Introductory remarks:
Luke the historian gives a detailed account of the birth of Christ with particular emphasis on His lineage. The whole inhabited earth was under the control of Caesar Augustus and they spoke the common language of the day, which was Greek. On this McGee notes:
"The Greek language became a vehicle for getting the Word of God out. The Gospel was communicated to the world in the Greek language. God used Alexander the Great to make it possible.
Of Alexander the Great it has been written: 'He took up the meshes of the net of civilization, which were lying in disorder on the edges of the Asiatic shore, and spread them over all other countries which he traversed in his wonderful campaigns. The East and the West were suddenly brought together. Separated tribes were united under a common government. New cities were built, as the centers of political life. New lines of communication were opened, as the channels of commercial activity. The new culture penetrated the mountain ranges of Pisidia and Lycaonia. The Tigris and Euphrates became Greek rivers. The language of Athens was heard among the Jewish colonies of Babylonia; and a Grecian Babylon was built by the conqueror in Egypt and called by his name (Conybeare and Howson, Life, Times, and Travels of St. Paul, vol. 1, p. 9). That city was Alexandria; it still bears this name.
Keep this background in mind as you study the Gospel of Luke."
This chapter may be outlined as follows: The birth of Jesus vv. 1-7; the shepherds and the angels vv. 8-21; the presentation of Jesus in the temple vv. 22-38; the return to Nazareth vv. 39-40; the boy Jesus in the temple vv. 41-52.
The Birth of Jesus
(Matt. 1:18-25)
Verse 1, "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed."
LGT "And it came to pass in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the inhabited (land) should be enrolled."
The phrase "all the world" is lit. the inhabited (land). "The phrase was originally used by the Greeks to denote the land inhabited by themselves, in contrast with barbarian countries; afterward, when the Greeks became subject to the Romans, the entire Roman world; still later, for the whole inhabited world. In the New Testament this latter more common usage, though, in some cases, this is conceived in the mould of the Roman Empire, as in this passage, Acts 11:28; 19:27. Christ uses it in the announcement that the Gospel shall be preached in all the world (Matt. 24:14); and Paul in the prediction of a general judgment (Acts 17:31). Once it is used of the world to come (Heb. 2:5)" (Vincent).
Verse 2, "(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria)"
LGT "This enrollment first took place when Cyrenius was governor of Syria."
"A definite allusion by Luke to a series of which is mentioned by him in acts 5:37. This second one is described by Josephus and it was supposed by some that Luke confused the two. But Ramsey has shown that a periodical fourteen-year census in Egypt is given in dated papyri back to A.D. 20. The one in Acts 5:37 would then be A.D. 6. This is in the time of Augustus. The first would then be B.C. 8 in Egypt. If it was delayed a couple of years in Palestine by Herod the Great for obvious reasons, that would make the birth of Christ about B.C. 8 in Egypt. If it was delayed a couple of years in Palestine by Herod the Great for obvious reasons, that would make the birth of Christ about B.C. 6 which agrees with other known data. When Cyrenius was governor of Syria: here again Luke has been attacked on the ground that Cyrenius was only governor of Syria once and that was A.D. 6 as shown by Josephus (Antiquities XVIII.I.1). But Ramsey has proven by inscriptions that Cyrenius was twice in Syria and that Luke is correct here also" (Robertson).
Verse 3, "And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city."
LGT "And all were going to be enrolled, each to his own city."
The head of each household went to the city where their family register was.
Verses 4, 5, "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child."
LGT "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of [the] city Nazareth, into Judea, to a city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because of his being of [the] house and family of David, to register himself with Mary who was betrothed to him as wife, she being great with child."
Joseph and Mary went to be enrolled in the city of their birth, showing each to be from Bethlehem. The city of David means that Bethlehem was the city of David's birth. So in his genealogy, Luke traces both Mary and Joseph as descendants of David, giving Christ His kingly line.
