Luke 2
OGC**Butler’s Comments
Chapter Two
(Luke 2:1-52)**
THE BIRTH OF THE SON OF MAN
IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:
Is there really a need to tell which Roman Caesar and which Syrian governor was ruling when Jesus was born (Luke 2:1-2)?
How could Jesus be of the lineage of David since Joseph was not His real father (Luke 2:4)?
Did the angels really sing at Jesus-’ birth (Luke 2:13)?
Why did Mary keep to herself all the miraculous things about her baby’s birth (Luke 2:19)?
How could an old Jewish man acknowledge that the birth of Jesus was a light for revelation to the Gentiles (Luke 2:32)?
Wouldn-’t it be precocious and disobedient for Jesus to stay behind at Jerusalem when his parents left for Nazareth (Luke 2:43)?
How is it possible that the Divine Son of God could increase in wisdom and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52)?
**Applebury’s Comments
CHAPTER TWO
Outline**
A.
He told about the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-21).
He began with the account of the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem where the Child was to be born (Luke 2:1-7).
a)
It was at the time of the enrollment ordered by Caesar Augustus when Quirinius was governor of Syria (Luke 2:1-3).
b)
Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem where the family of David had to go to be enrolled, taking with him Mary who was betrothed to him and who was soon to give birth to the Child (Luke 2:4-5).
c)
While there she gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger (Luke 2:6-7).
d)
There was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7).
He told the story of the angels and the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20).
a)
How the good news came to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-12).
(1)
They were keeping watch over their flocks at night when the angel of the Lord appeared to them (Luke 2:8-9).
(2)
The angel said, I bring you good news of great joy for all the people, for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.
(3)
The angel gave them a sign by which they were to identify Himthey were to find the babe in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.
b)
Then the heavenly host sang praises to God and peace to men (Luke 2:13-14).
c)
The shepherds went to Bethlehem to confirm the angel’s message (Luke 2:15-20).
(1)
They found Joseph and Mary, and the Child lying in the manger.
(2)
They told the amazing story of what they had learned about the Child.
(3)
Mary kept these things in her heart and thought about their meaning.
(4)
The shepherds went back to their flocks praising God that they had seen what the angel had told them.
He told about the naming of the Child (Luke 2:21).
a)
It was at the time of the circumcision on the eighth day.
b)
His name was called JESUS.
c)
This was the name the angel had told Mary to call Him.
B.
He told about the presentation of the Child to the Lord (Luke 2:22-40).
Mary and Joseph brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord according to the law of Moses (Luke 2:22-24).
a)
It was after the days of purification prescribed by the law of Moses.
b)
They offered according to the law of the Lord a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
Simeon, inspired by the Holy Spirit, spoke about the Child (Luke 2:25-35).
a)
Some things about Simeon (Luke 2:25-29).
(1)
He was a righteous and devout man living in Jerusalem.
(2)
He had been looking for the consolation of Israel.
(3)
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
(4)
He was in the temple when the parents brought the Child Jesus.
b)
What he said (Luke 2:28-35).
(1)
About the Child.
(a)
He was the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise.
(b)
This Child was a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel.
(2)
To the parents as they marveled at the things he had said about the Child.
(a)
He told Mary that the Child was set for the rising and falling of many in Israel and for a sign to be spoken against.
(b)
He told Mary that a sword was to pierce her soul that thoughts out of many hearts might be revealed.
Anna spoke about the Child (Luke 2:36-38).
a) Some things about Anna.
(1)
She was a prophetess who spent her time in the temple worshipping, fasting, and praying.
(2)
She was the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher.
(3)
She was an elderly widow.
b)
She spoke about Jesus to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Following the presentation, they returned to Nazareth (Luke 2:39-40).
C.
He told about the trip to Jerusalem at the passover feast when Jesus was twelve years old (Luke 2:41-52).
After the parents started home, Jesus remained in Jerusalem hearing the teachers and asking questions that amazed them.
The parents had supposed that He was with friends and relatives who had accompanied them, but on discovering that He was not with them they returned to Jerusalem and found Him in the temple.
a)
Mary said, Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I were looking for you, sorrowing.
b)
Jesus said, Why did you look for me? Didn-’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?
c)
They didn-’t understand what He meant.
Jesus went with them back to Nazareth where He was subject to them, growing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.
Summary
With boldness born of complete confidence that what he was about to write was the truth, Luke told about the birth of Jesus. The decree of Caesar had gone out and it had affected even the people who were living in the land where once David had reigned as king. Joseph was required to leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem, the city of David, to enroll himself with Mary his wife, And while they were there, Mary gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, for there was no room for them in the inn. Shepherds were watching their flocks by night, when suddenly a brilliant light shone about them and they were greatly frightened. The angel of the Lord was standing by them, and he said, Be not afraid; I bring you good news of great joy for all the people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Then the choir of angels sang of glory to God in the highest and of peace on earth among men of good will. Mary and Joseph, as the law of Moses required, presented the Child to the Lord in the temple at Jerusalem. There Simeon blessed God for permitting his eyes to see the One who is the salvation of all people, and Anna the prophetess spoke about Him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke had made careful investigation into all the reports and records of the things about Jesus and must have known about the flight into Egypt and return to Nazareth by way of Judea as Matthew reports it. But he was hurrying with his story and merely said that Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth, for he wanted to tell Theo-philus about another journey, the one that Jesus made with His parents to Jerusalem when He was twelve years old. Jewish families must have made a great thing out of such occasions, especially those who would be on the road several days each way. Friends and relatives had gone with Mary and Joseph to the passover feast. When it was over, they all started home, but Jesus remained in Jerusalem. Sorrowing parents sought Him supposing He was with the group. But when they didn-’t find Him, they returned to Jerusalem. There they found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and the teachers were amazed at His understanding and His answers. To Mary’s gentle rebukeor was she blaming herself for what had happened?Jesus said, Why did you seek me? Didn-’t you know that I must be about my Father’s business? But Mary and Joseph didn-’t understand Him. We do not know what rejoicing was theirs when they joined the group and journeyed on to their home. We do not know what resolutions they may have made to guard the trust the Lord had committed to them more carefully. Luke simply says that Jesus went with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them, and that Mary kept all these things in her heart. How precious were His mother’s memories! In all probability, she is the one who shared them with Luke, and he with Theophilus, and we are blessed by the record that has been preserved for us.
Questions
Why did Joseph take Mary and go to Bethlehem?
What had Micah prophesied about the birthplace of Messiah?
What is known about the power of Rome at the time of Micah?
From the Christian point of view, what are the two most important events in the reign of Augustus?
What do the Scriptures say about the children of Mary and Joseph who were born after Jesus?
Why is He called Mary’s firstborn Son?
What can be said about the fact that there was no room for them in the inn?
How does the story of the angels and the shepherds add to the evidence that proves that Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man?
What good news did the angel of the Lord bring?
What, in all probability, did the people understand the word Lord to mean when applied to Jesus?
What is meant by peace on earth?
What is meant by men in whom he is well pleased?
What do Matthew and Luke say about the time of the visit of the shepherds and the wise men to Bethlehem?
What does Luke say about the things that Mary kept in her heart?
Why did the parents observe the law of circumcision and presentation of the Child to the Lord?
What does the fact that they brought an offering of turtledoves or pigeons suggest?
What is meant by the consolation of Israel?
Who was Simeon?
What had the Holy Spirit revealed to him?
What did the Holy Spirit reveal about the Child in the words spoken by Simeon?
In what way was He set for the falling and rising of many?
What is the sign that is spoken against?
What is the sword that pierced Mary’s heart?
Who was Anna?
What did she say about Jesus?
For what possible reason did Luke omit the account of the journey to Egypt?
What was the passover?
What was the custom of observing it in the days of Joseph?
What had the Lord promised the men of Israel who left their homes unguarded on these feast days?
Why, then, did the destruction of Jerusalem occur during their feast?
Why would Mary and Joseph suppose that Jesus was with the group when they started home?
Did they blame Jesus or themselves?
How explain Jesus-’ questions and answers before the teachers?
What lesson is there for parents in the experience of Mary and Joseph when Jesus was twelve years old?
