Luke 2:49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"

◄ Luke 2:49 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"

English Standard Version
And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

New American Standard Bible
And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?"

King James Bible
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
"Why were you searching for Me?" He asked them. "Didn't you know that I had to be in My Father's house?"

International Standard Version
He asked them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?"

American Standard Version
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father's house?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about my father's business?

Darby Bible Translation
And he said to them, Why is it that ye have sought me? did ye not know that I ought to be occupied in my Father's business?

Young's Literal Translation
And he said unto them, 'Why is it that ye were seeking me? did ye not know that in the things of my Father it behoveth me to be?'

Cross References

Luke 2:48
And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said to him, Son, why have you thus dealt with us? behold, your father and I have sought you sorrowing.

John 2:16
And said to them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

John 4:34
Jesus said to them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

John 5:36
But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

2:41-52 It is for the honour of Christ that children should attend on public worship. His parents did not return till they had stayed all the seven days of the feast. It is well to stay to the end of an ordinance, as becomes those who say, It is good to be here. Those that have lost their comforts in Christ, and the evidences of their having a part in him, must bethink themselves where, and when, and how they lost them, and must turn back again. Those that would recover their lost acquaintance with Christ, must go to the place in which he has put his name; there they may hope to meet him. They found him in some part of the temple, where the doctors of the law kept their schools; he was sitting there, hearkening to their instructions, proposing questions, and answering inquiries, with such wisdom, that those who heard were delighted with him. Young persons should seek the knowledge of Divine truth, attend the ministry of the gospel, and ask such questions of their elders and teachers as may tend to increase their knowledge. Those who seek Christ in sorrow, shall find him with the greater joy. Know ye not that I ought to be in my Father's house; at my Father's work; I must be about my Father's business. Herein is an example; for it becomes the children of God, in conformity to Christ, to attend their heavenly Father's business, and make all other concerns give way to it. Though he was the Son of God, yet he was subject to his earthly parents; how then will the foolish and weak sons of men answer it, who are disobedient to their parents? However we may neglect men's sayings, because they are obscure, yet we must not think so of God's sayings. That which at first is dark, may afterwards become plain and easy. The greatest and wisest, those most eminent, may learn of this admirable and Divine Child, that it is the truest greatness of soul to know our own place and office; to deny ourselves amusements and pleasures not consistent with our state and calling.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

49. about my Father's business—literally, "in" or "at My Fathers," that is, either "about My Father's affairs," or "in My Father's courts"—where He dwells and is to be found—about His hand, so to speak. This latter shade of meaning, which includes the former, is perhaps the true one, Here He felt Himself at home, breathing His own proper air. His words convey a gentle rebuke of their obtuseness in requiring Him to explain this. "Once here, thought ye I should so readily hasten away? Let ordinary worshippers be content to keep the feast and be gone; but is this all ye have learnt of Me?" Methinks we are here let into the holy privacies of Nazareth; for what He says they should have known, He must have given them ground to know. She tells Him of the sorrow with which His father and she had sought Him. He speaks of no Father but one, saying, in effect, My Father has not been seeking Me; I have been with Him all this time; "the King hath brought me into His chambers … His left hand is under my head, and His right hand doth embrace me" (So 1:4; 2:6). How is it that ye do not understand? (Mr 8:21).