Luke 2:52

Luke 2:52

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

a. NLT: Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

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

c. Young’s Literal Translation: and Jesus was advancing in wisdom, and in stature, and in favour with God and men.

d. Amplified Bible: And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man.

e. Worrel Translation: And Jesus kept advancing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

1. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature…”

a. And [2532 * kai] [Strong:  apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. Jesus [2424 * Iesous] [Strong: of Hebrew origin (3091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.]

c. increased [4298 * prokopto] [Strong: from 4253 and 2875; to drive forward (as if by beating), i.e. (figuratively and intransitively) to advance (in amount, to grow; in time, to be well along):--increase, proceed, profit, be far spent, wax.]

d. wisdom [4678 * Sophia] [Strong: from 4680; wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual):--wisdom.]

e. and [2532 * kai] See “and” above.

f. stature [2244 * helikia] [Strong: from the same as 2245; maturity (in years or size):--age, stature.]

g. This is one of the passages in Scripture where we see what Bible scholars teach as the kenosis of Christ. Kenosis coming from the Greek word translated in the King James Version of Philippians 2:7 “made himself of no reputation.”. He emptied himself of his omnipresence omniscience, and omnipotence. He also emptied himself of his glory he had with the other two persons of the Godhead.

a).  John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

1). Here are the Scriptural examples demonstrating the kenosis of Christ. Jesus emptied himself of his Omnipotence while on earth. When he ministered on earth he ministered as a man anointed and led by the Holy Ghost. All of the manifestations of the miraculous can be explained as manifestations of the gifts and operations of the Holy Ghost. Jesus did not do one miracle until after he was filled with the Holy Ghost.

a). Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

b). Luke 4:16-21 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

c). Matthew 12:22-28 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 12:23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the Son of David?

12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of devils.

12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.

12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

2). Jesus emptied Himself of his Omniscience. As a man he increased in wisdom and knowledge.

a). Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

b). Hebrews 5:7 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.

c). Isaiah 7:14-16 Therefore the LORD himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

7:15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

7:16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

3). Jesus was so full of wisdom that even at the age of twelve he astonished the doctors of the law in his day: “And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.” Luke 2:46, 47. Jesus did not ask questions just because he didn’t know. I’m sure some of the questions he asked were to find answers, but some of the questions he asked had answers he already knew.

a). Matthew 21:23-27 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

21:24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

21:25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

21:26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

21:27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

b). Matthew 22:41-46 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

22:42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.

22:43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

22:44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

22:45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

22:46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

4). This is I’m sure the nature of some of the questions Jesus asked and it was these type of questions that blew away the doctors of the law that Jesus was sitting among. In light of the above fact that Jesus laid aside his Omniscience [all-knowing characteristic of Deity], parts of Psalm 119 are surely Messianic [apply to Jesus life specifically].

a). Psalm 119:97-100 O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

119:98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

5). Jesus also emptied himself of His Omnipresence. In his earthly life he could only be at one place at a time.

2. “…and in favour with God and man.”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong:  apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. favor [5485 * charis] [Strong: from 5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):--acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy).]

c. with [3844 * para] [Strong: a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give (such things as they), + that (she) had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side...by, in the sight of, than, (there-)fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application.]

d. God [2316 * theos] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

e. and [2532 * kai] See “and” above.

f. man [444 * anthropos] [Strong: from 435 and ops (the countenance; from 3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being:--certain, man.]