Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 3

“Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. And the Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant hears.’ Then the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.’ Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, ‘Samuel, my son.’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ And Eli said, ‘What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.’ So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, ‘It is the Lord. Let him do what seems good to him.’ And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.” (1 Samuel 3, ESV) 

New Testament Reading: Luke 2:41-52

“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.’ And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:41–52, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

The passage that is before us today brings this opening section of Luke’s Gospel to a close. From Luke 1:5 through to the end of chapter 2 Luke tells us about the things that were accomplished immediately before, during, and after the birth of Christ, and before his public ministry began. As you know, Jesus began his public ministry at about the age of 30.  And it is in chapter 3 that Luke tells us about the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. So then, Luke 1:5-2:52 covers about a 30-year span of time. And in fact, most of what is said here in this section is about Jesus’ conception, birth, and infancy. Here in the passage that is before us today, we are told about something that happened when Jesus was twelve years old. 

This story is very intriguing. At first glance, it may almost seems like a strange story. It raises the question, was Jesus disobedient to his parents? Was he cruel to them when he disappeared from their sight by staying behind at the temple without their knowledge, leading them to frantically search for him for three days? I suppose the question could be asked, why did Luke bother to include this story given the questions it raises? Did he need filler? Did he think to himself, you know, it would be nice to have something about Jesus’ early adulthood – I guess I’ll include this little tidbit? I think not! In fact, the closer we look at this story, the more we should appreciate its profoundness.

I would like to suggest to you that this story provides us with far more than an insignificant glimpse into the early life of Jesus the Messiah. No, it actually provides us with great insight concerning the person of Christ and the way in which he came to understand his God-given Messianic mission. The story is somewhat shocking. It was shocking to Joseph and Mary as they lived it (verse 48 says they were “astonished”), and it is shocking to us as we read it. We wonder, why would Jesus do this thing? But the story is meant to be shocking. And being shocked by it, we are not to flee from it, but rather we are to contemplate it all the more carefully to see its significance. Like Mary, we are to treasure all these things in our hearts (see Luke 2:51).

So then, what do we learn from this story? 

While it is possible to draw applications from this text for married people based upon the activities of Joseph and Mary, saying, look at how devout they were as a couple. They journeyed to Jerusalem every year to celebrate the Passover –  married couples ought to be devout as they were. And while it is possible to draw application for young people from the life of Jesus, saying, look at how he loved the temple, the scriptures, and the pursuit of wisdom even as a twelve-year-old – young person, you should love God’s temple (the church)! You should love the Scriptures! You should pursue wisdom, even from a young age! And while it is possible to draw application for fathers and mothers from the actions of Joseph and Mary, saying, look at how deeply concerned they were for the physical and spiritual well-being of their child! They took him to Jerusalem and to the temple year after year to celebrate the Passover, and when they found him missing, they were deeply concerned – parents, love your children as Joseph and Mary loved Jesus. Provide for them and seek to protect them (as much as it is within your reasonable power to do so), and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord! 

As good and true as those applications are, this is not what the text is about. This text is about Jesus. It reveals to us who he understood himself to be, and what he knew that his mission was, even at the young age of twelve. This text is about Jesus and the way in which he, according to his human nature, came to perceive his utterly unique relation to God the Father and his unique mission as the Lord’s Messiah.

Before we dive into the particulars of this text, I would like you to notice three things about it that show this is the meaning. 

One, notice that this text is bracketed with two statements regarding Jesus’ human growth in stature and in wisdom. Look with me at Luke 2:40. There we are told that after Jesus returned home with his parents after his dedication at the temple as an infant, he “grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.” And now look at the very last verse of our text for today. Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” So then, this story about Jesus’ activity at the temple in Jerusalem at the age of twelve begins and ends with statements about Jesus’ human growth. He grew in stature. That means he grew physically, as all boys do. And he also grew in wisdom. This means that his knowledge and understanding of the truth increased.  

