Jesus of Nazareth born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-11). This section narrates: the circumstances which led His mother from Nazareth (chap. Luke 1:26; Luke 1:56) to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-5); the fact and place of His birth (Luke 2:6-7); the first gospel message, by the mouth of an angel, to shepherds in... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:1. IN THOSE DAYS. Indefinite; about the time of the birth of John the Baptist. THERE WENT OUT A DECREE, an authoritative edict. When it was issued is not of primary importance; it affected Joseph and Mary ‘in those days.' ALL THE WORLD, _i.e.,_ the _Roman_ world. We should not, to avoid d... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:2. AND THIS WAS THE FIRST ENROLMENT MADE WHEN QUIRINIUS WAS GOVERNOR OF SYRIA. This is the natural sense of the verse, Luke having in mind the _second_ and more noted enrolment under Quirinius, mentioned by himself (Acts 5:37) and by Josephus. The man referred to undoubtedly is _P. Sulpicius... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:3. EVERY ONE INTO HIS OWN CITY, _i.e.,_ to the city of his extraction (comp. Luke 2:4). This was not the Roman custom, but was probably adopted as a measure of policy in accordance with the Jewish habits in regard to genealogies. Roman usage required the enrolment of women, and possibly thei... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:4. WENT UP. The usual expression for a journey towards Jerusalem. BETHLEHEM. See on Matthew 2:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:5. WITH MARY. Even if not required to do so, she naturally accompanied Joseph. In her peculiar condition she would cling to him, especially as all had been cleared up between them (comp. Matthew 1:18-25). Perhaps the prophecy respecting Bethlehem (Micah 5:1; comp. Matthew 2:6) was in her mind... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:6. WHILE THEY WERE THERE. Apocryphal legends tell how she was overtaken on the way, and sought refuge in a cave. They seem to have arrived in Bethlehem, and sought shelter in vain, before the time spoken of here. DELIVERED, or, ‘bring forth,' as the same word is translated in Luke 2:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:7. HER FIRST BORN SON. This implies that Mary had other children (in Matthew 1:25 the reading is in dispute). It is unlikely that an only child would be thus termed by one who wrote long afterwards with a full knowledge of the family. See on Matthew 13:55 Luke says nothing to justify the lege... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:8. SHEPHERDS, _i.e.,_ some shepherds, probably chosen because they too like Simeon ‘were waiting for the consolation of Israel' (Luke 2:25). The Shepherd of Israel cares for His flock; while sending a Saviour to the whole world, He satisfied the secret yearnings of this humble company. His ca... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:9. AN ANGEL, not ‘the angel.' STOOD BY. This indicates a sudden but actual appearance; not a vision. The angel may have been above them, but this is not stated. The shepherds may have been in a state of peculiar susceptibility, as pious men, in the quiet night, under the starry heavens, whe... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:10. BE NOT AFRAID. Comp. chap. Luke 1:13; Luke 1:30. I BRING YOU GLAD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY. Lit., ‘I evangelize to you great joy.' The message is a gospel message, a joyous message; therefore they should not be afraid. TO ALL THE PEOPLE _, i.e.,_ of Israel. First of all to them, then thro... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:11. UNTO YOU. This refers directly to the shepherds, as in Luke 2:10 , confirming the view, that they were men who expected the Messiah. IN THE CITY OF DAVID. Bethlehem; comp. Luke 2:4; Luke 2:15. The latter instance shows that they understood it at once. The reference to the prophecy in Mi... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:12. THE SIGN. No sign had been asked for (comp. chap. Luke 1:36); when Zacharias requested one, he was punished (Luke 1:18; Luke 1:20). The dispensation of _faith_ is beginning. A BABE. Not ‘ _the_ babe.' They were to look for a child born that day, wrapped and lying in a manger. There coul... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:13. A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY HOST, _i.e._, angels, who are represented as a host surrounding the throne of God (1 Kings 22:19; 2 Chronicles 18:18; Psalms 103:21; Daniel 7:10; Matthew 26:53; Revelation 19:14). Nothing is said as to whether the song was in the air or on the earth; probably i... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:14. GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE AMONG MEN OF GOD'S GOOD PLEASURE, or, ‘in whom He is well pleased,' The best authorities, by the insertion of a single letter in the Greek, read: ‘men of good pleasure.' The word is elsewhere translated ‘good-will,' but it must mean God's go... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:15. THE SHEPHERDS. The angels went to heaven; the shepherds sought what the angels had praised: the former, to continue the song of ‘glory in the highest;' the latter, to discover ‘peace on earth.' NOW, _i.e._, at once. EVEN UNTO BETHLEHEM. As far as Bethlehem; as though it were not their... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:16. FOUND, suggesting previous search. MARY AND JOSEPH Her name naturally comes first, as the mother, but especially in view of the peculiar nature of her motherhood. IN THE MANGER: the one they had sought as the sign.