CHAPTER NINETEEN/Joseph Persevered Faithfully

 The Bible discloses only a few more traces of Joseph's life, but they are worth considering carefully. We read that "Jesus went on progressing in wisdom and in physical growth and in favor with God and men." (Read Luke 2:51, 52) What do those words reveal about Joseph? Several things. We learn that Joseph continued taking the lead in his household, for his perfect son respected his father's authority and remained in subjection to it. 

We further learn that Jesus continued to grow in wisdom. Joseph surely had much to do with his son's progress in that regard. In those days, there was a time-honored proverb among the Jews. It can still be found and read today. The saying asserts that only men of leisure can become truly wise, whereas tradesmen, such as carpenters, farmers, and blacksmiths, "cannot declare justice and judgment; and they shall not be found where parables are spoken." Later, Jesus exposed the emptiness of that proverb. As a boy, how often he had heard his adoptive father, humble carpenter though he was, teach effectively about Jehovah's justice and judgment"! No doubt, there were countless occasions. 

Next time: CHAPTER NINETEEN/Joseph Persevered Faithfully - Conclusion

From the jw.org publications