Two, I do not want you to forget about the similarities between the beginning of Luke’s Gospel and the beginning of the Old Testament book, 1 Samuel. I will not repeat all of the points that I made about the similarities in the previous sermon. I trust that you are able to remember the points of contact between the stories of the miraculous conceptions of Samuel and Jesus, the songs that their mothers, Hannan and Mary, sang, and the statements that were made regarding the development of the boys. After Samuel was left to be raised at the temple under the care of Eli it was said of him, “And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD” (1 Samuel 2:21, ESV). And in 1 Samuel 2:26 we read, “Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man.” Those who know the Old Testament scriptures well will immediately think of these statements when they read what Luke wrote concerning Jesus in 2:40 and 52, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” 

These connections were made in the previous sermon. And the point was this: Luke wants us to make a connection between the life of Samuel and Jesus. Samuel was a prophet who ministered in the temple amongst the priests and was called to anoint kings. Jesus is greater. He is the Messiah, the great Prophet, Priest, and King of God’s people. Samuel foreshadowed him. Jesus is the fulfillment. 

But I think there is one more connection to make between Samuel and Jesus, it involves the two passages that were read at the start of this sermon. In 1 Samuel 3, we read of the experience that Samuel had as a boy while in the temple in Jerusalem.  He was sleeping in the temple and God called out to him three times in a row. It was the first time that the prophet Samuel had heard the voice of the LORD, so he did not recognize it. The first two times that he heard the voice, he thought it was Eli. When Samuel came to Eli the third time, Eil realized what was going on, and so he instructed the boy to say, Speak, “Lord, for your servant hears”, when the LORD called out to him again. And so he did. And from that day forward Samuel knew himself to be a prophet of God, and so did Eli and others who heard the news. That is what 1 Samuel 3:19-20 says. “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD” (1 Samuel 3:19–20, ESV). The story that is before us today regarding the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem mirrors this story about Samuel. Here Jesus demonstrates that he understands his unique relationship to God the Father and his special calling as the LORD’s Messiah. And not only does he demonstrate his understanding, but others see it too, as we will see. 

This leads us now to the third general observation about this text: It is here in this passage that we find the earliest recorded words spoken by Jesus. So far in Luke’s Gospel others have said things about Jesus. Men, women, and angels have testified powerfully concerning him, insisting that he is the Messiah promised from the days of Adam onward, the Savior of the world. But here in this passage, we hear the words of Jesus for the very first time. What he says is very important, for it reveals his understanding of his unique relation to the Father and of his God-ordained mission. Look at Luke 2:49 “And [Jesus] said to [Joseph and Mary], ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49, ESV). The NKJV translates the Greek in this way, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” Both translations are possible and valid, but I do think that NKJV better captures the meaning. The point is this: Jesus, at twelve years of age, knew that he had an utterly unique relationship to God the Father, and that his life was to be devoted to his “Father’s business”.

I do hope that these three general observations have convinced you that the point of this story is not to encourage a God-centered marriage, the pursuit of wisdom from a young age, or godly parenting. As true and wonderful as those applications are, they are not the point of the text. This text is about Jesus, his person, and his work.

Let us now look a little closer at the text to glean from it. We will do so under two headings: the person of Christ, and the work of Christ. 

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The Person Of Christ

First, let us consider the person of Christ. Who is he? Two things must be said. He is the eternally begotten Son of God the Father, and he is also the son of Mary. 

That Jesus knew himself to be the Son of God the Father is seen in verse 49. 

Consider the story: Jesus was missing. He was not with the traveling party heading back from Jerusalem to Nazareth after the Feast of Passover ended. Joseph and Mary searched frantically for him for three days (can you imagine it?). And when they found him in the temple, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress” (Luke 2:48, ESV). And it is in response this that Jesus said, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49, NKJV). 

Some have wondered if Jesus was disrespectful to his parents at this moment. The answer must be, certainly not, for he was without sin all the days of his life (Hebrews 4:15). In fact, it was Joseph and Mary who were in the wrong.

Consider a few things: One, Jesus was twelve. In our culture twelve-year-olds are considered to be children still, but in the Jewish culture, the age of twelve marked a transition into adulthood. Though it might seem strange to us that a twelve-year-old would be given the freedom to linger in the temple, it should have been granted to Jesus, given his age and maturity. It seems that Joseph and Mary were being overly protective of their child. Two, the questions that Jesus asked of Joseph and Mary were not disrespectful, but honest: “Why did you seek Me?”, and “Did you not know?” In other words, Jesus’ perspective was that they should have known and that they should not have been so troubled by his lingering in Jerusalem at the temple. Though the text does not say it, one has to wonder if conversations were not had between Jesus, Joseph, and Mary before this event. Perhaps Jesus had communicated to them his knowledge concerning his calling and had indicated that he would be in his Father’s house and be about his Father’s business in a pronounced way during this trip to Jerusalem. Of course, this is speculation. But the thing that is clear in the text is that Jesus thought that Joseph and Mary were in the wrong. They should have known. And they should not have been searching frantically for him. His honest questions reveal that this was his perspective. Three, even if no specific conversations were had between Jesus, Joseph, and Mary concerning his awareness of his Messianic mission and his plans to linger in the temple, Joseph and Mary should have known based on what was revealed to them at the time of Jesus’ birth. I do not need to remind you of everything that was revealed to Joseph and Mary concerning Jesus at the time of his birth, for we have considered these things carefully in previous sermons. Joseph and Mary should not have panicked. They should have walked by faith. 