McGee notes:
"I am thrilled when I read this simple, historically accurate passage with tremendous spiritual truth behind it. Caesar Augustus attempted to make himself a god. He wanted to be worshipped. He signed a tax bill, which caused a woman and a man, peasants, living in Nazareth, to journey to Bethlehem to enroll. That woman was carrying in her womb the Son of God! This is tremendous! This Caesar Augustus tried to make himself God, but nobody today reverences him or pays taxes to him. But that little baby in Mary's womb - many of us worship Him today and call Him our Savior.
Caesar Augustus was merely the tool in God's hand to bring to pass the prophecy But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2). This is a remarkable account.
Everything happened was arranged by God. If anyone had said to Caesar, Wait a minute; women about to give birth are going to have to be moved in order for you to get your taxes, I think he would have replied, I do not care about babies or their mothers; I am only interested in taxes, armies, money and luxury. Well, that is all gone now, including Caesar."
Verse 6, "And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."
LGT "And it came to pass, in the [time] they were there, the days for her to bring forth were fulfilled,"
While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem to register, the time had come for Mary to give birth to Jesus.
Verse 7, "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
LGT "And she brought forth her Son, the Firstborn one, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in the manger, because there was not a place for them in the inn."
"The expression she brought forth her first born Son means that afterwards she had other children and we read of brothers and sisters of Jesus. There is not a particle of evidence that Mary refused to bear other children because she was the mother of the Messiah" (Robertson).
And wrapped him in swaddling clothes; "To swaddle and to swathe are really the same word, both forms going back to an AS form swethel, a bandage, but swaddle has become the technical term for the wrapping of an infant in the Orient or elsewhere. The oriental swaddling-clothes consist of a square of cloth and two or more bandages. The child is laid on the cloth diagonally and the corners are folded over the feet and body and under the head, the bandages then being tied so as to hold the cloth in position. This device forms the clothing of the child until it is about a year old, and its omission (Ezekiel 16:4) would be a token that the child had been abandoned. The mention of darkness as a swaddling band at the birth of the sea (Job 38:9) is only a poetic way of saying that the sea, at its creation, was covered with clouds and darkness, and to find any idea of restraint involved is fanciful" (The New Standard International Encyclopedia).
And laid him in a manger; Quite possibly a rock cave. Dr. Thompson says; "I have seen many such, consisting of one or more rooms, in front of and including a cavern where cattle were kept" (The Land and Book).
Because there was no room for them in the inn; "A Syrian khan is a fort and a mart; a refuge from thieves; a shelter from the heat and dust; a place where a man and his beast may lodge; where a trader may sell his wares, and a pilgrim may slake his thirst. . .Where built by a great sheikh, it would have a high wall, an inner court, a range of arches or lewans, an open gallery round four sides, and, in many cases, a tower from which the watcher might descry the approach of marauding bands. On one side of the square, but outside the wall, there is often a huddle of sheds, set apart from the main edifice, as stables for the asses and camels, the buffaloes and goats. In the center of the kahn springs a fountain of water, the first necessity of an Arab's life; and around the jets and troughs in which the limpid element streams, lies the gay and picturesque litter of the East. Camels wait to be unloaded; dogs quarrel for a bone; Bedaween from the desert, their red zannars choked with pistols, are at prayer. In archways squat the merchants with their bales of goods. . . Half naked men are cleansing their hands ere sitting down to eat. Here a barber is at work upon a shaven crown; there a fellah lies asleep in the shade. . . Each man has to carry his dinner and his bed; to litter his horse or camel; to dress his food; to draw his water; to light his fire, and to boil his mess of herbs" (Hepworth Dixon, The Holy Land - quoted by Vincent).
The Shepherds and the Angels
Verse 8, "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."
LGT "And shepherds were in the same country, lodging in the fields and keeping watch by night over their flock;"
These shepherds were taking turns watching the common flock; each had their turn in the night watch, for the watching of the flock at night was divided into shifts. The shepherds were tending their flock around Bethlehem.