What lesson for children?
Luke 2:1-21
**Butler’s Comments
SECTION 1
Portents (Luke 2:1-21)**
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all 2 the world should be enrolled. 2This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. 7And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10And the angel said to them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; 11for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. 16And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; 18and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
**Luke 2:1-7 Swaddling Cloths: **A little under six months passes between Chapter s 1 and 2 of Luke’s record. Mary returned to her home in Nazareth after visiting with Elizabeth about 3 months (Luke 1:56). About six months later Mary’s time for delivering her first born arrives. Micah the prophet (Luke 5:2) had predicted the Messiah’s birth would be in Bethlehem of Judea, but Mary was at her home in Nazareth of Galilee80 or 90 miles apart. God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. Caesar Augustus, emperor of the Roman Empire, made a decree for a world-wide census to be taken. This census evidently required Jews to travel to the hometown of their tribal ancestors; probably because genealogical records and property titles were kept there. Bethlehem was the city of Joseph’s ancestors since he was from the lineage of David, (see Rth 1:10; Rth 2:4; 1 Samuel 16:1-4; 1 Samuel 17:58, etc.).
Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius, Sept. 23, 63 B.C.) had been adopted by his great-uncle, Julius Caesar, as his heir. Octavian’s grandmother, Julia, was the younger sister of Julius Caesar. When his uncle Julius was assassinated, March 15, 44 B.C., Octavian was a young man of 19. By skillful political manipulation of friends and family in high places he was able to become one of the three most powerful men in the empire. At the battle of Actium, Sept. 2, 31 B.C., Octavian defeated Mark Antony his only remaining rival to complete political control of the empire. Octavian pretended at first that he wished the republican form of government to be restored. He kept certain formalities of the republic outwardly and at first declined the titles rex (king) and dictator. By adoption he had the famous name Caesar and after his victory over Antony the Roman Senate declared him Augustus. He soon consolidated all the power of rule into his hands and became in fact, Emperor, He reigned until his death in A.D. 14. Augustus married Livia Drusilla in 38 B.C. She had previously been married to her cousin Tiberius Claudius Nero but Augustus compelled her to divorce her husband and marry him. She and Augustus had no children but Livia had a son, Tiberius, by her first husband. Livia was noted for her beauty and powerful political influenceeven over Augustus. Some historians believe Livia poisoned her emperor-husband so that her son, Tiberius, could become emperor.
The reign of Augustus, and especially the census mentioned by Luke is one of the critical points relating to the historical accuracy of this Gospel. If Luke is inaccurate about this census in the reign of Augustus, then his entire record is suspect. For a long time enemies of the Bible pointed to this enrollment as an example of its inaccuracies, for there were no Roman records to substantiate Luke’s claim that a worldwide census took place in the days of Augustus. However, Sir William Ramsay (and others) investigated and found that Clement of Alexandria (200-300 A.D.) made reference to such a system of enrollment in the Roman empire. Recent archaeological discoveries have remarkably confirmed and illuminated Luke’s record, attesting his reliability in detail: (1) a number of papyrus documents have been discovered showing that a census was made every 14 years and also pointing back to one taken about 9-6 B.C. Josephus shows that these enrollments (one in 6 A.D. specifically) often caused rebellious uprisings in Palestine and that Jewish rulers often delayed carrying out these orders of Rome as long as they could in order to placate the people. The census ordered 9-6 B.C. in Syria was undoubtedly delayed by Herod in Palestine until 5-4 B.C. and so Luke’s accuracy is verified, (2) early historical records seemed to show that Quirinius (Cyrenius) was governor of Syria in 6 A.D., 10 years too late for the birth of Christ. However, an inscription was found in Rome in 1828 by archaeologists indicating that Quirinius was also governor in Syria in 10-7 B.C. Ramsay found a monument in Asia Minor which confirmed the discovery in Rome, so Quirinius was twice governor in Syria and he was occupying this office when Augustus ordered the first enrollment, which is exactly what Luke says, (3) and last, historians found an edict made in 104 A.D. by the governor of Egypt (which was under the Roman rule just like Palestine) which showed that at the time of the census people were to return to their ancestral homes. Luke’s gospel record is accurate in minute detail! The critics are wrong!
G. Campbell Morgan focuses on the apparent insignificance of these two peasants, Joseph and Mary, down in a remote and despised corner of the Roman Empire bending their necks to the decree of the great and powerful Augustus. Two individuals amid the massed millions of the Roman world, as unknown to Caesar as you and I to the rich, powerful and famous today. But things are oftentimes not what they seem. Look at this scene from God’s perspective through Luke’s record. Look at Maryher womb is the residence of the Son of God as she travels. Look at the edict of Augustuswas it really the only sovereign edict being fulfilled? Almost 700 years before Augustus, the sovereign Creator decreed that His Son would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Morgan writes, When I read that (prophecy), uttered six hundred and fifty years before these events, I see that the really insignificant person in the drama is the little puppet in the city on the seven hills, called Caesar Augustus; and the significant personalities are the woman in whose womb tabernacles the Son of God, and the man who is guarding her.
While in Bethlehem, Mary delivered the Child conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit and she wrapped Him in swaddling cloths. Swaddling is from the Hebrew word chethullah and the Greek word sparganoo. These are bands of cloth in which new born babies were wrapped (cf. Ezekiel 16:4; Job 38:9; Ezekiel 30:21bandages). The child was placed diagonally on a square piece of cloth which was folded over the infant’s feet and sides. Around this bundle swaddling bands were wound. The idea that the word sparganoo means rags is without foundation.
The Greek word for hotel (as we think of it) is pandocheion, but that is not the word Luke uses for inn. That word is kataluma which was merely an enclosure, just walls into which travellers might drive their cattle for the night, and in which sometimes there were apartments where the travellers themselves might rest; but no traveller could obtain food there. There was water, always water, but no food, no host, no entertainment. There was no room even there for Mary and Joseph. So Jesus was literally born in some shed or lean-to where only cattle were tethered. His crib was a phatne (manger), a feeding-trough for animals. What humiliating pathos! The Lord of All That Is, born in a smelly, insect-infested barn!
Someone has observed that most of us have inherited a Christmas story purged of some of its uglies and transformed and beautified by the Christian traditions surrounding it rather than having seen it according to the facts. Note the following:
a.
A poor, pregnant, unmarried (virgin) woman of Nazareth
b.
rode and/or walked 60-70 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem while in the last stages of pregnancy;
c.
had her baby delivered in a smelly, unsanitary barn
d.
without doctors, anesthesia, nurses or midwives; in fact, with only her husband present.
e.
There was no baked-turkey and dressing, carols, tinsel, or family reunion at this first Christmas.
f.
First visitors were rough, smelly shepherds who had been out in the fields for weeks with their flocks.
g.
Forty days later an old man in the Temple predicted dark, ominous words about the baby.
Our tendency at Christmas time is to take away all these uglies so believing in Christmas becomes the easist thing in the world. All that is asked is that we accept a beautiful and touching story as it is presented in carols, nativity dolls, and pageants. It is easy for most of the world to get misty-eyed over a sweet little baby surrounded by so much glitter. Everyone sees himself as a believer at Christmas time. Perhaps the real Christmas event was filled with uglies just so serious-minded men would have to grapple with it and agonize over itand in the very process of that grappling have their faith tested, exercised, strung taut, and made strong.
The question always arises, When was Jesus bornwhat day is really Christmas? In the first place, Christmas (the birth of Christ) apparently was not celebrated by the first century church. There is no record in the N.T. of Christians making the birth of Christ a special day of worship or celebration. About the earliest Christian celebration of Christmas is the order of Bishop Liberius of Rome in 354 A.D. that December 25th should be celebrated as Christ’s birthday. It is, of course, impossible to determine the precise day of Jesus-’ birth. The exact date is not essential to any man’s salvation. (See Romans 14:1-23; Colossians 2:16-23.) However, with all the data available, it may be said with historical accuracy that Jesus was born sometime between December, 5 B.C. and January, 4 B.C. The birth dates of some moderns cannot be determined as accurately! The chart on the next page summarizes the cumulative historical data upon which we base our conclusion. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons, (Galatians 4:4-5).
