The Gospel According to Saint Luke
Luke 2
Chapter II · Vol. IV, pp. 148–153
1 Augustus taxeth all the Roman empire. 6 The birth of Christ. 8 An angel relateth it to the shepherds: 13 many sing praises to God for it. 21 Christ is circumcised. 22 Mary purified. 28 Simeon and Anna prophesy of Christ: 40 who increaseth in wisdom, 46 questioneth in the temple with the doctors, 51 and is obedient to his parents.
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.1
Before the account called Anno Domini the 4th year.
1 Or enrolled in the registers of the empire in order to be taxed, &c.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)2
2 The chronological difficulty in this statement appears to be solved by the recent researches of Zumpt. P. S. Quirinus, called by Luke Cyrenius, was consul in B.C. 12, and was therefore from that time qualified to fill the office of governor of Syria. From B.C. 12 till B.C. 4, the names of the governors are recorded; from B.C. 4 till A.D. 4 the record is blank. During that period the census took place, and there is a very strong probability that Quirinus filled the office of governor from B.C. 4 till B.C. 2, and during his rule a census of the province was either first ordered by the imperial government, or first carried into effect. Grammatically the passage may bear either interpretation.—P.
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto athe city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was bof the house and lineage of David,)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused 3wife, being great with child.
3 ch.1.27. Mat.1.18-20. Thus God protected her reputation.
6 And so it was, that, cwhile they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And dshe brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling-clothes, and laide him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.Cited in WSC 27 · WLC 47
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping 4watch over their flock by night.5
4 Or, the night-watches. It therefore seems it was not in the winter, Ex.3.1,2. Pr.27.25.
5 This statement renders it highly improbable, if not impossible, that our Lord could have been born in mid-winter. At that season, amid the mountains of Judea, the nights are intensely cold, and neither shepherds nor flocks could remain in the fields. The careful calculations of Greswell show that the birth took place about the time of the passover in spring.—P.
9 And, lo, gthe angel of the Lord came hupon them, and the iglory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, jFear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.Cited in WSC 1
11 Fork unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.Cited in HC 18
12 And this shall be a sign unto you: lYe shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a nmultitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds6 said one to another, qLet us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
17 And when they had seen it, sthey made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
s Jn.4.28,29. Mar.1.45; 5.20. Ga.1.15,16.
19 But uMary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
u ver.51; ch.1.29,66. Ge.37.11. 1 Sa.21.11,12.
20 And the shepherds returned, vglorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
21 Andx when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS,7 which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
x Ge.17.12. Le.12.3. ch.1.59. Phi.3.5.
7 Mat.1.21. ch.1.31; ver.10,11. Is.45.17,22.
22 And ywhen the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
Before the account called Anno Domini the 3d or 4th year.
y Le.12.2.
23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Everyz male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
24 And to offer a sacrifice according to athat which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.
a Le.12.2,6,8.
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was bjust and devout, cwaiting for the consolation of Israel: and dthe Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 Ande it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not gsee death, before he had seen hthe Lord's Christ.8
27 And he came iby the Spirit9 into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, jto do for him after the custom of the law,
30 For mine eyes have seen othy salvation,
o ch.3.6. Ps.98.2. Is.52.10. Mat.1.21. ver.10,11. Ac.4.10,12.
32 Aq light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
q Is.42.6; 49.6. Ac.13.47,48; 28.28. Ro.15.8. Is.60.3,19.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the sfall and rising again of many in Israel; and for ta sign which shall be spoken against;
s Is.8.14. Mat.21.44. Ro.9.32,33. 1 Co.1.23,24. 2 Co.2.16. 1 Pe.2.7,8. Jn.3.20; 9.39.
35 (Yea, ua sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,1) that vthe thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
u Jn.19.25.
1 I think Alford has given the key to the right interpretation of this passage. It is connected with, in fact embodied in, a sentence which describes the effects of Christ's salvation upon the hearts and consciences of men. No allusion is made to mere human sorrow, but to sorrow for sin. The struggles referred to in the context are the struggles of penitent souls for pardon and acceptance. Mary herself, it is here predicted, would pass through a similar struggle. The pangs of sorrow for sin would pierce her heart also.—P.
36 And there was one xAnna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; yshe was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which zdeparted not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
z Ex.38.8. 1 Sa.1.22. Ac.26.7. 1 Ti.5.5. 2 Ch.22.11.
