Luke 2:41

¶ Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

Now {G2532} his {G846} parents {G1118} went {G4198} to {G1519} Jerusalem {G2419} every {G2596} year {G2094} at the feast {G1859} of the passover {G3957}.

Every year Yeshua's parents went to Yerushalayim for the festival of Pesach.

Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.

And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.

Commentary

Context of Luke 2:41

This verse serves as an important prelude to the famous account of twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple, which immediately follows in Luke's Gospel. It highlights the devout nature of Jesus's parents, Mary and Joseph, who faithfully adhered to the Jewish Law. Their annual journey to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover was a significant undertaking, involving travel from Nazareth in Galilee to the Judean capital.

The Feast of the Passover (Hebrew: Pesach) was one of the three annual pilgrimage festivals where all Israelite males were commanded to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem. While only males were strictly required, it was common for entire families, particularly devout ones like Jesus's, to make the pilgrimage together, demonstrating their commitment to God's covenant.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Obedience to God's Law: Mary and Joseph exemplify faithful adherence to the Mosaic Law. Their consistent annual pilgrimage underscores their deep religious commitment and foreshadows Jesus's own perfect obedience to His Father's will.
  • Piety and Devotion: The regular, arduous journey to Jerusalem for the festival speaks volumes about their personal piety and the spiritual atmosphere in which Jesus was raised.
  • Jewish Identity of Jesus: This verse firmly roots Jesus within His Jewish heritage and the traditions of His people. His upbringing was in line with the established practices of Judaism, demonstrating continuity rather than immediate departure from tradition.
  • Preparation for Ministry: These early experiences, including participation in the Passover festival, were integral to Jesus's human development and understanding of His divine purpose and the significance of His coming sacrifice, which would ultimately fulfill the Passover.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Feast of the Passover" (Greek: to pascha) directly refers to the central Jewish festival commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is a term deeply steeped in historical and theological significance for the Jewish people, representing God's deliverance and the establishment of His covenant with Israel.

Significance and Application

Luke 2:41 offers valuable insights for believers today:

  • Model of Faithful Parenting: Mary and Joseph provide an excellent example for parents who prioritize spiritual upbringing and religious observance for their children. Their dedication to teaching Jesus the traditions and laws of God is clear.
  • Importance of Corporate Worship: The annual journey to Jerusalem highlights the significance of communal worship and participation in religious festivals and traditions. Gathering with the community of faith reinforces identity and strengthens devotion.
  • Rootedness in Tradition: Even as Jesus would later inaugurate a new covenant, His early life was profoundly rooted in the existing covenant and its practices. This demonstrates that new revelation often builds upon and fulfills what has come before, rather than entirely dismissing it.

This verse sets the stage for the crucial next moment in Jesus's childhood narrative, where His divine wisdom and unique relationship with God become evident (Luke 2:42-52).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 12:18

    But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that [is] within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.

  • Deuteronomy 16:1

    ¶ Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

  • Deuteronomy 16:8

    Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day [shall be] a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work [therein].

  • 1 Samuel 1:3

    And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, [were] there.

  • Numbers 28:16

    ¶ And in the fourteenth day of the first month [is] the passover of the LORD.

  • 1 Samuel 1:21

    And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

  • John 2:13

    And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
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