Think about this with me for a moment. From a merely human and unbelieving perspective, I suppose that Joseph and Mary’s “searching for [Jesus] in great distress” (vs. 48) was reasonable. Their child was missing and they were far from home. Most parents can sympathize with Joseph and Mary for they have likely experienced the feeling of panic that one feels when it is perceived that their child is missing or in some danger. And I suppose that some might be tempted to especially sympathize with them, reasoning like this: they were entrusted with the responsibility of raising, not a normal child, but the Lord’s Anointed. What pressure they must have felt! What a serious responsibility and burden! And perhaps they did feel the pressure. But if they did, it was unreasonable and rooted in unbelief. Joseph and Mary were called to be responsible parents. They were to do everything in their power to feed Jesus, to protect him, and to bring him up in the LORD. When it came to things beyond their control – when it came to Jesus’ survival into adulthood so that he might accomplish the purposes that God ordained for him before the creation of the heavens and earth – that was to be left to the God who is Sovereign over all things.  

In fact, if there is an application to be drawn from this text for parents, I think it would be this: Parents, be responsible. Raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Do your best to feed them well, to clothe them, and to provide them with shelter, so they might grow in stature. And teach them well too. Teach them common things and teach them spiritual things. Give them the Scriptures and bring them faithfully into the temple of God, that is to say, into the midst of the church gathered on the Lord’s Day,  so that they might worship and grow in wisdom. Yes, be faithful. But be very careful to not hinder them with your fearful disbelief. Entrust them to the Lord and then walk by faith knowing that God will accomplish all of his purposes. There are many things that are beyond our control, brothers, and sisters. We must be responsible to do what God has called us to do, trusting him in all things, and especially in those things which are outside of our sphere of responsibility. All parents must learn this, and it appears that Joseph and Mary had to learn it too. 

The crucial thing to notice about our text is that Mary refers to Joseph as Jesus’ father (and of course Joseph was Jesus’ father in an earthly and adoptive sense), but Jesus knows that God is his Father. He was in his Father’s house (the temple), and knew he was to be about his Father’s business.

Yes, God is the Father of all in this sense: he is the Creator of all. And yes, God is the Father of all who have faith in Christ, for in Christ we are forgiven, justified, reconciled to God and adopted as his beloved children, though we were by nature children of wrath because of sin. But Jesus has God as Father in an utterly unique way. As John 3:16 says, Christ is the “only begotten Son” of God. 

Time will not allow us to do a deep dive into the doctrine of the person of Christ now. But we have done this before, haven’t we? In a Sunday School class not long ago we considered the doctrine of Christ. And in it we learned to answer the question, who is Christ?, in this way: he is the eternally begotten Son of the Father, the second person of the Triune God, incarnate. The person of Christ is the person (or subsistence) of God the Son. In Christ, the person of the eternal Son of God, assumed (or took to himself) a human nature – that is to say, a human body and a human soul. But let me ask you this? Who is the person, that is to say, the subject that acts through the human and divine natures of Jesus? The person of Christ is the person of the eternally begotten Son. 

This is what John famously teaches in the opening of his Gospel. Instead of using the name “Son”, he uses the name “Word” but the meaning is the same. John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1–3, ESV). Verse 14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, ESV). You see, it was the person of the Word, or Son, who took to himself a human nature, body and soul. It was not the person of the Father, nor the person of the Spirit, nor was it the divine nature that became incarnate, but the person of the Son. 

The very truth that John communicates in didactic form, Luke communicates in his narrative. Rember what the angel said to Mary: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David…” (Luke 1:31–32, ESV). And when the angel explained how these things would happen, given that Mary was a virgin,  he said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God” (Luke 1:35, ESV).