Verse 9, "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid."
LGT "And an angel of [the] Lord stood by them, and [the] glory of [the] Lord shown around them, and they feared a great fear."
"An angel of the lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. This was the glory that glory that had appeared to Abraham while he dwelt in Ur (Acts 7:2), the glory that appeared in the tabernacle (Exod. 40:34-35), and the glory that appeared in the temple (1 Kings 8:11). This was the glory that Ezekiel saw depart from the temple (Ezek. 10:4, 18-19; 11:22-23). For more than 500 years the nation Israel had been without that visible sign of God's presence among His people, and now the glory for which Israel had waited was revealed to the shepherds in the field, not to the priests in the temple" (Pentecost).
Verse 10, "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
LGT "And the angel said to them, Do not fear; for behold, I announce glad-tidings to you [of] great joy, which shall be to all the people,"
As was pointed out in the last verse, it had been over 500 years since the Lord had appeared to his people, so it naturally brought about fear to these shepherds. Which shall be to all the people; the article in this phrase distinguishes the people to be Israel. We know that the birth of Christ would be a blessing for all people universally, but that is not yet taught here.
Verse 11, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
LGT "Because was born to you today a Savior which is Christ [the] Lord."
The angel announces that Christ is born not only as Savior, but also as Lord, that is, the Sovereign, the Supreme ruler of the universe.
McGee notes:
"They all were looking for a King
To slay their foes and lift them high
Thou cam'st, a little baby thing
That made a woman cry."
George Macdonald
"That is the way the Savior came into the world. He did not lay aside His deity; He laid aside His glory. There should have been more than just a few shepherds and angels to welcome Him - all of creation should have been there. Instead of collecting taxes, that fellow Caesar should have been in Bethlehem to worship Him. Jesus Christ could have forced him to do that very thing, but He did not. He laid aside, not His deity, but His prerogatives of deity. He came a little baby thing."
Verse 12, "And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
LGT "And this [is] to you a sign, You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manger."
This sign will be to the shepherd's indisputable evidence that they have found the Savior; He will be wrapped in swaddling clothes, strips of cloth, and lying in a crib, in a cattle stall, or a cave.
Pentecost adds:
"Both the attire of the Baby and the place where He could be found were signs to the shepherds. One would expect to find a baby of royal parentage in a palace. Such a baby normally is wrapped in luxurious garments and surrounded by every comfort and convenience. Signs of wealth and station are everywhere evident. But such was not the case with this Baby. He was in a manger. No royal garments clothed His body; rather, He was wrapped in strips of cloth. This Baby had the appearance of being prepared for burial. How fitting that He should be so seen from the time of His birth, since He truly had been appointed to death!"
Verses 13, 14, "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men."
LGT "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of [the] heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in [the] highest, and upon earth, peace, among men in whom He is well pleased."
These heavenly "hosts" are literally, Heavenly soldiers. These two verses state the fact that Peace on earth is pronounced on believers, that is, men who have good-will towards man and God. There is no peace to those outside of Christ, and never will you find it written in Scripture that God is pleased with those who are not His own. "As a matter of fact real peace on earth exists only among those who are the subjects of God's goodwill, who are characterized by goodwill toward God and man" (Robertson).
McGee adds:
"The angels did not make the asinine statement that many men make today which goes, Let's have peace, peace, peace. My friend, There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked (Isa. 48:22). We live in a day when we need to beat our plowshares into swords - not the other way around. We live in a wicked world. We live in a Satan-dominated world, and therefore there is no peace. There is, however, peace to men of good will. If you are one of those who has come to Christ and taken Him as Savior, you can know this peace of God. Romans 5:1 states: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. When Christ came the first time, this is the kind of peace He brought. At His second coming He will come as the Prince of Peace; at that time He will put down unrighteousness and rebellion in the world. He will establish peace on the earth. But until He comes again, there will be no peace on this earth."
Verse 15, "And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."