Luke 2:8-14 Seraphim: Actually the Hebrew word seraphim is found only once in the Bible (Isaiah 6:2 ff). The Greek word used by Luke here is aggelos, transliterated angel, meaning literally, messenger. Angels are created beings, essentially spiritual and invisible, given powers that transcend the natural order of creation, and sometimes they are sent by the Creator in forms visible to men to carry the Creator’s messages. Angels have intellectual and moral capacities. Some chose at one time or another to disobey their Creator’s will and were cast out of His presence (cf. 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6). Although angels are said to continue to minister to the saved (Hebrews 1:4), God does not now speak to men through angels (Galatians 1:8-12; Hebrews 1:1-4; Acts 9:5) as to what to do to be saved. (See the author’s Special Study on angels in Daniel, pg. 386-403, pub. College Press.)
An angel prophesied the conception and birth of Christ; an angel named Him, Jesus; angels heralded His birth to shepherds; angels directed Joseph about the Child’s safety; angels ministered to Christ after His temptation; an angel strengthened Christ after His agony in Gethsemane; angels were witnesses and messengers of His resurrection; angels attended Him at His ascension; and angels will attend Him at His Second Coming. After the angel’s message was delivered to the shepherds, there appeared suddenly a plethos stratias ouraniou, that is, a multitudinous army from heaven. The Greek word stratias is translated host and is related to the word stratiotes which is translated soldier in Matthew 8:9; Matthew 27:27, etc. The Hebrew for heavenly host is tzeva hashamayim and denotes sometimes stars (Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 17:3, etc.) and sometimes angels (1 Kings 22:19; 2 Chronicles 18:18; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalms 103:21, etc.). God’s word does not tell us how many angels exist. Jesus said he could call for more than twelve legions to aid Him (Matthew 26:53) and a Roman army legion contained approximately 6000 men. John saw (muriades muriadon) myriads of myriads of angels and other beings around the throne of God (Revelation 5:11). We do not know how many heavenly beings appeared with the angel to the shepherds. Luke uses the word plethos which simply means a multitude.
The glory (doxa) of the Creator, in one degree or another, usually accompanied angels when they appeared to men. This glory often caused men to be overcome with fear (cf. Isaiah 6:1 ff; Daniel 10:2-21; Revelation 22:8-9). When the glory of the Lord surrounded these shepherds they feared a great fear (ephobethesan phobon megan). This glorious creature from heaven did not hover over the shepherds, but came near and stood right by them (epeste autois). God announced other births by angelic messengers but only the birth of His Son was praised by the angelic army. The point of the angelic appearance to the shepherds does not have to do with the glory or the number of the angels themselves, but the glory of the One whose birth they announce and praise. Glory in Hebrew means heavy, or abundance.
Angels were sometimes messengers of bad news and sometimes messengers of good news. This angel had a message (euaggelizomai) of good news; the same Greek word is also translated evangelize. To evangelize is simply to announce with compassion and persuasion the good news concerning Christ and let men decide their own response. The angel’s announcement is the gospel in miniature: (1) to man is born the Anointed Savior (atonement); (2) He is Lord (incarnation); (3) joy to all people (reconciliation).
Why did God send His messenger to shepherds? Why not tell the theologians and politicians first about the birth of the Messiah? Most of the theologians and politicians would be emotionally, intellectually and morally opposed to such a Messiah. No amount of supernatural signs and angelic announcements would bring Herod or the Pharisees to a cattle-shed to worship a baby whose crib was a cattle-trough! These shepherds had learned from the hard and humble life they lived to guard against the pride and arrogance that causes men to deny reality. When they were visited by an angel and an army of heavenly beings, they were honest-minded enough to realize God had spoken and they should respond with obedience to the divine message.
The shepherds were told how to recognize the Anointed BabyHe would be newly-born (wrapped in swaddling), His birthplace would be an animal-stall and His crib a manger. This would be unique! How many newly-born babies in Bethlehem would be lying in an animal feed-trough? This sign was not to convince the shepherds of the deity of the Babyit was simply a sign by which they might find the one baby out of all the others that might be in Bethlehem that night. The appearance of the angel and the acclamation of the heavenly host proved the supernatural character of the Child. The heavenly host praised God. The Greek phrase is, ainounton ton teon kai legonton. The verb ainounton is related to the noun ainos which means primarily a tale, narration, spoken praise. The word legonton is from lego which means, to speak, to say. We usually think of the heavenly host singing praise to God here, but this was definitely a verse choir. There are three Greek words which mean to praise God through singing (ado, psallo, humano) but none of these words are used by Luke here. Perhaps, as with so much modern church music, the impact of the message the host spoke might have been lost had it been submilated to the tune and the rhythm, so the heavenly host was really a verse choir. A dramatic technique known as choral speaking was employed by the Greeks hundreds of years before Christ. It is sometimes referred to as choric reading or verse choir and when such a group stood and spoke as one compelling voice, with shades of meaning and color that not even music commanded, its audience was totally captured!
The host said: Glory in the highest places to God, and upon earth, peace in men of good will. The KJV translates, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. The earliest and best Greek manuscripts indicate the former rendering to be more accurate. The peace of God is promised to men through their good-willed response to The Savior. Robertson translates the phrase, among men in whom He is well pleased. The will of man must be good in its relationship to God’s will if man expects to have true peace. The angelic message has been saturated with a mushy humanism proclaimed profusely once a year in Christmas cards and songs: If there is good will among men on earth, there will be peace. Humanism refuses to accept the truth that there can be true good will from man to man only when men are first good-willed toward God.
Luke 2:15-21 Shepherds: The angel and the host returned to heaven. The shepherds decided among themselves to go to Bethlehem to verify the announcement of the angels. Bethlehem, the town where the Bread of Life came to earth, is a Hebrew name meaning House of bread. The English versions represent the shepherds as saying, Let us go see the thing... The word translated thing is rhema in Greek and literally means, word. The shepherds said, Let us go see the word … All they had so far was the angel’s word that a Savior had been born. They quickly decided they would all go see if these words had really happened! They hurried (speusantes, hastening) to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and the baby wrapped in swaddling lying in a feed-trough, just as the angel had said. They told Mary and Joseph about the angel standing by their side, the message he gave them about the Child, the message of the heavenly verse choir and their hurried and excited trip to Bethlehem to find them. These shepherds were so impressed with the literal, physical encounter they had with the supernatural and with its meaning concerning the Child in Bethlehem, they told everyone they met about it all. Those who heard the story of the shepherds marveled (ethaumasan) but apparently were not interested enough themselves to go to the inn and see the Child. At least Luke does not record any other visitors to the Bethlehem cattle-shed. Perhaps the shepherd’s story seemed rather far-fetched to everyone who heard it. After alla Savior and Lord born in a cattle-shed?!
Mary did not go about telling all the wonderful, supernatural things she knew about her baby boy. She hid them in her heart (suneterei means an intense, protective keeping), and set each event and thing she knew about Him side by side in her mind so she could compare (sumballousa, ponder) one with the other. While a number of people were given momentary glimpses of the wonderful nature of the Child, Mary gathered all the glimpses comparing them and keeping her thoughts about them all to herself. Any other course of action would most certainly have endangered the life of Jesus long before the time God had appointed for Him to begin His public ministry. Apparently, Mary was also aware of the danger to her baby boy should she make a determined effort to publicize all the things she knew about Him.
The shepherds returned to their flocks speaking praises (ainountes) to God for the supernatural, heavenly things they had seen and heard. Eight days later, Mary and Joseph performed the God-ordained rite of circumcision on the baby Jesus (see comments on Luke 1:59). Circumcision took place in the home where the baby was born. It was at this time the Hebrew child was given a name. Mary’s Child had already been given a name from heaven (Matthew 1:21), Jesus, or Yeshua in Hebrew, which means, The Lord Saves.
STUDY STIMULATORS:
What was the most significant event that occurred in the reign of Caesar Augustus? Are there things happening right now known only by Christians which are more important than headline news events? What are they?
