Luke 2:52

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

And {G2532} Jesus {G2424} increased {G4298} in wisdom {G4678} and {G2532} stature {G2244}, and {G2532} in favour {G5485} with {G3844} God {G2316} and {G2532} man {G444}.

And Yeshua grew both in wisdom and in stature, gaining favor both with other people and with God.

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Luke 2:52 provides a concise yet profound summary of Jesus' developmental years between His childhood and the beginning of His public ministry. It highlights His balanced and complete growth, serving as a powerful model for human development.

Context

This verse serves as the concluding statement for the narrative of Jesus' early life, immediately following the account of His visit to the Temple at the age of twelve, where He astonished the teachers with His understanding (Luke 2:46-47). After this remarkable display of divine wisdom, Jesus returned to Nazareth with His parents and remained obedient to them (Luke 2:51). Luke 2:52 then bridges the gap of approximately 18 years, from His adolescence to His baptism and the start of His public ministry around age 30, underscoring a period of normal human growth and maturation.

Key Themes

  • Holistic Development: The verse beautifully outlines four key areas of Jesus' growth:
    • Wisdom (Intellectual): Jesus "increased in wisdom," indicating a progressive understanding and knowledge. Despite being God Incarnate, He experienced growth in human understanding, learning and processing information like any human being.
    • Stature (Physical): He grew "in stature," referring to His physical development and bodily maturity. This emphasizes His true humanity, undergoing the natural processes of physical growth from childhood to adulthood.
    • Favour with God (Spiritual): He grew "in favour with God," signifying a deepening spiritual relationship and divine approval. His life was pleasing to the Father, a perfect embodiment of obedience and communion. This foreshadows the divine affirmation at His baptism (Luke 3:22).
    • Favour with Man (Social): He also grew "in favour with man," meaning He gained respect, goodwill, and acceptance from the people around Him. His character and conduct earned Him admiration and positive regard within His community.
  • Jesus' True Humanity: This verse powerfully affirms the genuine humanity of Jesus. He was not merely God appearing as a man, but fully God and fully man, experiencing growth and learning just as humans do, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). This human development makes Him relatable to us.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek terms used in this verse convey precise meanings:

  • "Wisdom" comes from sophia (σοφία), denoting not just factual knowledge but practical understanding, insight, and discernment.
  • "Stature" is from hēlikia (ἡλικία), which can mean both physical height/age and maturity. In this context, it primarily refers to physical growth.
  • "Favour" is charis (χάρις), often translated as "grace." Here, it signifies goodwill, acceptance, and approval, indicating that Jesus was pleasing to both God and people.

Practical Application

Luke 2:52 presents a compelling model for believers today. It encourages us to pursue balanced growth in all dimensions of our lives:

  • Intellectual Growth: Seek wisdom and knowledge through studying God's Word (2 Timothy 3:16), learning, and critical thinking.
  • Physical Well-being: Care for our bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), through healthy habits.
  • Spiritual Depth: Nurture our relationship with God through prayer, worship, and obedience, striving to live in a way that brings Him glory and increases His favour upon us.
  • Social Grace: Cultivate healthy relationships with others, demonstrating love, kindness, and integrity, earning respect and goodwill within our communities.

Reflection

Jesus, our perfect example, experienced growth in every facet of His humanity. This verse reassures us of His full identification with the human experience and provides a blueprint for a well-rounded and God-honoring life. As we follow Him, we too are called to grow in wisdom, stature, and favour with both God and man, reflecting His character to the world.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 2:40

    And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

  • Proverbs 3:3

    Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

  • Proverbs 3:4

    So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

  • 1 Samuel 2:26

    And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

  • Romans 14:18

    For he that in these things serveth Christ [is] acceptable to God, and approved of men.

  • Luke 1:80

    And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

  • Acts 7:9

    And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
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