The harmony of the Gospels in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings…

3. He was subject unto his Parents, the Greek is Emphatical in three words, (he was) that is the habit, bent, way, and set of his heart was to be subject to his Parents according to the fifth Commandment, he perfectly fulfilled the fifth Command, it was never so kept and fulfilled as he kept it, his heart was unto his duty, which he performed without any failure or swerving either in thought, look, gesture, word or deed. The second word is (subjecting) viz. always and upon all occasions, he acted subjection in all kinds, and in all things, he acted the perfect duty of a child, without the least spot or stain. The third word (to them) to both his Parents Father and mother, according as order and the rule called for it. In Childhood the child is oftenest in the mothers bosom, in youth he is oftenest at Fathers hand, in all cases he acted subjection and obedience perfectly, they never provoked him, for he had nothing in him was capable to be provoked, when the Devil came to tempt he found nothing in him capable to entertain a temptation, Joh. 14.30. much l•ss did his Parents ever provoke him, nor did he ever provoke them, they had in-dwelling sin in them, though he had not, and though they had, he never provoked them, nor drew out their corruption to act, O what a sweet, holy, peaceable Family was that Family, an heavenly Family? no doubt he often stirred up and provoked his Parents to holiness, virtue, and all good works that they were capable to perform, Math. 8.9. the Centurion doth rightly describe Family subjection, I say to one, go, and he goeth, and to another, come, and he cometh, to another, do this, and he doth it. So did Jesus always, if his mother called him he came, if she said go, he goeth, when his Father said go with me to work at my calling for our living, he went with him, he wrought with him, we read that his detractors said. Is not this the Carpenters Son? Math. 13.55. others called him the Carpenter, Mar. 6.3. this witnesseth his subjection and obedience to his Parents. And also that he was not idle, but he laboured in his Fathers calling, and all this was pure and perfect obedience to the Law of God. Reverence to parents is a part of subjection to them, and therefore that also is comprehended in this word, he was subject to them.