And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Usually young people who give God His proper place in their lives develop into normal adults, people whom God and other people approve (cf. Proverbs 3:1-12). This was true of Jesus (cf. 1 Samuel 2:26). Jesus’ mental, social, and spiritual powers developed along with His physical powers. He was fully man as well as fully God who voluntarily set aside some of His divine prerogatives temporarily in the Incarnation (Philippians 2:7). The Greek word translated "increased" or "grew" (Luke 2:52, prokopto) literally means to make one’s way forward by chopping down obstacles, a vivid description of the maturation process (cf. Luke 2:40).