The point is this: though Joseph was faithful to serve as Jesus’ earthy father by adopting him as his own, Jesus’ only true Father was (and is) God the Father in heaven. The same Father who eternally begets the person of the Son did also miraculously conceive the human body and soul of Jesus by the Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary so that the person of the Son might become incarnate, experience a truly human life for us, and accomplish our salvation by living a sinless life and dying in our place. 

When Jesus uttered these words at the age of twelve, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49, ESV), he showed that he was aware of his utterly unique relation to God the Father. We are invited to call God “Father” as sons and daughters who have been forgiven and adopted through faith in Christ the Son. But we confess that Jesus is “the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father” (The Nicene Creed). 

Who is Jesus? He is the Son of God. But notice this: He is also the son of Mary. And here I am simply drawing your attention to his true humanity which he derived from her. The person of the eternal Son was born of woman. As Paul says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4–5, ESV)

Consider the way in which our passage reveals the true humanity of Christ. Jesus was born of Mary, and then he was raised by Joseph and Mary. Think of it. The one through whom Mary and Joseph were created, was, in his incarnation, born of Mary and raised by Joseph also. What a marvelous mystery!

And Jesus, the eternal Son of God incarnate, grew physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. He increased in knowledge and wisdom. Think of it, the eternal Son (or Word) of God learned to speak. He learned to count. He learned to reason. The eternal Son (or Word) of God learned the Holy Scriptures –   the very Scriptures that he inspired! The eternal Son (or Word) of God also came to an understanding of his Messianic mission. I understand full well that these statements sound almost blasphemous, but they are true. And how can it be that God the Son could increase in wisdom in this way?  The answer is that he did it, not according to his divine nature (which is eternal, unchanging, and perfect in every way), but according to the human nature he assumed. Jesus is truly human (yet without sin). He has a true human body (a body that grew; a body that bled). And he has a true human soul – a human mind (one that increased in knowledge), a human will (through which he offered up perfect and perpetual obedience to the Father), and human affections (by which he is purely drawn to that which is good, and repulsed by all that is evil). The person of Christ is the person of the eternal Son. And in the incarnation, the eternal Son experienced a truly human existence. Jerome, who lived in the late 4th century and early 5th century A.D. wrote concerning this high mystery, saying, “How does he who is Wisdom receive understanding? ‘Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace before God and men’. This means not so much that the Son was instructed by the Father but that his human nature was instructed by his own divinity. There is the seer’s prophesy of him who blossomed from the root of Jesse, ‘The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding’” (Jerome, Homilies On Psalm 15 (16). 

The point is this: Jesus is truly the Son of God, and he is the son of Mary. He fully divine, and he is fully human. And we see clearly in the passage that is before us today. 

The writer of Hebrews states it like this: “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself [that is, Christ our Savior]  likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:14–18, ESV).

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The Work Of Christ

We have considered what this text reveals concerning the person of Christ. Who did Jesus understand himself to be? The son of Mary and the Son of God. Let us now briefly consider the work of Christ. What did he understand his mission to be? 

Well, the words of Christ in verse 49 are again our focus. “And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49, ESV), that is to say, “about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49, NKJV). As I have said, both translations are valid. The Greek word that is translated as “house” by the ESV, and “business” by the NKJV can mean both things. 

If it is said that a servant manages his master’s house, that means that he manages his master’s business or affairs. And I think that is what Jesus meant. Joseph and Mary found in Jesus in God’s house, that is to say, the temple. And when they found him he said, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49, ESV), that is to say, “about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49, NKJV).

Jesus understood, even at the young age of twelve, that he had a special mission to accomplish. God the Father had determined to accomplish something, and he would be the one through whom it would be accomplished. He knew that he needed to be about he Father’s business. 

And what was that business? What was the work that Jesus was to be about? Well, if we were to focus only on Luke 2:49 we would not know. But if we back up from this verse just a little bit, all becomes clear. Indeed, the things that are said prior to this in Luke’s Gospel make it crystal clear what the mission of Jesus was by pointing us to the Old Testament Scriptures. 

Notice where Jesus was when he uttered the words, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” He was in the temple. His work was to fulfill the symbolism of the temple and to earn that which the temple signified, namely, the New Heavens and earth.

And notice when Jesus uttered the words, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” It was immediately after he had celebrated the Passover feast with his family. His work was to fulfill the symbolism of the Passover by accomplishing redemption for his people, not from Egypt, but from sin, the domain of Satan, and the power of death, by his shed blood. 