38 And she, coming in that instant, agave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that blooked for redemption in Jerusalem.3
39 And when they had cperformed all things according to the law of the Lord, they dreturned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
c ch.1.6. De.12.32. ver.21-24.
d Mat.2.22,23. ver.4.
40 Ande the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.4
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem gevery year at the feast of the passover.
g De.16.1,16. Ex.23.15,17; 24.13. Le.23.5. Nu.28.16.
42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, after the custom of the feast.
43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44 But they, supposing him to have been in theh company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple,5 sitting in the midst of the doctors, both ihearing them, and asking them questions.
47 And all that heard him jwere astonished at his understanding and answers.
j Mat.7.28. Mar.1.22. ch.4.22,32. Ps.119.99. Jn.7.15,46.
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 father6 and I have sought thee sorrowing.
6 Thy father. Joseph was so called by the common voice, according to which Mary so names him.—C.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that kI must be about my Father's business?7
k Mal.3.1,2. Ps.40.8. Jn.4.34; 8.29;2.16; 5.17; 9.4.
7 Christ's words are remarkable and most important. Mary half reproachfully asks him, 'Why hast thou dealt thus with us? Thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.' Hitherto Jesus had been reckoned by friends, and called by the family, Joseph's son. Now he shows them that he knew the whole truth; that, in fact, he had a far deeper insight into the mystery of his origin and nature than Mary herself. 'How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my 'Father's business?' He was God's Son, and henceforth he must be devoted to God's great work.—P.
51 And he went down with them, and camen to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother okept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And pJesus increased in wisdom and stature,8 and in favour with God and man.9
p 1 Sa.2.26. ch.1.80; ver.40.
8 Or, age.
9 See note * below.
* This is a remarkable statement, and recent controversies have attached to it even greater importance than it formerly possessed. I understand it as follows:—Our Lord possessed a true human nature —a human body and mind. He possessed also a divine nature; and in that nature was infinite in wisdom and in power. His body grew, and the faculties of his mind expanded, like those of other children. And just in proportion as his mental faculties were developed did the divine wisdom manifest itself in them and shine through them. The human mind of Jesus was always filled with wisdom to the utmost extent of its capacity. Hence the statement in ch. 2. 40, 'The child grew, filled with wisdom.' As the mental powers expanded they were able to apprehend and exhibit more and more of the infinite wisdom of the indwelling God. From a human point of view, therefore, Jesus increased in wisdom. There was this essential difference, however, between him and mere men: men got their knowledge from without—from parents, schools, masters; Jesus got his from within—from his divine nature, which is the fountain of all knowledge.—P.
Notes
Ver. 34, 35. He is appointed of God and brought into the world as an occasion of the stumbling and falling of many Israelites, and as the divine means of raising up men to eternal life and happiness. And such shall be his wonderfully mean and suffering circumstances that many will speak against him with bitter enmity and blasphemy; and you, his mother, shall be tormented with anguish and pain to see him so contemned, reviled, persecuted, and murdered: yet by these means it will clearly be discovered who are his friends that accept him, and who his enemies that reject him.
Ver. 1. Cæsar Augustus. This was Caius Cæsar Octavianus Augustus, one of the Roman triumvirs, who was chosen emperor B.C. 29, and died A.D. 14. He received the name of Cæsar, the family name of Julius Cæsar, by whom he had been adopted, and the name of Augustus (the most probable meaning of which is, 'worthy of divine honours,' Pausan. iii. 11) he received from the servile senate.—All the world. Some would translate it, 'all the (Roman) empire'—an expression very frequent in the best classical writers. But as no such general taxation is mentioned by any contemporary historian, it seems more consonant to Jewish phraseology to understand it merely of 'all Judea,' which the Jews considered the earth of the whole world; see Ru. 1. 1; 2 Sa. 24. 8. This view seems to be confirmed by ver. 3, in which 'every one' went to 'his own city'—a description that evidently could apply to Judea alone. C.
Ver. 2. It appears from historical records that Cyrenius was not made governor of Syria till ten or twelve years after the birth of Jesus. The words may, however, be more literally translated, 'And this first registration was carried into effect (that is, by taxation) when Cyrenius was governor of Syria;' or, 'The first registration was made under Cyrenius (afterwards) governor of Syria.' C.
Ver. 3. His own city—the capital city of his own family (see ver. 4), not of his district. Wherefore it is evident that, though commanded by Roman authority, the registration was conducted upon Jewish principles. C.