Can Luke’s historical accuracy be verified or must we accept the accusations of destructive critics that we can now know almost nothing concerning the life and personality of Jesus?
What do you think and feel when you learn that the Lord of Glory was born in a barn?
Do you think all the importance placed on Christmas coincides with what the N.T. teaches about observing it? What does the N.T. teach about it?
Can you suggest ways Christians might enter more into the spirit of Christmas than is currently done?
When was Christ born? Does it make any difference?
What is an angel? Would you know one if you saw it?
God’s choice of shepherds to receive the angel and the heavenly host is not the way man would have announced to the world the birth of God in the flesh. How would man have done it? Why didn-’t God do it that way?
Why doesn-’t the Christmas cliche, Peace on earth, good will toward men, carry through in other seasons of the year?
Would you have kept all these wonderful things about the baby Jesus secretly in your heart as Mary did, had you been Mary or Joseph?
Applebury’s Comments
The Birth of Jesus Scripture
Luke 2:1-21 Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrolment made when Quinrinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to enroll themselves, every one to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. 6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: 11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying.
14
Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.
15
And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.
*Comments
a decree from Caesar.*By order of the Roman Emperor all the people of the world who came under his authority were to be enrolled. It was a combined census and assessment with taxation as an important part of it.
Augustus reigned from 30 B. C. to 14 A. D. Historians point out that his reign was characterized by peace that extended to almost all parts of the world. But the most significant event that occurred during his reign, which was little noticed by the Romans at the time, was the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Luke shows himself as a reliable historian reporting two of the most important events of the first century, the life of Christ and the history of His church.
*to the city of David.*The decree required each man to go to the city of his own family. In Joseph’s case, it was necessary to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, for he was of the house and family of David.
The prophecy of Micah who lived some 700 years before the birth of Christ says that He was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:5-6). Now the kingdom of Rome was only in its infancy when Micah prophesied. How could Micah foresee the day when the mighty Caesar would be able to issue a decree that would cause Joseph to leave his home in Nazareth and with Mary his wife go to Bethlehem that her child might be born in the city of David? The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet!
Joseph was fully aware of the responsibility he had assumed under the direction of the Lord (Matthew 1:20-25). He took Mary with him because he was aware of the nearness of the birth of the Child.
*her firstborn son.*Jesus was the first child born to Mary. Firstborn does not necessarily imply that she gave birth to other children, but Matthew’s statement about the relation of Joseph and Mary after the birth of Jesus does indicate clearly that they had other children. The names of Jesus-’ brothers are given in Matthew 13:55-56. His sisters are referred to in the same passage. Paul mentions James the Lord’s brother whom he visited in Jerusalem (Galatians 1:19).
*and laid him in a manger.*In simple language, Luke related the humble circumstances of the birth of the Savior. There was no room for them in the inn. The crowded condition of the city at the time of the enrollment made it necessary for Joseph to find quarters wherever possible. The fact that there was no place in the inn for them does not suggest that Bethlehem was rejecting the Christ. They who were His own people did later by deliberate action reject Him before Pilate and cry out for Him to be crucified. God held them accountable for that terrible deed (Acts 2:22-24), but not for any discourtesy which some assume was shown by the innkeeper to Mary and Joseph.
*shepherds in the same country.*Humble shepherds were the first to hear about the birth of the Savior. But later, as Matthew relates, wise men came to see the new-born King and to worship Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and murrh.
*an angel of the Lord.*Angels announced the birth of the Lord to the shepherds. They ministered to Him after the temptation and in the Garden of Gethsemane. They were present at His resurrection and ascension. They will be with Him when He comes again. They are ministering spirits sent forth to do service for the sake of them who shall inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14), but they were never permitted to tell a sinner what to do to be saved. That message must be told by men.
*I bring you good tidings.*The good news about the Savior is still the most thrilling message that can be given to the lost sinner. Luke is careful throughout his story of Jesus to set Him forth in His wonderful role as Savior.
*Christ the Lord.*Christ or Messiah refers to His office as prophet, priest, and king. What does Lord mean? On the Day of Pentecost, Peter declared that God had made His both Lord and Christ, that is, this Jesus whom they had crucified and whom God had raised from the dead. Jews had long been used to pronouncing the word Lord when they read the word Jehovah (more properly YAHVEH) in the Old Testament Scriptures. When the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek about 250 B. C., this Hebrew word Yahveh was translated Lord. Jews were familiar with that translation in the days of Jesus and the apostles. When they heard Peter say that Jesus is Lord, they must have understood him to say that Jesus is the eternal living God. Luke has presented evidence of His deity in the facts about His birth and does not hesitate to tell Theophilus that He is the Son of God as well as the Son of Man. His authority is upheld in the word Christ for He is not only prophet, and priest, but also KING.
*the sign unto you.*The angel gave the shepherds the sign which they could investigate and know that the child they found in the manger was the Christ.
*on earth peace.*This is not merely the cessation of wars among men. It refers primarily to the peace that should exist between men and God, for sinful man in reality is at war with God. Peace may be had only by accepting the terms dictated by the Prince of Peace. See Acts 10:36; Acts 11:18; Acts 2:36-39. Peace is possible through the blood of Christ. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Much more then, being justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him. For it, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life (Romans 5:9-10). Enmity was destroyed and peace made possible at the cross (Ephesians 2:15-16). God’s peace that passes understanding guards the hearts and thoughts of those who have been reconciled to Him through Christ (Philippians 4:6-7). And this becomes the real foundation upon which peace between men on earth can be built (Isaiah 2:2-4).
*men in whom he is well pleased.*Commentators differ as to the meaning and rendering of this text. It probably should be rendered, men of good will, But what does that mean? To say that it means men who are well disposed toward one another is to ignore the fact that the angels spoke of God’s favor toward men in sending them the Savior, Christ the Lord. God is well disposed toward men, for although all have sinned and have fallen short of His approval He has provided the means of blotting out their sins and reconciling them to Himself. This in no way implies that He was pleased with their sins, but He was pleased to grant to them an opportunity to repent (Acts 11:18).
*and the babe lying in a manger.*The shepherds went to Bethlehem on the day of His birth and found the babe lying in a manger. But when the wise men arrived in Bethlehem they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother (Matthew 1:11). This suggests that their visit was at a later date and that Joseph had found a house for his family, for they were no longer in the temporary quarters which they occupied when there was no place for them in the inn.
*Mary kept all these things.*The memories of Mary the mother of Jesus were filled with those things about Him. She remembered the words of the angel as he told of the Child who was to be born. At the time she thought about the meaning of the heavenly message. And when the shepherds came telling her of the angel who spoke of the birth of the Savior who is Christ the Lord, Mary kept these things in her heart pondering their significance. And the words He spoke to her when He was twelve years old were also added to the memories she had kept in her heart. In all probability she did not fully understand them until that day when she stood at the foot of His cross and heard Him say, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. At least, we know that she was with that little company of believers after the resurrection of Christ (Acts 1:14).
Did Luke learn of Mary’s memories from her? He does not say. He could haveassuming that she was still alive when he was checking every detail of this gospel story. They could have been given to him directly by the Holy Spirit.
*when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him.*Circumcision was given originally to Abraham and later to the Jews (John 7:22). Since Jesus was born under the law, His parents complied with its requirements.
*His name was called JESUS.*Both Mary and Joseph had been informed that they were to call His name JESUS. There was no problem about it as there had been with the relatives when John was named.
Luke 2:22-38
**Butler’s Comments
SECTION 2
Prophecies (Luke 2:22-38)**
22 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 that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord) 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, 28he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
30for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
31 which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; 34and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against
35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, 37and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 2:22-24 Homage: For forty days after childbirth, a Hebrew mother was considered ceremonially unclean by the Law of Moses (Leviticus 12:1-8). The regulation was for hygienic reasons to start with. If the mother and child are isolated from everyone else (as those who were ceremonially unclean must be) for forty days the chances for survival are greatly increased. This regulation had nothing to do with making the mother sinful because she had given birth. The really fundamental purpose of all the Levitical laws of ceremonial purification was to develop the sensitivity of the human being to his sinfulness and God’s holiness and to also develop the habit of obedience to the laws of God whether man understood them or agreed with them or not. When a Hebrew became ceremonially unclean he was unable to worship God or have fellowship with God’s covenant people until he purified himself according to the rituals of the Law. This emphasized to him the necessity for the grace of God in providing a way for him to be restored to covenant relationship. For Mary to be declared ceremonially clean again, she was required to offer to the priest for sacrifice a lamb and a young pigeon. If she were poor she could offer two pigeons or two turtledoves (costing about sixteen cents). So, about the first week in February, Mary, with her husband Joseph, traveled the five or six miles from Bethlehem to Jerusalem and presented herself with two turtledoves to receive cleansing from the priest.
