1. _The Birth of Jesus: Luke 2:1-7_. And first a historical note: Luke 2:1-2. The words _in those days_ refer to the time which followed the birth of John the Baptist, and give the remark in Luke 1:80 an anticipatory character. Δόγμα denotes, in classical Greek, any _edict_ of a recognised authority... [ Continue Reading ]
FIFTH NARRATIVE: THE BIRTH OF THE SAVIOUR, LUKE 2:1-20. Henceforth there exists in the midst of corrupt humanity a pure Being, on whom God's regard can rest with unmingled satisfaction. Uniting in this divine contemplation, the celestial intelligences already see streaming from this fire those waves... [ Continue Reading ]
2. _The appearing of the angels: Luke 2:8-14_. “ _The gospel is preached to the poor._ ” The following narrative contains the first application of this divine method. Luke 2:8-9 relate the appearing of the angel to the shepherds; Luke 2:10-12, his discourse; Luke 2:13-14, the song of the heavenly ho... [ Continue Reading ]
3. _The visit of the shepherds: Luke 2:15-20_. The angel had notified a sign to the shepherds, and invited them to ascertain its reality. This injunction they obey. VERS. 15-20. The T. R. exhibits in Luke 2:15 a singular expression: “And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away,... _the men,... [ Continue Reading ]
1. _The Circumcision: Luke 2:21_. It was under the Jewish form that Jesus was to realize the ideal of human existence. The theocracy was the surrounding prepared of God for the development of the Son of man. So to His entrance into life by birth succeeds, eight days after, His entrance into the cove... [ Continue Reading ]
SIXTH NARRATIVE: CIRCUMCISION AND PRESENTATION OF JESUS, LUKE 2:21-40. This narrative comprises 1. The circumcision of Jesus (Luke 2:21); 2. His presentation in the temple (Luke 2:22-38); 3. A historical conclusion (Luke 2:39-40).... [ Continue Reading ]
2. _The presentation: Luke 2:22-38_. And first the sacrifice, Luke 2:22-24. After the circumcision there were two other rites to observe. One concerned the mother. Levitically unclean for eight days after the birth of a son, and for fourteen days after that of a daughter, the Israelitish mother, aft... [ Continue Reading ]
From the twenty-fifth verse Simeon becomes the centre of the picture: Luke 2:25-28 relate his coming in; Luke 2:29-32, his song; Luke 2:33-35, his address to the parents. VERS. 25-28. In times of spiritual degeneracy, when an official clergy no longer cultivates anything but the form of religion, it... [ Continue Reading ]
“ _Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word:_ 30 _For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation_, 31 _Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;_ 32 _A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel._ ” The vivid insight and energetic concise... [ Continue Reading ]
A carnal satisfaction, full of delusive hopes might easily have taken possession of the hearts of these parents, especially of the mother's, on hearing such words as these. But Simeon infuses into his message the drop of bitterness which no joy, not even holy joy, ever wants in a world of sin. Inst... [ Continue Reading ]
Anna presents, in several respects, a contrast to Simeon. The latter came into the temple impelled by the Spirit; Anna lives there. Simeon has no desire but to die; Anna seems to recover the vigour of youth to celebrate the Messiah. The words ἣ οὐκ ἀφίστατο (Luke 2:37) might be made the predicate of... [ Continue Reading ]
1. _The separation: Luke 2:41-45_. The idea of fidelity to the law is prominent also in this narrative. According to Exodus 23:17; Deuteronomy 16:16, men were to present themselves at the sanctuary at the three feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. There was no such obligation for women.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVENTH NARRATIVE: THE CHILD JESUS AT JERUSALEM, LUKE 2:41-52. The following incident, the only one which the historian relates about the youth of Jesus, is an instance of that wisdom which marked His development. Almost all great men have some story told about their childhood, in which their futur... [ Continue Reading ]
2. _The meeting: Luke 2:46-50_. As it is improbable that they had sought for Jesus for two or three days without going to the temple, the three days must certainly date from the time of separation. The first was occupied with the journey, the second with the return, and the third with the meeting.... [ Continue Reading ]
3. _The residence at Nazareth: Luke 2:51-52_. From this moment Jesus possesses within Him this ideal of a life entirely devoted to the kingdom of God, which had just flashed before His eyes. For eighteen years He applied Himself in silence to the business of His earthly father at Nazareth, where He... [ Continue Reading ]