LGT "And it came to pass, as the angels departed from them into the heaven, the shepherds began to speak one to another, Let us go through, indeed, as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord made known to us."
The angels left quite an impression on these shepherds that they would immediately leave their flocks, in order to go and see the "thing" the lord had told them of.
Verse 16, "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."
LGT "And they came, having hasted, and they found both Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in the manger."
These shepherds were obviously believers, for this verse says that they hasted to go and see the promised Messiah; and also, the angel of the Lord would not have appeared to them with this beautiful message, had they not been believers. These shepherds were the first to visit the Baby Jesus, for the wise men did not appear till he was several months old.
Verse 17, "And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child."
LGT "And having seen, they made known abroad concerning the saying, which had been told them concerning this little Child."
"These shepherds, having charge of flocks devoted to sacrifice, would presently be in the temple, and would meet those who came to worship and to sacrifice, and so proclaim the Messiah in the temple" (Vincent). "Having seen the Child themselves, they had now evidence that would satisfy others; and accordingly they became the first preachers of the Gospel, and went and proclaimed to others that the Messiah had come" (Barnes).
Verse 18, "And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds."
LGT "And all the ones who heard, wondered concerning the things which had been spoken by the shepherds to them."
The result of their announcement was that all who heard were amazed; the content of their message was, the Messiah had come; the Redeemer had come; the One who will rule over Israel had come. The implications of their message, says Pentecost, is, People could now enter into the Kingdom of the Prince of Peace.
Verse 19, "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."
LGT "But Mary was keeping all these sayings, pondering [them] in her heart."
Mary put a safeguard on all the things she knew that was foretold concerning her most precious Child.
Barnes notes:
"All that happened, and all that was said respecting her child; she remembered what the angel had said to her; what had happened to Elisabeth and to the shepherds - all the extraordinary circumstances which had attended the birth of her Son. Here is a delicate and beautiful expression of the feelings of a mother. A mother forgets none of those things, which occur, respecting her children. Everything they do or suffer - everything that is said of them, is treasured up in her mind; and often, she thinks of those things, and anxiously seeks what they may indicate respecting the future character and welfare of her child. Pondering. Weighed. This is the original meaning of the word weighed. She kept them; she revolved them; she weighed them in her mind, giving to each circumstance its just importance, and anxiously seeking what it might indicate respecting her Child."
Verse 20, "And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them."
LGT "And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things which they had heard and seen, just as it was said to them."
The shepherds returned to their duties glorifying and praising God for the facts that they had heard and seen with their own eyes their Redeemer and Savior had arrived.
Verse 21, "And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb."
LGT "And when eight days were fulfilled for the circumcising, and His name was called Jesus, which [He] was called by the angel, before He was conceived in the womb."
The custom of the Jews was that the child would be named at circumcision. Eight days was the proper time. Just as John was given a Heavenly name, so it was with Jesus.
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
Verse 22, "And when the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord."
LGT "And when the days were fulfilled for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present [Him] to the Lord."
The mother was ceremonially unclean for forty-days following the birth of a son, and for eighty-days following the birth of a daughter.
Farrar says:
"On the fortieth day after the nativity - until which time she could not leave the house - the Virgin presented herself with her Babe for their purification in the Temple at Jerusalem. Thus, then, says St. Bonaventura, do they bring the Lord of the Temple to the Temple of the Lord. The proper offering on such occasions was a yearling lamb for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon or a turtle-dove for a sin-offering; but with that beautiful tenderness, which is so marked a characteristic of the Mosaic legislation, those who were too poor for so comparatively costly an offering, were allowed to bring instead two turtle-doves or two young pigeons. With this humble offering, Mary presented herself to the priest. At the same time Jesus, as being a first-born son, was presented to God, and in accordance with the law, was redeemed from the necessity of Temple service by the ordinary payment of five shekels of the sanctuary (Num. 18:15,16)."