And notice what Jesus was doing when Joseph and Mary found him and he uttered the words, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” He was “sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions” (Luke 2:46, ESV). In other words, he was discussing the Holy Scriptures. And we are told that “all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers” (Luke 2:47, ESV). Jesus’ work was to accomplish all that was said concerning him in the law, the prophets, and the Psalms. Joseph and Mary knew this, for they themselves knew the Old Testament Scriptures, and they had heard others testify concerning these things at the time of Jesus’ birth, as recorded for us in Luke 1:5-2:38.

What was the Father’s business that Jesus knew he was to be about? Well, there are many ways to speak of it. As the Messiah, he was to earn salvation for God’s elect, he was to redeem them from sin and misery by accomplishing a second and greater Exodus. He was to establish an everlasting kingdom. He was to build God’s eternal temple. 

This was the mission of the Messiah, and Jesus knew it. Joseph and Mary knew it too, but they were still struggling to comprehend how these things would be accomplished, and who could blame them? Verse 50 says, “And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:50–52, ESV).

Before we conclude, I would like to suggest to you that there is one more way in which the mission of the Son is revealed in this story, and that is through symbolism or foreshadowing. 

Do you remember what that old man Simeon said to Mary when he gave praise to God for the baby Jesus regarding what she would experience as his mother? In Luke 2:34 we read, “And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’” (Luke 2:34–35, ESV).

When Jesus was twelve, Mary received a foretaste of this, didn’t she? Her beloved Son was lost from her sight. For how long? For three days. And then on the third day, he was found. And where was he found except in the temple of God? 

I am saying that this event anticipated the sorrow that Mary would experience when her beloved Son would be taken away from her sight for three days by his death and burial. But on the third day, she would see him again? And where would he ascend except into the heavenly Holy of Holies into the very presence of the glory of God?

When Christ rose from the grave on the third day and appeared to his disciples, his mother Mary included, he very well could have said to them the words of Luke 2:49: “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49, NKJV). Indeed, that is what Jesus was about when his died, his body was buried, and his soul descended to Hades – he was about his Father’s business! I am not saying that he said these words, but he could have! “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49, NKJV).

In fact, things like this were said when Jesus rose from the grave. In Luke 24 we are told of women going to the tomb of Jesus. When they got there, the stone was rolled away and angels appeared to them. “And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (Luke 24:5–7, ESV)

And when Christ appeared to two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus, “he said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25–27, ESV)

And a bit later he appeared to his disciple in Jerusalem,“And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.” (Luke 24:38–40, ESV)

“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:5–6, ESV).

“Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26, ESV)

“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself” (Luke 24:39-40, ESV).

The questions are not identical to the one that Jesus posed to Joseph and Mary after he was found in the temple being lost from their sight, and found on the third day: “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49, NKJV). The questions are not identical, but they are similar. They are all meant to encourage faith. Faith in what God had revealed concerning Christ, and faith in Christ himself. 

Brothers and sisters, Luke wrote so that we would have certainty concerning Jesus the Messiah. I pray that your certainty is increasing as we study this Gospel. I pray that you are growing more and more sure that Jesus of Nazareth is the Savior who was promised by God from long ago. And I pray that your love and gratitude for him would increase as well. This will, of course, result in greater obedience towards him, for those who love him will long to keep his commandments (John 14:15). 

Lastly, it may be that there are some in our midst who have not yet believed upon Christ. I pray that God, through the preaching of his word, and by the working of the Holy Spirit, would draw you to faith in Jesus the Messiah, for there is salvation in no other name (Acts 4:12). I pray that you would be convinced in the mind that he is the Savior that God has provided and that you are in need of him. And more than this, I pray that you would trust him in the heart and honor him as Lord, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, ESV)

Baptist Catechism 78-80

Q. 78. Which is the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment is, “Thou shalt not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)

Q. 79. What is required in the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others. (Prov. 27:23; Lev. 25:35; Deut. 15:10; 22:14)

Q. 80. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment forbideth whatsoever does or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbor’s wealth or outward state. (1 Tim. 5:8; Prov. 28:19; 23:20,21; Eph. 4:28)

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 6:6–11

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” (Proverbs 6:6–11, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

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The eighth commandment is, “you shall not steal”. It is rather obvious what that means. Don’t take what is not yours. But that very simple principle is just begging to be fleshed out. For example, we should ask, how then should I provide for myself? How should I increase my wealth and my possessions?  

Stealing is forbidden. 

Yes, it is true that someone may give you a gift. That is fine. 