The Law of Moses also required that each first-born male, animal or child, must be set apart or called holy to the Lord. The Hebrew word -avar (Exodus 13:12) means literally, to pass over. The first-born were also to be Redeemed (Heb. padah), that is, a ransom payment had to be made to the temple of five shekels (about $5.00 now) (Numbers 18:15-16). Redeeming the firstborn was (1) a memorial to Israel’s redemption from Egypt; (2) and a response and repayment to God for sparing the firstborn of Israel in Egypt (see comments by Wilbur Fields, Exodus, pgs. 277-284, College Press). Christians are all called first-born in Hebrews 12:23, thus all Christians are redeemed and set apart unto the Lord.
The word homage means to honor with submission and obedience. This is exactly what Mary and Joseph were doing when they took the baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to observe these two laws of the Old Testament. They were devout and God-fearing people. Besides, this Child was special. They both knew He had some kind of uniquely divine mission. He must be set apart unto the Lord according to the Lord’s revealed will. They would do all in their power to dedicate Him to Jehovah’s service. It was predicted that the Messiah would be obedient to the Law of Jehovah (cf. Psalms 45:6-7; Hebrews 1:8-9; Isaiah 50:4-9; Philippians 2:5-7; Galatians 4:4). Although the Messiah was the Incarnate God and the One who was the Lawgiver Himself, He humbly observed His own law (cf. Matthew 17:24-27; Hebrews 5:7-9).
**Luke 2:25-35 Heraldry: **Simeon, or Shime-on in Hebrew, is from the word shama-’ which means to hear, to obey. He was righteous and devout, filled with faith and hope that he would see the Messiah because the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that before he died he would see the consolation of Israel. Consolation in Greek is paraklesin from the word which may also be translated comforter. Comfort, consolation in Hebrew is menuchach (from the root nacham) from which also the proper names Nahum, Menahem, and Menachem are formed. This is the Hebrew word used in many messianic passages of the Old Testament (cf. Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 51:3; Isaiah 52:9; Isaiah 54:11; Isaiah 61:2; Isaiah 66:13; Jeremiah 31:13). Simeon, the obedient, was obeying the prophecies of God’s Old Testament and the revelation he had from the Holy Spirit. He was eagerly looking (every day) for the Christ (kristos, anointed) of the Lord. The Messiah is called mashiyach, anointed in Daniel 9:26. The aged Simeon was directed by the Holy Spirit to go to the Temple and when Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus arrived there, he was guided by the Spirit to take Mary’s baby into his arms and pronounce what is called the Nunc Dimittis (Latin for, Now dismiss.)
Simeon’s righteous and devout character is manifested by his attitude toward the Lord. His salutation, Lord, is despota in Greek and is the word from which we get despot in English; he accepted the Lord as the absolute sovereign of his life. Simeon referred to himself as doulon, or slave, absolute servant. Simeon had been promised by the Holy Spirit that when he saw the Anointed One (the Messiah), he would be loosed from (apolueis, Greek) this life. Simeon had been told that he would be the Lord’s bond-slave in this life until the coming of the Anointed One. This Christ, whom Simeon would live to see with his own eyes, would be not only the Consoler of Israel, He would also be the Light to those who sat is darkness (the Gentiles). This Christ would bring salvation to the whole world. Now Simeon is ready to be released from this life, apparently looking forward to peace and glory in the next life because God’s Anointed One has come, Simeon’s phraseology echoes the prophecy of Isa 61:1-2 (cf. Luke 4:16-19). There the Messiah is predicted as coming to usher in the Jubilee of God when all the slaves will be set free (see our comments, Isaiah, Vol. III, pgs. 410-411, College Press). Simeon has come to his own Jubilee and now asks permission from his Master to be set free. Paul was anxious to leave this life and be with the Lord in the next life (cf. Philippians 1:19-26; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10), and so should we. But we must also be ready and willing to serve the Lord here in this world so long as He provides us the life to do so. If we do so devoutly, obediently and faithfully, we will someday be released and hear the trumpet signal our own Jubilee. Simeon announced that the Babe in his arms was Savior of the whole world. He was the Revelation (apokalupsin in Greek; the word from which we get the English, apocalypse) to the Gentiles. The Gentiles had tried to discover God in their philosophies and other cultural disciplines (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31), but man cannot discover GodGod reveals Himself to man, in order that no man should boast! That is just as true today as it was then. God has chosen to reveal Himself in Nature and in His Word (for the purpose of salvation, in His Son alone). If any man wishes to know God in a saving relationship, he must know His Son through the agency of His Spirit, in the Bible!
Simeon was a herald of bad news too. While Joseph and Mary were caught up in a reverie contemplating the marvelous things said about this Baby, the old man brought a sudden chill upon the mother’s heart with a prediction of the dark clouds of persecution and suffering that would characterize this Child’s life. It would all end in a soul-piercing tragedy for the mother. The shadow of the cross fell across the life of this Child even before He was born. Isaiah the prophet indicated in no uncertain terms that the Messiah-Servant of God would suffer and die (and be raised from the dead) (cf. Isaiah 52:13 -Isaiah 53:12). Daniel, too, had predicted that the Anointed Prince of God would be cut off (cf. Daniel 9:24-27).
The Temple courts were always crowded with worshipers, sight-seers and priests. How many were within hearing of the aged Simeon we are not told. Those who would have believed his predictions about the Baby Jesus would have been very few, if any! Most Jews (even including Jesus-’ apostles) stumbled over any prediction that their Messiah would be of such humble origins or suffer such an ignominious death. Mary could hardly be expected to comprehend the full impact of these words then. But the day would come (33 years later) when the terrible reality of Simeon’s predictions would stab her heart as she saw her first-born nailed to a cross.
The phrase … set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against.. echoes the prophecies of the Psalmist and Isaiah concerning the despising and rejection of the Messiah (Isaiah 53:1-12; Psalms 22:1-18, etc.). It was also predicted that the Messiah would become a stumbling block over which many in Israel would fall (cf. Isaiah 8:14; Psalms 118:22; Luke 20:18; Romans 9:32-33; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 1 Peter 2:8, etc.), and The Cornerstone upon which many true Israelites (Christians) would build (Isaiah 28:16; 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Corinthians 3:11, etc.). All of the good and bad to come to and through this Child was in order … that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. The Incarnation (God coming in flesh in Christ), the Atoning Death and the Resurrection was witnessed historically by some, believed by many, and has brought millions to a mental and emotional confrontation with the reality of God. It has caused multitudes to repent and come into saving, regenerating fellowship with God through the completed work of Christ. What people think of Christ reveals the true thoughts of their hearts! Men in rebellion against the Creator take a relativistic, self-centered attitude toward everything. Once men are confronted with the historical Christ and His Absolute Deity, they are compelled to make a decision. They must either deny His historicity and lordship (which would reveal intellectual and moral dishonesty of heart) or they must accept both (which is repentance and salvation). Confronted with the truth of Christ, men cannot hide from God, from themselves or from others.
