Luke 2 · a question people ask
Luke says, "They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them" (2:50). Why not?
Luke says they didn't, and doesn't say why. Jesus said, "Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?" (2:49), and "They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them" (2:50). Luke doesn't say which part they didn't understand, and these notes don't guess. He does tell what came next: "And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart" (2:51).
The verses
“When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.” He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.”