And making wise investments is also encouraged in the scriptures. 

But in general, we must confess that the way to provide for yourself and your family and to increase your wealth and possessions is to work. You are to provide a service for someone else and be compensated for it, or you must work your land with the hopes of reaping a harvest. Either way, the principle is the same. We must provide for ourselves by working. As Paul says,  “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” (Ephesians 4:28, ESV)

There are so many questions associated with this topic. I’ll name a few to show you that I am not oblivious to them. Must a person work with his hands? No, some work involves the mind more than the hands. And what about the wife and mother who does not go off to work but remains at home? That is a great blessing, but the scriptures do warn against idleness at home. The wife and mother should be diligent to manage the home, and she is also free to engage in industry on top of that (see Proverb 31, for example). And what about retirement? Is there a place for that? Of course, there is. Hard work in the younger years does sometimes lead to retirement in the later years. But even in retirement men and women should serve the Lord. They should be diligent in prayer and (if possible) the service of others in their old age. And what about those who are independently wealthy who come into great wealth by way of inheritance? That is a great blessing. But the scriptures do warn the rich not to trust in the riches, but to trust in God. And those who are rich should use what they have been given for the furtherance of God’s kingdom, and the relief of the poor. They should be generous. Again, idleness is forbidden. 

In general, I wish to say this: Christians should be diligent and hard-working. That takes so many different forms. I am aware of that. Yes, things will look different from person to person, and the circumstances will change as the seasons of life change. But in general, Christians should be hard-working. Stated negatively, Christians are not to be sluggards. No, we are to use our time and energies for the glory of God, for our good, and for the good of others.

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Proverbs 6

The Proverbs have a lot to say about this. They constantly urge men and women to be diligent, hard working, and wise with their money. They show how men and women generally come to be both rich and poor. And the text that we read from Proverbs 6 is most instructive. 

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise”, the text says. 

Have you ever watched ants? And no, we are not talking about your Aunt — your mother or father’s sister — but ants — the little bugs that crawl on the ground. Have you ever watched them? They are very hard-working and diligent little creatures. They never stop. They just move along, working constantly to provide for themselves and others. Proverbs 6 tells us that we are to  “go to the ant” and “consider her ways…”

And no, the point is not that we are never to rest. That would contradict other scriptures, wouldn’t it? The scriptures teach that sleep is a gift from God. The scriptures warn against the vanity and folly of overworking. And the scriptures command that we cease from our labor one day out of seven to worship God in a pronounced way in public and private. That day is called the Sabbath Day, or the Lord’s Day. So we are not to imitate ants by working tirelessly and unceasingly seven days a week (in fact, ants do sleep. Worker ants take about 250 little power naps a day, totaling about 4 ½ hours of sleep a day. The Proverbs do not speak scientifically, but from the appearance of things).  

But what are we to learn from the ants who seem to work so diligently? Well, notice that the lesson is for the sluggard. “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise” A “sluggard is a lazy person. It is the lazy person who is encouraged to go to the ant and to consider her ways to become wise. 

And what exactly is the sluggard to notice? Two things: 

One, the ant works very diligently “without having any chief, officer, or ruler”. Yes, scientifically we know that in an ant colony, there is a queen. And there are even other kinds of ants so there is a kind of hierarchy in the ant world. But the point is this: when you watch ants you see that they work very hard and very diligently and no one is cracking a whip, as it were. Ants seem to be self-motivated. It seems to be a part of their nature to work consistently hard. The sluggard should learn from this. The sluggard may work hard… for a time… if someone forces him to, and then back to the couch he goes. 

Two, this proverb urges us to notice this about ants: they seem to understand the seasons. “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” The ant is diligent to work and to save in times of plenty knowing that times of want or lack may soon come. The sluggard needs to learn this lesson too. The lazy person may have adequate provisions at the moment and so they lounge on the couch and sleep in their bed. But they forget that those provisions will soon run out! What then? That ant works diligently even when her storehouse is full for she knows that the time will come when provisions will be lacking. 

And that is what the Proverb warns against so directly, saying, “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” 

Christians are to be hard-working and diligent people. The eighth commandment requires it. Yes, it forbids stealing. But that means on the flip side that we are required to “labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Ephesians 4:28). 

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Baptist Catechism 80

To state the matter negatively, “The eighth commandment forbideth whatsoever does or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbor’s wealth or outward state.” 