Luke 2:36-38 Hope: Another aged Israelite who had maintained hope that God would send His Messiah as He promised was Anna daughter of Phanuel (which means face of God), a prophetess. After a marriage of seven years she had lived in widowhood eighty-four years. If she married at 15 she would have been 106 years old and born about 110 B.C. Julius Caesar was born about 100 B.C. Anna had lived through the declining years of the Maccabean rule of Israel which brought relative freedom for the Jews for the first time in over 200 years since the days of Ezra and Nehemiah; she grew up in the days when Alexander Jannaeus (once pelted by his own people with rotten fruit and vegetables) was king and high priest; she lived when a woman, Alexandra, the widow of Alexander Jannaeus, ruled Palestine; she would have been about 40 years old when the illustrious Roman general, Pompey, conquered the mid-East for the Roman empire; she saw the Romans appoint the hated Idumeans (Edomites) of the Herodian family rulers of Palestine; during all this she saw the development of two strong religious factions (Pharisees and Sadducees) and two antagonistic political parties (Herodians and Zealots) within her own people. These factions with their legalisms on one hand and libertinisms on the other plus political compromise versus political fanaticism caused many of the common people, oppressed by heavy taxation and religious legalism, to wish for messianic redemption. It appears that this aged saint never missed a service in the Temple night and day! Coming into the Temple at the very time Simeon was heralding the birth of the Messiah, she gave thanks to God and kept on speaking (elalei, Greek imperfect tense) to all who were looking for the redemption of Israel.
After these experiences in the Temple in early February, Mary and Joseph returned to Bethlehem with the Baby. They were lodging in a house when the wise men from the East came and presented their gifts and worshiped Him (Matthew 2:1-12). The wise men had stopped in Jerusalem to ask about the birth of the king of the Jews. The cruel and crafty Herod sent them to Bethlehem hoping they would find Jesus so he might kill Him. The wise men returned to their homes in the East without reporting to Herod the whereabouts of the Child. Immediately, an angel appeared to Jospeh and directed him to flee with the Child to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23). The trip to Egypt would be about 100 miles but Mary and Joseph fled there with Jesus. Back in Bethlehem Herod was having every baby two years old and under slain, hoping to eliminate this announced king of the Jews as a threat to his throne. When Herod died, an angel of the Lord spoke again to Joseph telling him it was safe to return to Israel, so they began their return. Hearing that a son of Herod (Archelaus) reigned over Judea, they did not return to Bethlehem or Jerusalem but went directly to Nazareth in Galilee their original home. Herod the Great died at the end of March or during the first few days of April, 4 B.C. Jesus was, therefore, about three or four months old when He was brought back to live in Nazareth.
STUDY STIMULATORS:
Why were women declared unclean for 40 days after childbirth?
What is involved in the dedication of the Hebrew child after 40 days?
How does that Hebrew ritual relate typically to the Christian experience?
What did Simeon mean by calling the baby Jesus, the consolation of Israel?
What did Simeon mean by calling God, despot?
If man cannot discover God, how is man to know God?
Why did Simeon tell Mary a sword would pierce her heart?
How does Christ reveal the thoughts of man’s hearts to them?
What had the aged prophetess Anna lived through in history that would cause her to wish for a Messiah?
After their presentation of Jesus in the Temple, where did Mary and Joseph reside with the Child?
Luke 2:22-40
Applebury’s Comments
Presenting the Child to the Lord Scripture
Luke 2:22-40 And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, 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 that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law, 28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29
Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord,
According to thy word, in peace;
30
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;
32
A light for revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of thy people Israel.
33
And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him; 34 and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against; 35 yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
*Comments
purification according to the law of Moses.*See Leviticus 12:1-8 for this law of purification. It was a ceremonial purification in connection with the birth of a child. It had nothing to do with so-called original sin. The reference to their cleansing does not suggest that Jesus had inherited the taint of Adams-’ sin. Adam’s sin did involve all of his descendants in physical death (Romans 5:1-21; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 7:1-25; Romans 8:1-39; Romans 9:1-33; Romans 10:1-21; Romans 11:1-36; Romans 12:1-21). But as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22).
*holy to the Lord.*All of the firstborn were to be dedicated to the Lord, because He had saved them from death during the plague in Egypt (Exodus 13:1-6). Later, the Lord took the tribe of Levi instead of the firstborn (Numbers 3:11-12). The law of redemption of the firstborn of man is given in Numbers 18:15.
*A pair of turtledoves.*The law provided for those who could not afford a lamb. They were allowed to take a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons and offer them as a burnt offering and as a sin offering (Leviticus 12:8). The fact that Mary and Joseph brought such an offering indicates something of their humble circumstances.
*the consolation of the Lord.*Israel had been waiting for the coming of Messiah for a long time. They needed someone to help them in their weakness, someone to console them in their sorrow; they needed someone to save them from their sins.
Simeon had been told that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ, for He is the consolation of Israel and the Savior of His people. The Holy Spirit who revealed this to him gave him the words he spoke to Mary and Joseph about the Child. He spoke of Him as salvation for the Lord’s people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel. Christ provided salvation for His people through His death on the cross. He gives light that reveals the way through the preaching of His Word even to Gentiles. He is the glorythe presence of Godto Israel.
*the falling and rising of many in Israel.*Christ was a stone of stumbling. Just as one might stumble over a protruding rock in his pathway, some stumbled over Christ. They were the ones who had their own idea about what Messiah should do for them: overcome the Roman bondage and restore their national dignity. But many who had fallen by the wayside because of sin were to be raised up and set on the highway of holiness and dignity in the sight of the Lord.
*sign that is spoken against.*Men ridiculed Jesus as He was dying on the cross, but the cross was a sign of God’s love for the world and His power to save the believer (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). His resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith (Romans 10:9-10). It is because the apostles preached the resurrection of the Lord that they were persecuted (Acts 4:1-4).
*a sword shall pierce through thine own soul.*These words refer to the cross and to the sorrow of Mary as she watched Him there (John 19:25). No other experience is mentioned in the Gospels that can fulfill this prophecy of her grief. What memories flooded her mind in that tragic hour! How her grief must have been intensified by them! But that sorrow was turned into gladness when she knew that He had been raised from the dead.
*looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.*The majority of the people were looking for someone to release them from Roman bondage. Some were looking for the Savior who would redeem them from the bondage to sin. This is what Christ came to do, but the Roman bondage continued until it reached its awful climax in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A. D.
*to their own city Nazareth.*Matthew says that they went back to Bethlehem and from Bethlehem they went to Egypt where they stayed until Herod was dead. Then they came back to Judea, but because Archelaus was ruling instead of his father, Joseph was warned in a dream to go to Galilee (Matthew 2:13-23). Both Luke and Matthew agree that they went to Nazareth, but Luke does not tell of the trip to Egypt, Luke usually gives these interesting sidelights, but in this case did not choose to do so.
At the Age of Twelve
Luke 2:39-52
**Butler’s Comments
SECTION 3
Puzzles (Luke 2:39-52)**
39 And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; 43and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44but supposing him to be in the company they went a day’s journey, and they sought him among their kinfolk and acquaintances; 45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; 47and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously. 49And he said to them, How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house? 50And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:39-40 Progress: Luke omits the trip to Egypt, since Matthew had duly recorded it, and follows the progress of the Divine Infant from His presentation in the Temple directly to His boyhood home in Nazareth. It was more important to Luke’s purpose to record certain information about the Baby’s boyhood. He uses some interesting Greek grammar to describe the first twelve years of Jesus-’ boyhood. The verbs grew and became strong are both in the imperfect tense which indicates continued development, or, action in progress. As a youngster Jesus grew gradually but continuously in physique and strength. The present passive participle pleroumenon (filled) may be translated literally, And the child. was being filled with wisdom. In other words, His learning was concurrent with His physical development. Hobbs aptly says, We should not be shocked by these statements about Jesus. They do not in any sense detract from His deity. Rather they emphasize His complete humanity. Apart from sin, He completely identified Himself with man. He grew, gained strength, and learned as did any other child. It is just as great an error to deny Jesus-’ humanity as to deny his deity.
