CHAPTER II. _The decree of Augustus to enrol all the Roman empire_, 1, 2. _Joseph and Mary go to their own city to be enrolled_, 3-5. _Christ is born_, 6, 7. _His birth is announced to the shepherds_, 8-14. _They go to Bethlehem, and find Joseph, Mary, and Christ_, 15-20. _Christ is circumcise... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:2. _THIS TAXING WAS FIRST MADE WHEN CYRENIUS_, c.] The next difficulty in this text is found in this verse, which may be translated, _Now this first enrolment was made when Quirinus was_ _governor of Syria_. It is easily proved, and has been proved often, that _Caius_ _Sulpicius Quirin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:3. _AND ALL WENT TO BE TAXED, EVERY ONE INTO HIS OWN CITY._] The Roman census was an institution of _Servius Tullius_, sixth king of Rome. From the account which _Dionysius_ of _Halicarnassus_ gives of it; we may at once see its nature. "He ordered all the citizens of Rome to register... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:5. _WITH MARY HIS ESPOUSED WIFE_] There was no necessity for Mary to have gone to Bethlehem, as Joseph's presence could have answered the end proposed in the census as well without Mary as with her; but God so ordered it, that the prophecy of Micah should be thus fulfilled, and that Jes... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:7. _LAID HIM IN A MANGER_] Wetstein has shown, from a multitude of instances, that φατνη means not merely the _manger_, but the whole _stable_, and this I think is its proper meaning in this place. The Latins use _praesepe_, a manger, in the same sense. So Virgil, AEn. vii. p. 275. _St... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:8. _THERE WERE - SHEPHERDS ABIDING IN THE FIELD_] There is no intimation here that these shepherds were exposed to the _open air_. They dwelt in the fields where they had their sheep penned up; but they undoubtedly had _tents_ or _booths_ under which they dwelt. _KEEPING WATCH - BY NI... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:9. _THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CAME UPON THEM_] Or, _stood over_ _them_, επεστη. It is likely that the angel appeared in the _air_ at some little distance above them, and that from him the rays of the _glory of the Lord shone round about them_, as the rays of light are protected from the sun... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:10. _BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS_] I am not come to declare the _judgments_ of the Lord, but his _merciful_ _loving-kindness_, the subject being a matter of _great joy_. He then declares his message. _Unto you _- to the Jews first, and then to the human race. Some modern MSS. with... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:11. _A SAVIOUR, WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD._] A _Saviour_, σωτηρ, the same as _Jesus_ from σωζειν, to _make safe_, to _deliver, preserve, to make alive_, thus used by the Septuagint for החיה _hecheiah, to cause to escape_; used by the same for פלט _to confide in, to hope_. See the extensi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:12. _THIS_ SHALL BE _A SIGN_ (or token) _UNTO YOU_] _You_ _shall find_ this glorious person, however strange it may appear, _wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a stable_! It is by _humility_ that Christ comes to reign; and this is the only way into his kingdom! _Pride_ is the charac... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:13. _SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGEL_, c.] this multitude of the heavenly host had just now descended from on high, to honour the new-born Prince of peace, to give his parents the fullest conviction of his glory and excellence, and to teach the shepherds, who were about to be the firs... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:14. _GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST_] The design of God, in the incarnation, was to manifest the hidden glories of his nature, and to reconcile men to each other and to himself. The angels therefore declare that this incarnation shall manifest and promote the _glory of God_, εν υψιστοις n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:15. _LET US NOW GO EVEN UNTO BETHLEHEM_] διελθωμεν, let us go across the country at the nearest, that we may lose no time, that we may speedily see this glorious reconciler of God and man. All delays are dangerous: but he who delays to seek Jesus, when the angels, the messengers of God,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:17. _THEY MADE KNOWN ABROAD THE SAYING_] These shepherds were the _first_ preachers of the Gospel of Christ: and what was their text? Why, _Glory to God in the highest heavens, and on earth_ _peace and good will among men_. This is the elegant and energetic _saying_ which comprises the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:19. _AND PONDERED_ THEM _IN HER HEART._] συμβαλλουσα, _Weighing them in her heart_. _Weighing_ is an English translation of our word _pondering_, from the Latin _ponderare_. Every circumstance relative to her son's birth, Mary _treasured up_ in her memory; and every new circumstance she... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:20. _THE SHEPHERDS RETURNED, GLORIFYING AND PRAISING_] These simple men, having satisfactory evidence of the truth of the _good_ _tidings_, and feeling a Divine influence upon their own minds, returned to the care of their flocks, glorifying God for what he had shown them, and for the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:21. _WHEN EIGHT DAYS WERE ACCOMPLISHED_] The law had appointed that every male should be circumcised at eight days old, or on the eighth day after its birth, Genesis 17:12; and our blessed Lord received circumcision in token of his subjection to the law, Galatians 4:4; Galatians 5:3. _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:22. _DAYS OF HER PURIFICATION_] That is, _thirty-three_ days after what was termed the seven days of her uncleanness-_forty_ days in all: for that was the time appointed by the law, after the birth of a male child. See Leviticus 12:2; Leviticus 12:6. The MSS. and versions differ much... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:24. _AND TO OFFER A SACRIFICE_] Neither mother nor child was considered as in the Lord's covenant, or under the Divine protection, till these ceremonies, prescribed by the law, had been performed. _A PAIR OF TURTLE DOVES_, c.] _One_ was for a burnt-offering, and the _other_ for a sin-... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _AND, BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN IN JERUSALEM_] This man is distinguished because of his singular piety. There can be no doubt that there were many persons in Jerusalem named _Simeon_, besides this man; but there was none of the name who merited the attention of God so much as he in the text.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _IT WAS REVEALED UNTO HIM_] He was _divinely informed_, κεχρηματισμενον - he had an _express communication_ from God concerning the subject. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. The soul of a righteous and devout man is a proper habitation for the Holy Spirit. _HE SHOULD NOT... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _HE CAME BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE TEMPLE_] Probably he had in view the prophecy of Malachi, Malachi 3:1, _The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple_. In this _messenger_ of the _covenant_, the soul of Simeon _delighted_. Now the prophecy was just going to be fulfilled; and th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _THEN TOOK HE HIM UP IN HIS ARMS_] What must the holy soul of this man have felt in this moment! O inestimable privilege! And yet ours need not be inferior: If a man love me, says Christ, he will keep my word; _and I and the Father will come_ _in unto him, and make our abode with him_. And... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _LORD, NOW LETTEST THOU THY SERVANT DEPART IN PEACE_] _Now thou dismissest_, απολυεις, _loosest_ him from life; having lived long enough to have the grand end of life accomplished. _ACCORDING TO THY WORD_] It was promised to him, that he should not die till he had seen the Lord's _anointe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _THY SALVATION_] That _Saviour_ which it became the goodness of God to bestow upon man, and which the necessities of the human race required. Christ is called our _salvation_, as he is called our _life_, our _peace_, our _hope_; i.e. he is the _author_ of all these, to them who believe.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _WHICH THOU HAST PREPARED_] ο ητοιμασας, which thou hast MADE READY _before the face_, in the presence, of _all people_. Here salvation is represented under the notion of a _feast_, which God himself has provided for the whole world; and to partake of which he has invited all the nations o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _A LIGHT TO LIGHTEN THE GENTILES_] φως εις αποκαλοψιν εθνων - _A light of the Gentiles, for revelation_. By Moses and the prophets, a _light of revelation_ was given to the Jews, in the blessedness of which the _Gentiles_ did not partake. By Christ and his apostles, a luminous _revelation_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _JOSEPH AND HIS MOTHER MARVELLED_] For they did not as yet fully know the counsels of God, relative to the salvation which Christ was to procure; nor the _way_ in which the purchase was to be made: but to this Simeon refers in the following verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 34. _THIS_ CHILD _IS SET FOR THE FALL_] This seems an allusion to Isaiah 8:14: _Jehovah, God of hosts, shall be-for a stone of stumbling and_ _rock of offence to both houses of Israel; and many among them_ _shall stumble and fall_, c. As Christ did not come as a _temporal_ _deliverer_, in whic... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _YEA, A SWORD SHALL PIERCE THROUGH THY OWN SOUL ALSO_] Probably meaning, Thou _also_, as well as thy son, shall die a martyr for the truth. But as this is a metaphor used by the most respectable Greek writers to express the most _pungent sorrow_, it may here refer to the anguish Mary must... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 36. _ANNA, A PROPHETESS_] It does not appear that this person was a _prophetess_ in the strict sense of the word, i.e. one who could foretell future events; but rather a holy woman; who, from her extensive knowledge and deep experience in Divine things, was capable of _instructing_ others; acc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 37. _DEPARTED NOT FROM THE TEMPLE_] Attended constantly at the hours of prayer, which were _nine_ in the morning and _three_ in the afternoon. See Acts 2:15; Acts 3:1. It does not appear that women had any other functions to perform in that holy place. _WITH FASTINGS_] She accompanied her dev... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 38. _COMING IN THAT INSTANT_] αυτη τη ωρα, _at that very_ _time_-while Simeon held the blessed Redeemer in his arms, and was singing his _departing_ and _triumphal_ song. _GAVE THANKS LIKEWISE_] She, as well as _Simeon_, returned God public thanks, for having sent this Saviour to Israel. _SP... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _THEY RETURNED INTO GALILEE_] But not immediately: for the coming of the _wise men_, and the retreat of Joseph with his family _into Egypt_, happened between this period of time, and his going to Nazareth in Galilee. - Bp. PEARCE. But it is very likely, that as soon as the presentation in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 40. _THE CHILD GREW_] As to his _body _- being in perfect health. _WAXED STRONG IN SPIRIT_] His rational _soul_ became strong and vigorous. _FILLED WITH WISDOM_] The divinity continuing to communicate itself more and more, in proportion to the increase of the _rational_ principle. The reader... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 41. _HIS PARENTS WENT - EVERY YEAR_] This was their constant custom, because positively enjoined by the law, Exodus 23:17. But it does not appear that _infants_ were obliged to be present; and yet _all the men-children_ are positively ordered to make their appearance at Jerusalem _thrice_ in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 43. _HAD FULFILLED THE DAYS_] _Eight_ days in the whole: _one_ was the passover, and the other _seven_, the days of unleavened bread. Matthew 26:2, Matthew 26:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 44. _SUPPOSING HIM TO HAVE BEEN IN THE COMPANY_] Some have supposed that the men and women marched in separate companies on these occasions, which is very likely; and that sometimes the _children_ kept company with the _men_, sometimes with the _women_. This might have led to what otherwise se... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 45. _SEEKING HIM._] ζητουντες αυτον - or rather, _seeking him_ _diligently_, ανζητουντες. This is the reading of BCDL, _six_ others, Vulgate, and _nine_ copies of the _Itala_. If they sought _earnestly_ when they first found him missing, there is little doubt that their _solicitude_ and _dilig... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 46. _SITTING IN THE MIDST OF THE DOCTORS_] The rabbins, who were explaining the law and the ceremonies of the Jewish religion to their disciples. _ASKING THEM QUESTIONS._] Not as a _scholar_ asks his teacher, to be _informed_; but as a _teacher_, who _proposes_ questions to his scholars in or... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 47. _ANSWERS:_] The word αποκρισις here seems not to mean _answers_ only, but what Jesus said by way of question to the doctors, Luke 2:46. So in Revelation 7:13, one of the elders is said to have _answered, saying _- when he only asked a question. Bp. PEARCE.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 48. _WHY HAST THOU THUS DEALT WITH US?_] It certainly was not _his_ fault, but _theirs_. Men are very apt to lay on _others_ the blame of their _own_ misconduct.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:49. _HOW IS IT THAT YE SOUGHT ME?_] Is not this intended as a gentle _reproof_? Why had ye me to _seek_? Ye should not have left my company, when ye knew I am constantly employed in performing the will of the Most High. _MY FATHER'S BUSINESS?_] Εν τοις του πατρος μου, _My Father's_ _c... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:51. _WAS SUBJECT UNTO THEM_] Behaved towards them with all dutiful submission. Probably his _working_ with his hands at his reputed father's business, is here also implied: Luke 2:41. No child among the Jews was ever brought up in idleness. _Is not_ _this the carpenter_? was a saying of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Luke 2:52. _JESUS INCREASED IN WISDOM_] Luke 2:40. THE following remarks, taken chiefly from Mr. _Claude_, on the foregoing subject, are well worth the reader's attention. I. The birth of Christ is announced to the shepherds. 1. God causes his grace to descend not only on the great and powe... [ Continue Reading ]