As with all of God’s commandments, we must reflect deeply on these things. What sorts of things may “hinder our own or our neighbor’s wealth or outward state”? 

Well, concerning our neighbor, stealing is obviously out of the question. That would hinder our neighbor’s wealth, wouldn’t it? Dishonest work is also out of the question. Though we may provide some good or service to our neighbor, if it is dishonest work, or a good of poor quality that we deliver then we are not helping our neighbor, but hindering them. 

But what about the responsibility we have to earn a living for ourselves to provide for ourselves and to help others who may be in need?  It seems to me that we need to think about our own work ethic, the management of our finances, the wisdom of our investments and business ventures. Brothers and sisters, we must think carefully about these things. 

A Christians we must not love money. We must pursue contentment and be generous with what we have. But at the same time, we cannot be foolish with our money or unconcerned about the question, how will I make an honest living? And will I have enough for the future when my ability to earn an income has diminished? These are important questions. 

And perhaps I should move to a conclusion by saying, I understand that life does not always go as planned. Sometimes we wish to work, but cannot. I don’t mean for any of this to burden those who are a in situation like that. Rather, I am setting forth the scriptural ideal. Remember, the scriptures do speak of the importance of caring for those in need. Ideally, no one would ever be in need. But in reality, sometimes people are. And the reasons for this are varied. 

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Conclusion 

Q. 80. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment forbideth whatsoever does or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbor’s wealth or outward state. (1 Tim. 5:8; Prov. 28:19; 23:20,21; Eph. 4:28)

Let us pray. 

Lord, help us to keep your law in thought, word, and deed. And forgive in Christ Jesus us when we do not. We thank you for Christ who kept this law perfectly on our behalf and died for our sins. In him we have placed our trust. Amen. 

1. What is the eighth commandment?
2. What does it mean to steal? 
3. How is our daily provision and wealth to be obtained?
4. Ephesians 4:28 says, “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Ephesians 4:28, ESV). Can you think of certain kinds of “work” that would not qualify as “honest work”? Why must the Christian avoid this kind of work?
5. Why does our catechism say that the command, “Thou shalt not steal”, requires  “the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others”? How do we jump from the one idea to the others?   

Baptist Catechism 75-77

Q. 75. Which is the seventh commandment?

A. The seventh commandment is, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)

Q. 76. What is required in the seventh commandment?

A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbor’s chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior. (1 Cor. 6:18; 7:2; 2 Tim. 2:22; Matt. 5:28; 1 Peter 3:2)

Q. 77. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?

A. The seventh commandment forbideth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions. (Matt. 5:28-32; Job 31:1; Eph. 5:3,4; Rom. 13:13; Col. 4:6)

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:18–7:5

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: ‘It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.’ But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (1 Corinthians 6:18–7:5, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

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Before we can understand what the sin of adultery is, we must first understand God’s design for sexual relations. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And the pinnacle of God’s earthly creation was man made in his image. As Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27, ESV). And in the beginning, God did also institute marriage. As Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24, ESV). This one flesh union is covenantal and spiritual. In the marriage covenant, two lives become one. But it is also physical. The sexual union consummates the covenantal marriage bond after it has been made. 

And this is where we must begin if we are to understand the seventh commandment, which is “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” God created sex, so it must be considered good. But like many other things, it is only good when enjoyed in a particular context. Wine is good, but it may be misused. Men and women do sin when they drink wine to the point of drunkenness. Money is good. But the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. And so too, sex is good. But it may be misused, abused, and badly distorted. It is good when it is enjoyed by a man and woman bound together as one flesh in the covenant of marriage. 

When two who are unmarried engage in sexual relations, that is called fornication. Deuteronomy 22:28ff. speaks to the sin of fornication when it says, “If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her. He may not divorce her all his days” (Deuteronomy 22:28–29, ESV). Now, we are not under the law of Moses as a civil law code, but we may learn from this law even still. It is fornication that is described here, and not adultery, for neither the man nor the woman was betrothed nor married. And the penalty, you will notice, was not death but a fine. 

The sin of fornication is a serious sin. Sexual relations are to be reserved for marriage. But a more serious sin is the sin of adultery wherein one who is married lies with someone who is not their spouse. That adultery is a more serious sin is made clear from the punishment prescribed under the law of Moses. Again, we are not under the law of Moses as a civil law code, but we may learn something about the seriousness of the sin of adultery from what it says — the adulterer and the adulteress were to be put to death. Deuteronomy 22:22 says, “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel” (Deuteronomy 22:22, ESV). Don’t mess with the sin of adultery, brothers and sisters. It is so very destructive. 

