Jesus' Parents Were Poor

According to the Law of Moses, specifically Leviticus 12.1-8, when a Jewish woman gave birth to a male child she had to satisfy a 33-day period of purification, after which the child was to be presented before the LORD and a sacrifice was to be offered to “make atonement for her”, or to bring her back into a “clean” state before God. The standard offering was a lamb and a pigeon/turtledove. However, Lev. 12.8 says “But if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

This passage is quoted in Luke 2.22-24 in reference to Mary’s sacrifice: “And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” What would it mean that Jesus’ parents were not be able to afford a single lamb for their firstborn child? Joseph and Mary are more than likely not well-off financially.

One might also consider where Jesus’ parents lived. Remember Nathaniel’s wise-crack about Nazareth in John 1? His brother Philip was trying to bring him to see Jesus, believing Him to be the Messiah. Nathaniel came back with “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1.46) Jesus’ parents didn’t live on the “good side of town”.

Furthermore, we find out in John 7.50-52 that even the region surrounding Nazareth was unpopular! Galilee was widely known as a backwater. In John 7, when the people and the Pharisees are arguing about Jesus’ identity, Nicodemus brings up the fact that they are judging Jesus unfairly: “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?”

Their response? “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.”

Finally, how do we know they likely weren’t well off economically? Jesus was known to be one of AT LEAST SEVEN CHILDREN: "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?" And they took offense at Him.” (Mark 6.3) By the time Jesus was 30, there are at least several other mouths to feed in the family.

In spite of their economic station, Mary and Joseph raised Jesus, and raised Him well.
What can we learn from this?

Economic struggles do not hinder our ability to be godly parents.

God chose Joseph and Mary to be Jesus’ parents. If being well-off was a prerequisite, they do not fit the bill! Truth is, being a godly parent doesn’t depend on your bank account balance.. It costs nothing to love your children, to train them up in the way they should go (Prov. 22.6). It costs nothing to speak of God’s word when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise! (Dt. 6.7) Do not think for a moment that your worth and capability as a parent is hindered by the blessings you have been given to steward by God.

“For where your treasure is, there your (parenting) will be also.”

However, great care must be taken the other end of the scale. Often, our blessings FAR exceed our needs. Rather than being focused on God’s priorities, our attention as parents becomes focused on so many other things. Matthew 6.19-21 bears repeating in this context! Our treasure may be stored in Heaven on Sunday, but what about the rest of the week? Our children learn more by watching their parents than by listening to them. Where my treasure is, my heart, and my parenting, are sure to follow!

Teach your kids to work!

How was Jesus known to be a carpenter in Mark 6.3?

He learned it from Joseph! More and more “hard work” is getting a bad name. Christians are told to labor rather than steal. (Eph. 4.28) We as parents have a key opportunity to demonstrate this in our own homes. After all, children are known as “dependents”, right? They need us to work and provide for them! Teach your kids what honest work looks like, and then teach them to do the same! Of course, this can be taken too far (depends on where our treasure is located, here or in Heaven. One’s work habits can indicate which is true.)