about my Father’s business, He referred to the temple, or something higher and more edifying; for every one of us who doeth good, is the seat of God the Father; but whoso is the…
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Cross-references · 9
Cited together in Origen on Luke 2:42–50 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 1:24–25 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Luke 2:42–50 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Luke 2:42–50 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Bede on Luke 2:42–50 (5) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 1:24–25 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 1:24–25 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 1:24–25 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 1:24–25 (Catena Aurea).