And if we were to go even further to discuss even greater acts of sexual perversion we would have to talk about the sins of bestiality and finally homosexuality. Concerning the sin of homosexuality, Leviticus 18:22 says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination” (Leviticus 18:22, ESV). 

And the New Testament scriptures also speak against these sexual sins. Take for example 1 Corinthians 6:9, which says, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–11, ESV).

So, as I have said, to understand the seventh commandment and the sin of adultery, we must first understand God’s design for sexual relations. God created sex to be enjoyed by a man and woman bound together for life in the covenant of marriage. All other sexual relations are a perversion of God’s design. Sexual immorality of all kinds is to be avoided, especially the sin of adultery, for when the sin of adultery is committed, the marriage covenant, which is a very sacred thing, is broken. 

Can the adulterer be forgiven? Yes, of course. And so too can the homosexual and the fornicator. Did you hear what Paul said to the Corinthians? After speaking of the sins of sexual immorality, adultery, and homosexuality (among other things), he said, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11, ESV). “Such were some of you”, Paul said. And by this, he indicateS that the Christians in Corinth were no longer these things, for they had turned from their sin and to Christ – they were washed, sanctified, and justified, through faith in Jesus Christ. 

You know, it is common for homosexuals and other sexually perverse people today to say, this is who I am. And there may be some truth to that. But look at what the scriptures say. Who you are needs to change! God is calling you to turn from your sin and to Christ, for in Christ, there is cleansing, renewal, and the forgiveness of sins. Who would allow the liar, the thief, or the adulterer to excuse their sin by saying, this is who I am? Well, though I do not doubt that people have propensities towards these sins – and though it may be true that their deepest desires lead them in this sinful direction – and perhaps this is their way of life to the point that they can hardly distinguish between the sinful act and their very being. Even still, God calls sinners to turn from their sin and to believe upon Christ for the forgiveness of sin and for renewal, so that it may be said of them, “and such were… you… but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–11, ESV).

The sin that is expressly forbidden in the seventh commandment is adultery. And adultery is forbidden because it is particularly damaging. Not only is it a perversion of God’s design for sexual relations, it is also the breaking of the covenant of marriage. I do not need to describe to you the damage that the sin of adultery does to individual lives, families, and to society. 

But as usual, our catechism helps us to see that the commandment is to be interpreted and applied broadly. Not only does the seventh commandment forbid the sin of adultery, it also requires “the preservation of our own and our neighbor’s chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior”, while forbidding “all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.” The rest of the scriptures make it very clear that this is the proper interpretation and application of God’s moral law, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

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Baptist Catechism 76 and 77

Not only does the seventh commandment forbid you from committing adultery, it requires that you seek to preserve your own and your neighbor’s chastity. Now there is an old-fashioned word — chastity. It should not be old-fashioned. It ought to still be on our minds and lips. To be chaste is to abstain from extramarital or premarital intercourse. The seventh commandment requires us to preserve our own chastity and also our neighbors. 

This means that men and women should be careful to not bring temptation to those around them. Being mindful of this will affect the way that you dress and the way that you talk.

This also means that husbands and wives should be generous with one another as it pertains to conjugal rights, for this does help to guard against temptation. You may read 1 Corinthians 6:18-7:5 again to see what I mean. Husbands and wives are to serve one another in this way. 

And notice also how our catechism applies the seventh commandment to the heart, and not merely to our words and actions, saying, “The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbor’s chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior”, and again, “The seventh commandment forbideth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.”

God’s commands are always to be applied to the heart, friends. You should know this by now. And this is why Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Jesus was not saying something new here. Instead, he was giving the proper interpretation of the seventh commandment. God’s law was always meant to be applied to the heart. Remember the summary of the law is to love God with all our being and to love our neighbor as ourself. Here Christ is simply saying that the seventh commandment is to be kept from the heart. This was always the intent. 

And please don’t misunderstand his words. He is not saying that lust and adultery are the same thing. They are not. Adultery is worse because it is the sin of lust full grown. Jesus is simply teaching that lust is adultery in the heart. Lust is adultery in seed form. Root it out, brothers and sisters, for lust is a sin. And root out the sin of lust, before it is fully grown, leading to the act of sexual immorality and even adultery. 

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Conclusion 

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18–20, ESV)