Verse 23, "(As it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)"
LGT "Just as it is has been written in [the] Law of [the] Lord, That every male opening a womb shall be called holy to the Lord;"
The purification involved the mother; the presentation the Son, for Christ did not have to be purified. In Gal. 4:4 Paul stresses that Christ was made under the Law.
Verse 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."
LGT "And to offer a sacrifice according to that which has been said in the Law of [the] Lord, A pair of turtledoves or two young ones of pigeons."
"The offering of the poor. While the lamb would probably cost about one dollar and seventy-five cents, the doves would cost about sixteen cents. She would bring the creatures themselves, but would drop the price into one of the thirteen trumpet-shaped chests in the Court of Women" (Vincent). The sacrifice was for Mary and not the child; "As far as we know" says McGee, "Jesus never offered a sacrifice" (except Himself).
Verse 25, "And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him."
LGT "And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name [was] Simeon, and this man [was] just and pious, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and [the] Holy Spirit was upon him:"
The Greek word for "consolation" is paraklesin and it means to call along side for comfort; the Holy Spirit is our Paraklete, that is, the One we call along side for our help in time of need. So this Simeon was waiting for Israel's Messiah.
Verse 26, "And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ."
LGT "And it had been divinely revealed by the Holy Spirit, that he would not see death, before he should see the Christ of [the] Lord."
The intimation in this verse is that this divine revelation had been given Simeon in answer to his prayer, that he would not die before he saw the long awaited Messiah, the anointed One of the Lord.
Barnes notes:
"The word Christ means anointed, and it would have been better to use that word here. To an aged man who had been long waiting for the Messiah, how grateful must have been this revelation - this solemn assurance that the Messiah was near! But this revelation is now given to every man, that he need not taste of death till, by the eye of faith, he may see the Christ of God. He is offered freely. He has come. He waits to manifest Himself to the world, and He is not willing that any should die forever. To us also it will be as great a privilege in our dying hours to have seen Christ by faith as it was to Simeon. It will be the only thing that can support us then - the only thing that will enable us to depart in peace."
Verse 27, "And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,"
LGT "And he came in the Spirit into the Temple: and when the parents brought in the little child, Jesus, that they might do what had become customary by the Law concerning them,"
The term "By the Spirit" is literally, in the Spirit, which as Vincent points out, gives the direction that Simeon was prompted by the Spirit, and that he walked in close harmony with God. The custom was, the purification of Mary, and the offering the child in dedication to God.
Verse 28, "Then he took him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,"
LGT "He also received Him into his arms, and thanked God, and said,"
What a beautiful picture of an old believer, looking forward to going home, but is prompted by the Holy Spirit to receive his Savior into his arms, and looking up to heaven, and thanking his heavenly Father.
McGee wrote:
"There was a man by the name of Simeon who by the Holy Spirit was in the temple when the Lord Jesus was brought in to fulfill the Mosaic Law. God had promised Simeon that he would see the salvation of God. What did he see? He saw a little Baby. Salvation is a Person, and not something that you do. Salvation is a person, and that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ. You either have Him, or you don't have Him. You either trust Him, or you don't trust Him. Do you have Him today?"
Verse 29, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:"
LGT "Now You do release Your slave, O Master, according to Your Word, in peace."
Simeon prays to the Lord that he is now ready for the Lord to release him from his earthly duties, as God's slave, to go home in peace.
Verse 30, "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,"
LGT "Because my eyes have seen Thy Salvation,"
This verse gives the reason for Simeon's tranquil attitude toward death: he has seen the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, the One who would procure our Salvation.
Verse 31, "Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;"
LGT "Which You have prepared before [the] face of all the peoples;"
Here we have God's design to reveal Christ to all peoples.
Verse 32, "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."
LGT "A Light for a Revelation of [the] Gentiles, and glory of Your people Israel."
The Gospel is presented to the Jew first and also to the Greek. This Gospel had then, and still has a worldwide appeal. McGee notes that the religions of the world are directed at a certain sect or race of people, but Christianity is directed to the entire world.
Verse 33, "And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him."
