JESUS' COMING OF AGE (Luke 2:42-47)
Dr. Paul Manuel—2001
Luke records that Jesus, when he was twelve years old, visited Jerusalem and spent time with teachers in the temple.
Several commentators have mistakenly identified this experience with a boy's bar-mitzvah,1 his coming to an age of responsibility according to Jewish law, but that event does not occur until he is thirteen.2 Nevertheless, rabbinic sources attest to a boy's preparation during the preceding year.3Luke 2:42 And when He became twelve, they went up [there] according to the custom of the Feast; 43a and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.... 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.
m Yoma 8:4 As to children...they educate them a year or two in advance, so that they will be used to doing the religious duties.It is in this preparatory period that Jesus' visit belongs. The astonishment of the teachers at Jesus' understanding is probably that one just beginning his preparation for adult responsibilities would already know so much.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
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