Nazareth of Galilee was about 15 miles west and slightly south of the Sea of Galilee. Sepphoris, capital of Herod Antipas and the strongest military center in Galilee, was only five miles to the northwest. Many traders, soldiers, and emissaries of the Roman government were to be found in the stream of travelers going back and forth on this road. It was about fifteen miles to Tiberias, the city named in honor of the Roman emperor the Riviera of Palestine, and about as heathen as its namesake. Nazareth was nestled on the side of a Galilean hill in an area known for its fertility and beauty. It is estimated that some three million people lived in the surrounding cities and villages. The more learned and orthodox Jews of Jerusalem were contemptuous of Galileans considering them to be am-ha-eretz (Hebrew for people of the land) or ignorant hillbillies because of their colloquialisms, lack of formal education, cultural crudities, and questionable genealogical background. Most of the Galileans were, in fact, a genetic mixture of Jew and Gentile (a result of the importation of Gentiles into Galilee at the captivity of the Ten Northern Tribes by Assyria, see 2 Kings 17:24). They were a vigorous, homey, hard-working, liberty-loving people, however, and Jesus grew up in their midst. Jesus-’ hometown was located at the crossroads of commerce and politics. At the foot of Mt. Tabor (across the valley and only about 5 miles east of Nazareth) passed the Roman road, the Way of the Sea, connecting Damascus (capital of Syria) with Palestine’s sea-ports. Another road near Nazareth ran southward to Egypt. Circling round the eastern base of Mt. Tabor was the caravan route to Jerusalem. Perhaps Jesus spent some of His boyhood hours watching the travelers on these roads, maybe even talking to them. From such observations and daily experiences He later drew illustrations for His divine message. Jesus did not isolate Himself from life as it was lived by man when He was an adult and we may assume He did not do so in His youth.
Luke 2:41-50 Precociousness: The word precocious is from Latin, prae and coquere which means to ripen beforehand or exceptionally early in development. Jesus astounded the adult scholars in the temple and His mother and step-father later with His precocity.
In Luke 2:40 Luke calls Jesus paidion, little child; in Luke 2:43 he calls Him pais, boy or lad. Jesus is now twelve years of age. At that age all Jewish male children became barmitzvahs (bar means son and mitzvah means commandment). They were declared men and required to know the law and keep it, learn a trade, and attend the greatest of the Jewish festivals (Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles). This was probably Jesus-’ first visit to Jerusalem since being taken there as a baby for presentation.
What an exciting experience for a lad of twelve. The journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem would take about three or four days. They would come in large groups or caravans of Jewish pilgrims from all over the Roman empire headed toward the holy city. Jerusalem would be jammed with almost two million people, laughing, talking, buying, selling; sleeping on the flat roof-tops of the houses, in the alleys, in the animal shelters or anywhere safe lodging might be found. There would be the sights and smells of the temple court where thousands of animals poured out rivers of blood at sacrifice and the smell of burning flesh as the columns of black smoke floated to the sky. Family reunions with heated conversations of politics, economics and religion would permeate the city. We can imagine the wonder of it all to Jesus as He gathered with His family and listened as Joseph told the story of the Passover observance and the history of Israel. He would experience for the first time the roasted lamb and the bitter herbs (see comments on Luke 22:1 ff for more details on the Passover feast). As impressive as all this might have been to Him, Jesus was deeply interested in another aspect of the goings on in Jerusalemthe didaskalon (teachers).
After seven days the feast ended and Mary and Joseph began the journey back to Nazareth. At the end of the first day’s journey, when they stopped for the night, they realized Jesus was not with the caravan. How could they have missed Him all day? In such caravans the men and women usually traveled separately. A boy who has become barmitzvah should be capable of caring for himself during a day’s travel. Mary probably presumed He was with Joseph and Joseph thought He was with Mary. But Jesus, fascinated by the aged scribes and teachers of the Law, and so immersed in listening and questioning about God’s Word, chose to be about His Father’s business rather than leave Jerusalem at that particular time. It is doubtful that Jesus forgot or made a mistake about the time of departure, for when chided by His mother, He indicated His actions were deliberately chosen and exercised. One day traveling from Jerusalem; one day traveling back; and one day looking throughout the city for Him; after three days absence they found Him in the temple courts (kathezomenon) sitting down at the feet of the teachers. The twelve-year-old Jesus was hearing, questioning and answering the teachers. The word eperotonta is an intensified form of a Greek word (questioning) suggesting that the one asking is on a footing of equality with the person whom he is questioning. It is the word used of a king in making request from another king, (Luke 14:32). Jesus always uses this word in making request to His Father. The usual reaction of learned men toward a precocious lad would be at best amusement, if not scorn. Here they cannot conceal their amazement. Luke uses the Greek word sunesei to describe His understanding answers to the questions of the teachers. The word means to join the skills of perception to that which is perceived. At twelve Jesus had a grasp and comprehension beyond anything these teachers had ever seen. Mary and Joseph were also astonished when they found Him amazing the scholars.
Mary uses tenderness to rebuke Jesus. Teknon is a Greek word for child but it is different from the word huios (son) in that teknon emphasizes the special mother-child relationship of birth. Mothers always think of their children as their babies. Yet, there was probably a chiding note in Mary’s voice too. Literally translated, Mary said, Child, why did you to us thus? She also reminded Him of the sorrow (odunomenio pain) He had caused them when they thought they had lost Him.
Jesus-’ reply shows surprise that His parents did not understand His uniqueness. He implies they knew or should have known He had a special mission; that His life was not going to be that of an ordinary person of His age. He was surprised they were surprised that He would be more interested in discussing God’s Law than in returning to Nazareth. They already had many signs about Him. Jesus expected the Jews to recognize in Him a uniqueness not to be found in other people and was disturbed when they did not (cf. for example, Luke 24:25 ff).
The first recorded words from the lips of Jesus are these: Why is it that you sought me? Do you not know that in the things (affairs) of my Father it is necessary for me to be? The word house is not in the Greek text. For a twelve-year-old boy to say, I must be involved in the affairs of My Father is unique among all twelve-year-old boys. And, further, Jesus used here, as He always did, the definite article when speaking of God as His Father. He never used the definite article when speaking of God as the Father of anyone else. The Sonship of Jesus is uniquely different than that of any one else. John calls Jesus the monogenes (John 1:14; John 1:18; John 3:16). Monogenes is translated only begotten but means more precisely, only unique Son of God. We may become sons by being born again; He is Son from eternity.
Did Jesus disobey His parents when He stayed behind to question the teachers? Hobbs makes it plain that He did not: In the first place, there is no evidence that either Mary or Joseph had told Him not to remain behind in Jerusalem.. In the second place, the record does not show that they had told Him to come with them.. In the third place, as a -Son of the law-’ Jesus was responsible within Himself for His religious obligations.. If there was any error here, it was that of Mary and Joseph, not that of Jesus. The Bible makes it plain that children are to obey their parents in the Lord. In other words, submission to parental authority can never mean a child must disobey the Lord. The will of God, when plainly revealed, is sovereign in every human life. There is no higher authority than that, and every human being capable of making moral choices rejects it at the peril of eternal damnation.
**Luke 2:51 Pliancy: **Jesus returned to His village home with Mary and Joseph in Nazareth of Galilee. There He lived in obedience to them until He began His ministry at about the age of 30. The Greek word translated obedience is hupotassomenos and is usually translated subjection (Ephesians 5:21; Colossians 3:18). Hupotasso was primarily a military term meaning, to rank under; to subordinate. It is a term which stresses the chain of command relationship. G. Campbell Morgan says, … the perfect response of the Boy to the will of God meant for Him natural correspondence to ordinary conditions. Although Jesus was uniquely the Son of God, He was also son of Mary. It was God’s will that The Son should experience the full gamut of human subordination (cf. Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 5:7-9; Philippians 2:5-11). In obedience to the will of God, He subordinated His life to the authority of the home. As we pointed out before, His obedience to the home was qualified by His obedience to God’s authority whenever it was clearly revealed that it was proper to do so. This is evident also from two other parental confrontations (cf. John 2:4; Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21).