LGT "Both His father and Mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning Him."
The reasoning for this wonderment on the part of Joseph and Mary after all that had been previously revealed to them is because of the details of His being the Savior of the world, provided here by Simeon. The Authorized Version says Joseph and His mother, but this was a later addition I guess to substantiate the fact that He was virgin born; however, this is an unnecessary addition, for the Virgin birth had already been established, and was established, even by the OT prophets, for it is only necessary for a fact to be mentioned once to be true.
Verse 34, "And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;"
LGT "And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, Lo, this [Child] is set for [the] falling and rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against."
Simeon blessed them but it would not be without its curse; Mary would see her Son in His glory, and also watch Him be afflicted and smitten of God. The falling and rising of many in Israel would be a prophetic statement that is still in effect today; the many that rise with Him are all the believers, and those that fall are the rejecters. The phrase a sign spoken against is a prophecy on going till He comes back and sets up His Kingdom.
Barnes notes:
"The word sign here denotes a conspicuous or distinguished object, and the Lord Jesus was such an object of contempt and rejection by all the people. He was despised, and His religion has been the common mark or sign for all wicked, the profligate [decadent], and the profane [blasphemous], to curse, and ridicule, and oppose. Comp. Isaiah 8:18, and Acts 28:22. Never was a prophecy more exactly fulfilled than this. Thousands have rejected the Gospel and fallen into ruin; thousands are still falling of those who are ashamed of Jesus; thousands blaspheme Him, deny Him, speak all manner of evil against Him, and would crucify Him again if He were in their hands; but thousands also by Him are renewed, justified, and raised up to life and peace."
Verse 35, "(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
LGT "(And of thee [also] a sword shall go through thy soul) - so that [the] reasoning's of many hearts may be revealed."
Robertson wrote:
"How little Mary understood the meaning of Simeon's words that seemed so out of place in the midst of the glorious things already spoken, a sharp thorn in their roses, a veritable bitter-sweet. But one day Mary will stand by the cross of Christ this Thracian javelin clean through her soul (John 19:25). It is only a parenthesis here, and a passing cloud perhaps passed over Mary's heart already puzzled with rapture and ecstasy. God's purpose for the Messiah is revealed. He is to test men's thoughts and purposes. They will be compelled to take a stand for Christ or against Him. That is true today."
McGee adds:
"However, when Mary stood beneath that cross and watched Jesus die, it was with a broken heart (of course we know that John took Mary home with him, and no one could view Christ's actual death because it was veiled in darkness). Of course her suffering had nothing to do with your salvation; her suffering had nothing to do with her salvation. Her suffering was due to a human relationship. She was His human mother. She had brought Him into the world and raised Him. He was her son. You see, when our Lord looked down from the cross and said, ". . . Woman, behold thy son!" (John 19:26), a human relationship was there that no one else had. She was suffering as His mother. And at that time the prophecy of Simeon was fulfilled - the sword pierced through her soul also."
Verse 36, "And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;"
LGT "And there was Anna a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel, of [the] tribe of Asher: she was advanced in many days, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;"
Montefiore, she being married at 15, married seven years, and a widow 84 years, has computed Anna's age at 106. "The tribe of Asher was celebrated in tradition for the beauty of its women, and their fitness to be wedded to high priest or kings" (Vincent). McGee notes on the fact that she was from the Tribe of Asher:
"I cannot refrain from saying that there are those who say there are ten lost tribes of Israel (that is, that the ten tribes went into Assyrian captivity in the eighth century B.C. migrated north than returning to the land of Israel). If you search through the Bible from the time Israel returned to the land after the captivity, you can pick up practically all the tribes. Here Anna is mentioned as a member of the tribe of Asher. Evidently Anna did not get lost!"
Verse 37, "And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day."
LGT "And she [was] a widow until eighty four years, who departed not from the Temple with fastings and supplications, serving night and day."
This verse simply stated means that Anna never missed a service. She had been widowed for eighty-four years and was waiting for the coming Messiah.