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:17. THEY MADE KNOWN ABROAD. This indicates that they narrated the matter to others than Mary and Joseph, perhaps before their return to their flocks. THE SAYING, or, ‘concerning the saying,' _i.e._, of the angels. This was the first gospel message told by men.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:18. WONDERED. With this natural, and probably transient, wonder of those who heard the story, the narrative contrasts the more abiding effect upon Mary. Before Jesus appeared as a teacher, thirty years afterwards, the story was probably forgotten by all but a few earnest souls. If His words a... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:19. BUT MARY. Still in the foreground. KEPT ALL THESE SAYINGS. She kept, or more exactly, she was keeping, continued to keep, in her memory, all these sayings, _i.e._ all these things now spoken of. PONDERING THEM IN HER HEART. Revolving, comparing, reflecting upon them in the quietude of... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:20. RETURNED, _i.e.,_ to their flock, to their duty. Angelic revelations did not make them unfaithful shepherds. But their ordinary duty was made glad by what they had heard and seen. We hear no more of them. Van Oosterzee: ‘They probably fell asleep, before the beginning of our Lord's public... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:21. EIGHT DAYS. Comp. chap. Luke 1:59. JESUS. Comp. Matthew 1:21. WHICH WAS TO CALLED BY THE ANGEL. Comp. chap. Luke 1:31. This naming was an act of obedience and of faith on the part of both Mary and Joseph (comp. Matthew 1:21; Matthew 1:25). Although Joseph is less prominent in the accou... [ Continue Reading ]
The fulfilment of the legal requirements respecting the child Jesus: His circumcision and naming on the eighth day (Luke 2:21), as one of the Jewish people, and the redemption from the temple service on the day of purification (fortieth day), as a first-born son (Luke 2:22-24). In the former case th... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:22. THEIR PURIFICATION. This refers to Mary and Joseph, rather than to Mary and the child. In Leviticus 12:4-6, there is no hint of the purification of the child. The presence of Joseph was required by the law respecting the redemption of the first-born (see on Luke 2:23), and the ceremonial... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:23. IN THE LAW OF THE LORD. Exodus 13:2, freely quoted in explanation of the presentation. EVERY MALE THAT OPENETH THE WOMB, _i.e.,_ _e_ very first-born male (‘both of man and of beast'). The sacrifice (Luke 2:24) was required in every case, but the presentation only in the case of the first... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:24. ACCORDING, etc. The offering was, according to Leviticus 12:6: ‘a lamb of the first year for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering.' In the case of poverty: A PAIR OF TURTLE - DOVES, or TWO YOUNG PIGEONS (Leviticus 12:8). Joseph and Mary were not rich,... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:25. SIMEON. According to some, this was the son of the famous Rabbi Hillel, and father of Gamaliel the teacher of Paul (Acts 5:34). The Rabbis say that Jesus was born in the days of Rabbi Simeon, son of Hillel. But the name was very common; Luke 2:26 suggests that this man did not live long a... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:26. SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH. Comp. Psalms 89:48; John 8:51; Hebrews 11:5; also the phrase ‘taste death' (Matthew 16:28; Hebrews 2:9). THE LORD'S CHRIST, _i.e._, ‘the Messiah of Jehovah.' It is implied that Simeon was very old, and would die soon after. How this revelation was made is not hinte... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:27. AND HE CAME IN THE SPIRIT INTO THE TEMPLE. His steps were ordered by the Spirit, in the power of which he lived. The Spirit led him thither to meet this child, whom he was enabled, by the same Spirit, to recognize as the Messiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:29. The words of Simeon are poetic in their form, and even in a translation retain their peculiar beauty. The song is called _Nunc Dimittis,_ from the opening words in the Latin version. Like the _Magnificat_ and _Benedictus_, it is adapted to the peculiar time and circumstances assigned in t... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:30. HAVE SEEN. These words are emphatic; probably the tradition respecting previous blindness was suggested by them. THY SALVATION, _i.e.,_ the Messianic deliverance. He sees the world's salvation, while beholding the form of a helpless child. The prominence given by Simeon to ‘salvation' r... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:32. A LIGHT. This defines ‘salvation.' FOR REVELATION TO THE GENTILES. Comp. Isaiah 49:6; where there is a similar prophecy. The idea is that of Old Testament prophecy: The light of the world rises in Israel, extends its influence to other nations, which submit to the Messiah and receive th... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:33. AND HIS FATHER. ‘Joseph' was substituted at an early date. ‘The parents' are spoken of in Luke 2:27 (comp, the words of Mary, Luke 2:48). Our Lord, however, is never rep-resented as calling Joseph by this title. The use of it by Luke, in the legal and popular sense, involves no contradict... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:34. BLESSED THEM. The ordinary benediction of a pious old man. UNTO MARY HIS MOTHER. This indicates that Simeon knew (by revelation we infer) something of her peculiar relation to the child. He now alludes to the sufferings of the Messiah, already foretold by the Old Testament prophets. Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:35. YEA, A SWORD SHALL PIERCE THROUGH THINE OWN SOUL. The sentence is parallel with the last, and should not be put in parentheses. The rejection and suffering of Christ has just been indicated; with this the grief of Mary will correspond. The culmination of her grief is at the culmination of... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:36. ONE ANNA. ‘One' is supplied to relieve the English construction. A PROPHETESS, so called previous to this time. PHANUEL. The name of her husband is not mentioned, probably because he had been so long dead. Nothing further is known of father or daughter, though tradition has been busy... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:37. EVEN UNTO FOURSCORE AND FOUR YEARS. The correct reading suggests that she was now eighty-four years old, not a widow for that period. This is evidently mentioned as a commendation (comp. 1 Timothy 5:3; 1 Timothy 5:5), especially as it is plainly intimated that she was young at the death o... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:38. AT THAT VERY HOUR, _i.e._, when the meeting with Simeon took place. GAVE THANKS UNTO GOD, according to the better supported reading. She gave praise to the Father for sending the Messiah. SPAKE OF HIM. Evidently of the child. TO ALL THEM, etc. Not openly to everybody, but to the cir... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:39. THEY RETURNED INTO GALILEE, TO THEIR OWN CITY NAZARETH. Of itself this suggests that Joseph and Mary went directly and immediately from Jerusalem to Nazareth. But this is not expressly stated. It is, however, difficult to suppose that Luke had seen Matthew's account, or _vice versa._... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:40. AND THE CHILD GREW. Comp, the account of John's youth (chap. Luke 1:80). The next section illustrates what is stated in this verse, and Luke 2:52 repeats and extends the statement. Growth of body is mentioned first, a point not to be overlooked. AND WAXED STRONG. The words ‘in spirit' a... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:41. WENT. were accustomed to go. AT THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER. On the Passover, see Matthew 26:2. The male Israelites were required to appear at the three yearly feasts (Exodus 23:14-17). Women, according to the teachings of a prominent Rabbi (Hillel), were bound to attend the Passover feas... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS section gives an example of the wisdom just spoken of (Luke 2:40), the more significant because the incident occurred at the age (twelve years) when a Jewish boy became a ‘son of the law,' was first fully subjected to the obedience of the law. The whole story is told so simply, with such intern... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:42. TWELVE YEARS OLD. At this age a Jewish boy became ‘a son of the law ‘and was henceforth bound to obey the law in the full scope of its requirements. After this age attendance at the Passover was necessary; but the passage before us gives no hint that this was the first time the child Jesu... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:43. FULFILLED THE DAYS. The seven days of the feast. (Exodus 12:15; Leviticus 23:6; Deuteronomy 16:2.) TARRIED BEHIND IN JERUSALEM. This and the next clause are the emphatic parts of the sentence (Luke 2:42-43). AND HIS PARENTS DID NOT KNOW IT. This does not imply want of proper care on th... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:44. IN THE COMPANY. The band of fellow-travellers. These caravans were often large, and usually made up of those from the same district. A DAY'S JOURNEY. During the day no anxiety would be felt respecting so obedient a child, but at night he would be expected to rejoin His parents. KINSFO... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:46. AFTER THREE DAYS. Reckoned from the time when they missed Him: one day returning (possibly part of another, as they searched on the way), another of search in Jerusalem, the third day that of finding Him. Others prefer to reckon from their departure out of Jerusalem: one day out, one to r... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:47. WERE AMAZED AT HIS UNDERSTANDING; as manifested in His comprehension of the subjects (undoubtedly religious) under discussion. HIS ANSWERS. This is added as the special ground of amazement. None of these answers have been preserved, but the subsequent reply to Mary indicates the wisdom... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:48. THEY (_i.e._, His parents) WERE ASTONISHED. Comp. Luke 2:50. HIS MOTHER SAID UNTO HIM. This indicates that there was a special reason for _her_ speaking rather than Joseph. But the answer shows that these Chapter s were not written to unduly exalt Mary. SON. Greek, ‘child' WHY, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:49. HOW IS IT THAT YE SOUGHT ME, or, ‘were seeking me?' A boy of twelve years would understand the mother's anxiety. (In Oriental countries maturity comes earlier than among us.) Were He only human, the answer would have been mocking. But ‘in all the simplicity and boldness of holy childhood,... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:51. WAS IN SUBJECTION UNTO THEM. Rendering full obedience, probably working at His reputed father's trade (Mark 6:2). In the light of Luke 2:49 this obedience appears as a self-humiliation. It adds to our conception of the completeness of His vicarious work during these long years, to remembe... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 2:52. ADVANCED, not ‘increased.' IN WISDOM AND STATURE, or, ‘age;' see Matthew 6:27. The former sense is included, if the latter be accepted. IN FAVOR (or, ‘grace') WITH GOD AND MEN. The favor with God found expression at His baptism, and that expression implies sinless perfection. The innoc... [ Continue Reading ]