Maturity, physical

In the OT, reaching adulthood brought with it certain privileges and responsibilities.

Growth to physical and psychological maturity

Luke 2:52 Jesus Christ's normal childhood is evidence of his full humanity. See also 1 Samuel 2:26; Luke 1:80, Luke 2:40; 1 Corinthians 13:11

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

The responsibilities of maturity in the Israelite community

The payment of atonement money

Exodus 30:11–16, Exodus 38:25–26

Eligibility for military service

Numbers 1:2–3, Numbers 1:45, Numbers 26:2; 2 Chronicles 25:5

Accountability for actions

Numbers 14:29, Numbers 32:11

Inheritance of the land

Numbers 26:52–54

Serving Levites

Numbers 8:24–25; 1 Chronicles 23:24, 1 Chronicles 23:27; Ezra 3:8

Maturity should produce wisdom

Job 12:12 See also Job 15:10, Job 32:6–9; Proverbs 7:7; Ecclesiastes 4:13

Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.

Respect should be shown to the mature

Leviticus 19:32 See also Job 32:4; Proverbs 23:22; 1 Timothy 5:1–2; 1 Peter 5:5

You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.

Maturity of years seen as God's blessing

Genesis 24:1; Ruth 4:15; 1 Chronicles 29:28

The maturity of crops for harvest used as a metaphor

Joel 3:13; John 4:35–36 See also Amos 8:1–2; Matthew 9:37–38 parallel Luke 10:1–2; Mark 4:26–29; Revelation 14:15

Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great.

Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest. Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together.