Topical Bible: Character of Christ: Subject to his Parents

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Topical Encyclopedia

The character of Jesus Christ, as depicted in the Scriptures, is marked by His submission and obedience to His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph. This aspect of His character is significant, as it reflects His humility and respect for God's ordained family structure, even as the Son of God.

Biblical Account

The primary biblical account that highlights Jesus' submission to His parents is found in the Gospel of Luke. After the incident where Jesus, at the age of twelve, stays behind in the temple, engaging with the teachers, His parents find Him after three days of searching. Upon their reunion, Jesus returns with them to Nazareth. The Scripture states:

"And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He was subject to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart." (Luke 2:51)

This passage underscores Jesus' willing submission to His parents, despite His divine nature and wisdom, which astonished even the learned men in the temple.

Theological Significance

Jesus' submission to His parents is a profound demonstration of His humility and His commitment to fulfilling all righteousness. By being subject to His earthly parents, Jesus perfectly adhered to the commandment to "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12), setting an example for all believers in honoring parental authority.

This obedience is not merely a cultural or familial duty but is deeply rooted in the divine order established by God. Jesus' submission is a reflection of His obedience to the Father, as He consistently sought to do the Father's will throughout His life and ministry.

Implications for Believers

For believers, Jesus' example of being subject to His parents serves as a model for how to live in obedience and humility. It emphasizes the importance of respecting and honoring parental authority, as well as the broader principle of submission to God-ordained structures of authority.

Furthermore, Jesus' submission to His parents, despite His divine identity, challenges believers to embrace humility and obedience in their own lives, recognizing that true greatness in the kingdom of God is found in servanthood and submission.

Conclusion

The character of Christ, as subject to His parents, reveals His perfect obedience and humility. This aspect of His life provides a powerful example for believers to follow, encouraging them to honor and respect their parents and to live in submission to God's will.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 2:51
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Completeness and Universality of his Character.
... never rose above the Greek type of character; Luther was ... or particular schools of
science and art, Christ was to ... man to a particular sin of the subject or his ...
/.../schaff/the person of christ/completeness and universality of his.htm

His Childhood and Youth.
... CHRIST passed through all the stages of human life from ... old age would be incompatible
with his character and mission ... yet pure and innocent,"the subject of the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the person of christ/his childhood and youth.htm

Identity of Christ's Character.
... be suspected that they studied uniformity of character, or ever ... in the person who
was the subject of their ... discovers itself in Saint John's history of Christ. ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter iv identity of christs.htm

The Faith of Moses.
... tracing the growth and formation of the man's spiritual character. ... of Israel, and
in the coming of the Christ. The subject of the passage is faith as the power ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter xii the faith of.htm

The Christ of the Gospels. By Rev. Professor Schaff.
... of old age would be incompatible with his character and mission ... proceeds from the
contemplation of the Christ-child at ... with God and man." He was subject to his ...
/.../the christ of the gospels.htm

Whether one Ought to be Withdrawn from Entering Religion through ...
... we learn that we who intend to follow Christ are not ... of piety, parents as such have
the character of a ... On the other hand, the son, through being subject to his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether one ought to be 2.htm

Importance in Luke's History of the Story of the Birth of Christ
... an episode of family history of the most private character. ... impressed with the
sacredness of the subject which he ... of the circumstances of the birth of Christ. ...
/.../ramsay/was christ born in bethlehem/chapter 4 importance in lukes.htm

Jesus Living at Nazareth and visiting Jerusalem in his Twelfth ...
... Here Christ rose above all times and schools and ... His character, like the New Jerusalem,
descended from God out ... self-culture]; and he was subject [Our example ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xvi jesus living at nazareth.htm

The Domestic Relation.
... Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let ... watch over her conduct and
guard her from every act that would be damaging to her character or her ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter xiii the domestic relation.htm

Preface
... was a singularly refined and religious character, combining the ... Deity on the Person
of Christ and the ... and from acquaintance with former writers on his subject. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolt/dionysius the areopagite/preface.htm