Verse 38, "And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."
LGT "And she coming up at the same hour gave praise to God, and spoke concerning Him to all those waiting for redemption of Jerusalem."
Here we have Anna returning thanks for Israel's redemption. There were pious men around her in the Temple that were also waiting for their Messiah. Robertson comments on this group of saints with Anna:
"There was evidently a group of such spirits that gathered in the temple either men around her and Simeon or whom she met from time to time. There was thus a nucleus of old saints in Jerusalem prepared for the coming of the Messiah when He at last appears as the Messiah in Jerusalem (John 2 and 3). These probably all passed away. But they had a happy hour of hope and joy. The late MSS. have in Jerusalem but of Jerusalem is correct. What they meant by the redemption of Jerusalem is not clear, whether political or spiritual or both. Simeon was looking for the consolation of Israel (2:25) and Zacharias (1:68) sang of redemption for Israel (Isa. 40:2)."
Pentecost writes:
"The prophecy of Simeon was heard by the prophetess Anna. This aged saint of God had been widowed after seven years of marriage. She had given herself to worship and fasting and prayer in the temple continuously for eighty-four years. She was waiting for the coming Messiah. When she heard Simeon speak, her spirit rejoiced because the One for whom she had been waiting had come. Therefore she gave thanks to God. Because God had heard her prayer that Messiah would come to bless His people, she proclaimed publicly the joyous news to all the saints who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. From the mouths of these two witnesses the nation Israel heard of the arrival of the Messiah."
The Return to Nazareth
Verse 39, "And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth."
LGT "And when they had completed all things according to the law of [the] Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city Nazareth."
They left the temple and went straight to Egypt to avoid Herod's rage. Luke does not write of this departure, he picks up his narrative after they leave Egypt and go to their home in Nazareth.
"The account of Matthew tells us that the next event in the life of Jesus was a trip to Egypt. Luke omits this account entirely. It is well to remember again the purpose for writing each Gospel is different. Matthew presents the Lord Jesus Christ as King, and Luke presents Him as the perfect Man. The coming of the wise men does not fit into Luke's purpose for writing. The wise men came looking for a King, not for the ideal of the Greek race. Luke presents Him as the perfect Man, and notice how he carries out his purpose even in this point" (McGee).
Verse 40, "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him."
LGT "And the little Child grew, and became strong, being filled with wisdom, and [the] grace of God was upon Him."
"The intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth of the child, like the physical, was real. He was a perfect humanity developing perfectly, unimpeded by hereditary or acquired defects. It was the first instance of such a growth in history. For the first time a human infant was realizing the ideal of humanity" (Plummer - quoted by Robertson).
Pentecost notes:
"Luke further recorded His spiritual development when he said the grace of God was upon Him. It is evident that Jesus Christ knew the Old Testament. He no doubt had memorized it as a boy in the synagogue and in His home. He was schooled in the Scriptures by godly parents from His earliest years. Our natural curiosity would like to know more of His development. Scripture is silent. It simply tells us that He went through the normal stages of growth and development."
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
Verse 41, "Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover."
LGT "And His parents went yearly to Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover."
"Every male was originally expected to appear at the Passover, Pentecost, and tabernacles (Exo. 23:14-17; 34:23; Deut. 16:16) But the Dispersion rendered that impossible. But pious Palestinian Jews made a point of going at least to the Passover. Mary went with Joseph as a pious habit, though not required by law to go" (Robertson).
Verse 42, "And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast."
LGT "And when He was twelve years [old], they having gone up according to the custom of the feast."
"At which age He was known as a son of the law, and came under obligation to observe the ordinances personally" (Vincent).
Verse 43, "And they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it."
LGT "And having completed the days, as they returned, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and His parents knew it not."
They stayed the full seven days of the feast and returned to their home after fulfilling all righteousness. Jesus remained behind in the temple, as he was preoccupied with the religion of the Jews.
Verse 44, "But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinfolk and acquaintance."