**Luke 2:52 Perfection: **The word increased is the Greek word proekopten and means literally, a striking or cutting forward, like a pioneer cutting his way through brush. Thayer says the word means to lengthen out by hammering as a smith forges metals. The word means to go forward chopping one’s way by struggle or strenuous activity. It certainly does not infer a passive development. Jesus-’ young manhood was a daily hammering out of His human life in the crucible of God’s will, Each day He chopped through the jungle of human experience, the divine Way, Truth and Life so that all who follow might find God. Jesus hacked out of the wilderness of human sinfulness a life of perfect sinlessness and walked completely in the will of God. He did so in boyhood, young manhood and adulthood. He did so mentally, physically and spiritually. He mastered all of life as He pioneered the Way in human flesh. The Greek preposition para (translated with) means, along side. Jesus did not start as a youngster with less favor and, growing up, become more and more a favorite with God and man. The preposition para indicates that as He cut his way forward each day He was constantly along side dwelling in the favor (grace) of God and man. The development of Jesus from Boyhood to Manhood was constantly along side or within the will of God and in proper relationship to man. This is manhood as God intends it for all men! Jesus demonstrated it is possible to live life in the flesh as God intended it. He suffered and experienced obedience to the will of God to bring us to the same glorious ideal manhood (cf. Hebrews 2:10-18; Hebrews 5:7-10). He is the pioneer and author of our salvation. Incidentally, the phrase and being made perfect, in Hebrews 5:9 does not mean Jesus was less than perfect in the area of obedience to God. He was sinless in His relationship to God and man always. The word teleiotheis (perfect) means in His case, that at His crucifixion and resurrection He brought to completion the will of God as far as His temporary human experience was concerned. In His human experience Jesus progressed or advanced in a forward manner toward a God-appointed goal. He was born as a baby, developed as a child, cut forward along side the grace of God as a young man, and completed the goal for which God sent Him at the cross and the empty tomb. Thus He perfected His incarnation.
STUDY STIMULATORS:
Do you think God had any specific purpose in Jesus-’ living His young manhood (about 30 years) in the village of Nazareth in Galilee?
What is a barmitzvah?
Should we expect children of 12 or 13 years of age today to be held accountable for obeying the commands of the N.T. about becoming a Christian and living the Christian life?
Did Jesus get lost in Jerusalem from childish inattention, or did He plan to stay and question the teachers in the temple?
Did He disobey His parents in staying in Jerusalem?
Did Jesus always do everything His parents thought He should do?
Was Jesus a little less than He should have been in relation to God and men as He grew up?
How did Jesus increase and become perfected?
Luke 2:41-52
Applebury’s Comments
Scripture
Luke 2:41-52 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; 44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: 45 and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him. 46 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions: 47 and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father’s house? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
*Comments
the feast of the passover.*This is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover when He passed over the firstborn in the houses of the people of Israel and did not slay them when all the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain. See Exodus 12:27. The law required the men of Israel to appear before the Lord three times a year; one of those times was at the passover. Exodus 34:22-24. The parents of Jesus observed this custom and every year went to Jerusalem for the passover feast.
God promised the people of Israel that their lands would be protected during these feasts when the men were away from home (Exodus 34:24). But it was at the passover time that the Romans besieged the city of Jerusalem and destroyed the temple and killed thousands of those who had gone there to worship according to that ancient custom. That awful retribution came upon them because they had forfeited their right to claim God’s protection; they had crucified His Son, and the Son had warned them in these words: Behold your house is left unto you desolate (Matthew 23:38).
supposing him to be in the company.Joseph had always exercised watchful care over Mary and the Child Jesus. There is no indication that he was negligent at this time. It was perfectly normal to suppose that Jesus was with the relatives and friends as the group made their way homeward. Mary seems to blame herself, for she said to Jesus, Your father and I sought for you, sorrowing. This is not a case of delinquent parents who never care for their children. Both Mary and Joseph knew that they could trust Jesus, for he was now twelve years old and had always been obedient to them.
The incident shows a brief glimpse of Him as the Son of God who was concerned about the things of His Father.
*all that heard him were amazed.*Not just a precocious twelve year old boy! We know that when He was mature all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge were hidden in Him (Colossians 2:3). We are inclined to look upon Him even at the age of twelve as the One who revealed the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:30). It must be admitted, however, that this reference alone would not necessarily indicate supernatural wisdom.
*he was subject to them.*The parents were obedient to the law of Moses and to the instruction of the Lord in caring for this Child who had been entrusted to them. Jesus was obedient to loving parents who had demonstrated before Him what it meant to obey.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and thy mother (which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth (Ephesians 6:1-3).
*And Jesus advanced.*His development was normal for He grew intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially.
Summary
With boldness born of complete confidence that what he was about to write was the truth, Luke told about the birth of Jesus. The decree of Caesar had gone out and it had affected even the people who were living in the land where once David had reigned as king. Joseph was required to leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem, the city of David, to enroll himself with Mary his wife, And while they were there, Mary gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, for there was no room for them in the inn. Shepherds were watching their flocks by night, when suddenly a brilliant light shone about them and they were greatly frightened. The angel of the Lord was standing by them, and he said, Be not afraid; I bring you good news of great joy for all the people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Then the choir of angels sang of glory to God in the highest and of peace on earth among men of good will. Mary and Joseph, as the law of Moses required, presented the Child to the Lord in the temple at Jerusalem. There Simeon blessed God for permitting his eyes to see the One who is the salvation of all people, and Anna the prophetess spoke about Him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke had made careful investigation into all the reports and records of the things about Jesus and must have known about the flight into Egypt and return to Nazareth by way of Judea as Matthew reports it. But he was hurrying with his story and merely said that Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth, for he wanted to tell Theo-philus about another journey, the one that Jesus made with His parents to Jerusalem when He was twelve years old. Jewish families must have made a great thing out of such occasions, especially those who would be on the road several days each way. Friends and relatives had gone with Mary and Joseph to the passover feast. When it was over, they all started home, but Jesus remained in Jerusalem. Sorrowing parents sought Him supposing He was with the group. But when they didn-’t find Him, they returned to Jerusalem. There they found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and the teachers were amazed at His understanding and His answers. To Mary’s gentle rebukeor was she blaming herself for what had happened?Jesus said, Why did you seek me? Didn-’t you know that I must be about my Father’s business? But Mary and Joseph didn-’t understand Him. We do not know what rejoicing was theirs when they joined the group and journeyed on to their home. We do not know what resolutions they may have made to guard the trust the Lord had committed to them more carefully. Luke simply says that Jesus went with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them, and that Mary kept all these things in her heart. How precious were His mother’s memories! In all probability, she is the one who shared them with Luke, and he with Theophilus, and we are blessed by the record that has been preserved for us.
Questions
Why did Joseph take Mary and go to Bethlehem?
What had Micah prophesied about the birthplace of Messiah?
What is known about the power of Rome at the time of Micah?
From the Christian point of view, what are the two most important events in the reign of Augustus?
What do the Scriptures say about the children of Mary and Joseph who were born after Jesus?
Why is He called Mary’s firstborn Son?
What can be said about the fact that there was no room for them in the inn?
How does the story of the angels and the shepherds add to the evidence that proves that Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man?
What good news did the angel of the Lord bring?
What, in all probability, did the people understand the word Lord to mean when applied to Jesus?
What is meant by peace on earth?
What is meant by men in whom he is well pleased?
What do Matthew and Luke say about the time of the visit of the shepherds and the wise men to Bethlehem?
What does Luke say about the things that Mary kept in her heart?
Why did the parents observe the law of circumcision and presentation of the Child to the Lord?
What does the fact that they brought an offering of turtledoves or pigeons suggest?
What is meant by the consolation of Israel?
Who was Simeon?
What had the Holy Spirit revealed to him?
What did the Holy Spirit reveal about the Child in the words spoken by Simeon?
In what way was He set for the falling and rising of many?
What is the sign that is spoken against?
What is the sword that pierced Mary’s heart?
Who was Anna?
What did she say about Jesus?
For what possible reason did Luke omit the account of the journey to Egypt?
What was the passover?
What was the custom of observing it in the days of Joseph?
What had the Lord promised the men of Israel who left their homes unguarded on these feast days?
Why, then, did the destruction of Jerusalem occur during their feast?
Why would Mary and Joseph suppose that Jesus was with the group when they started home?
Did they blame Jesus or themselves?
How explain Jesus-’ questions and answers before the teachers?
What lesson is there for parents in the experience of Mary and Joseph when Jesus was twelve years old?
What lesson for children?