LGT "But supposing Him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him, from bottom up, among the relations and the acquaintances."
They traveled in a large company of relations and acquaintances, and they traveled a whole day before they found Him missing; they searched, as it is stated in the Greek, from bottom up, that is, the entire caravan; Mary probably thought He was with Joseph, and Joseph thought He was with Mary.
Verse 45, "And they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him."
LGT "And not having found [Him], they turned back to Jerusalem, seeking for Him."
This is all that concerned His parents; we must find that Boy.
Verse 46, "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking questions."
LGT "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 questioning them:"
One day out, and one-day back, and one day finding Jesus. They found Him in the outer court sitting on the ground listening to, and questioning the Rabbis propounding profound profundities. "Picture this eager boy alive with interest. It was His one opportunity in a theological school outside the synagogue to hear the great rabbis expound the problems of life. This was the most unusual of all children, to be sure, in intellectual grasp and power. But it is a mistake to think that children of twelve do not think profoundly concerning the issues of life. What father or mother has ever been able to answer [all of] a child's questions?" (Robertson)
"We read in the Talmud that the Members of the Temple-Sanhedrin, who, on ordinary days, sat as a court of appeal from the close of the morning to the time of the evening sacrifice, were wont, upon Sabbaths and feast-days, to come out upon the terrace of the temple, and there to teach. In such popular instruction the utmost latitude of questioning would be given. It is in this audience, which sat upon the ground, surrounding and mingling with the doctors, and hence during, not after, the feast, that we must seek the child Jesus" (Edersheim).
Verse 47, "And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers."
LGT "And all those hearing Him were amazed at [His] understanding and His answers."
The answers the Boy Christ gave astounded the learned Rabbis. There is very little written about Christ's childhood, therefore it is senseless for us to waste our time speculating. What we do know Luke has written with inspiration.
Verse 48, "And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing."
LGT "And seeing Him they were astonished, and His mother said unto Him, Child, why have you done to us thus? Behold Your father and I were distressed seeking You."
The Greek word for "amazed" is exeplagesan meaning to strike out, or to drive out by a blow. So you see, Jesus' parents were out of their senses for fear they had lost the Boy. Joseph is called Christ's father up to this point, but never after this. Mary, especially, was deeply distressed, as mothers are wont to be in these situations.
Verse 49, "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"
LGT "And He said to them, Why [is it] that you were seeking Me? Know Ye not that in the things of My Father [or as the Rev. has it, in My Father's house] it is necessary for Me to be?"
These are the first recorded words, handed down to us, of Jesus. The sense of this verse is that Jesus was in His Father's house, doing what was necessary for Him to be doing, that is, preparing for His mission of saving the world from their sins. Jesus answers Mary with these well chosen words; Mary should have known that the Son of God would be safe, and that she was worried needlessly.
Verse 50, "And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them."
LGT "And they understood not the word which He spoke to them."
Mary's not alone, for none of us fully understand what the Boy Jesus had said. Looking back at His ministry and His going to the cross, and His finished work there, we get all we need for the present; but in glory we will see Him face to face, and we will know even as we are known; then we will have eternity to learn the meaning of these words.
Verse 51, "And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart."
LGT "And He went down with them and came to Nazareth and He was subject to them. And His mother kept all these things in her heart."
This wonder Boy kept Himself subject to His parents; this Child who knew more than the Rabbis themselves; He worked with Joseph, who is not mentioned again, in his carpenter shop, and remained with His family until the time came for Him to leave and begin His earthly ministry. Mary kept all these things and played them over and over in her heart.
Verse 52, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
LGT "And Jesus advanced [in the] wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
His physical, intellectual, moral, spiritual development was perfect. "Dr. Luke gives us a report about those silent years when Jesus was growing to adulthood. He grew in wisdom (mentally), in stature (physically), in favor with God (spiritually) and man (socially). In every area the Lord Jesus Christ was growing into perfect manhood" (McGee).
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