Ver. 12. A manger. The ordinary Greek text is 'the manger, stable,' or whatever else the meaning of the term may be. The, however, is wanting in many MSS.: the Editio Princeps is cancelled by Wetstein, and rejected by Middleton. But as it occurs in ver. 7, in distinction from 'the inn,' it is evidently as necessary here, where it serves as a direction to the shepherds—a direction which proves it to be a well-known public place, and not a private article, such as 'a manger,' that could not serve as a mark of any particular place in the town. See also ver. 16, in which the is repeated without any critical question. C.
Ver. 19. The conduct of Mary in this case furnishes a most valuable lesson to parents, who are often found anxious and labouring to display every qualification and prospect of their children. Never had a mother such an opportunity, nay, such a temptation to display, as Mary; but she was silent, yet not regardless; for while she 'kept all these things,' she 'pondered them in her heart.' C.
Ver. 21. Was so named of the angel. The angelic name Jesus is very pregnant with important discoveries of the invisible world. (1) It shows that angels have full knowledge of our sinful estate; see Mat. 1. 21. (2) Of the mystery of our redemption. (3) That they have knowledge of individuals, even by name, and are interested in those names. (4) That, either by special revelation, or by an intuitive knowledge of the ways of God, they can prophesy of future events. (5) That they are God's agents in human affairs, even those considered minute and unimportant; and are (not ruling spirits, entitled to prayer, but) 'ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation.' C.
Ver. 24. A pair of turtle-doves, &c. The one was for a burnt-offering, the other for a sin-offering; and, being in place of a lamb, were a proof of poverty.—Note, These were offered for both mother and child—for her that was a sinner, and for 'him who knew no sin;' but for him both were rightly offered, inasmuch as he bore our sins, and was required to 'fulfil all righteousness.' C.
Ver. 32. This first announcement of Jesus by a Jewish prophet proclaims him a light to the Gentiles—a privilege which even the apostles of our Lord were afterwards, with much difficulty, induced to concede, Ac. 10. 18; 11. 18. So strong is human prejudice' so mighty the barriers which grace must needs overcome! —Note, How great is the change yet to be accomplished before Jesus, whom the Jews despised and rejected, shall become their highest honour! Yet that change is not peculiar to them. As great a change must pass over every man before he can learn to glory in the cross of Christ. C.
Ver. 34. For the fall of many—even of the whole state, who shall despise and reject him, and be judged and scattered of God, and plagued with all the prophetic plagues.—And rising again of many—by the spiritual resurrection of the whole Jewish nation, when they shall return to the Lord, and look upon him whom their fathers pierced. C. Ver. 35. An ignorant man, by looking upon flint and steel, or even from feeling and minute examination, would never expect fire from their collision; and as little does any man know either himself or others, till circumstances bring out what lies concealed and unknown, and often unsuspected. The person, ministration, the cross, the sacrifice, and the judgment-seat of Christ, can alone fully reveal all that is in man of enmity that resists, or of humility, Spirit-begotten, that submits to the righteousness of God.
Ver. 36. Anna a prophetess. There were several distinguished prophetesses under the Old Testament—as Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah—so Anna is now inspired to represent woman in the knowledge and revelation of Messiah. By such historic means, and not by assertion or argument, does the Scripture declare the intellectual and moral dignity of woman. The Lord raise up many such holy women in his church to welcome and commend the Saviour! C.
Ver. 44. Company. The country being infested with many robbers, as appears from Josephus, it was needful that the people should travel in companies, for mutual protection; but it is more than probable (Ps. 84. 8, margin) that they were accustomed to unite in bands for mutual edification and religious services during their journeys. C.
Ver. 52. If Jesus were God, how could he 'grow in favour?' He grew in favour, as in stature or age. Being in the flesh, he was subject to all the sinless circumstances of the flesh, and consequently grew in favour with his heavenly Father, as years developed his amiabilities. C.
Reflections.—The taxing pride of a Roman emperor in a wonderful manner occasions our Redeemer's birth at the place long before marked in prophecy, and the enrolment of him and his family as descendants of David. And O how infinite was the debasement of the Son of God to save men! Yet pregnant with the greatest glory to himself and his Father, and with grace to men. Delightful are the tidings, the gracious offers, of him and his salvation to sinners in the gospel. And with sincerity and grateful praise ought they to be received by us and commended to others. A safe child-birth ought to be esteemed a great mercy; and both mother and child ought gratefully to be devoted to God. Thrice happy are they who long wait for the Lord! He will at last appear for their comfort, and open their lips in his praise. And it is only believing views of Jesus Christ that can render death and eternity truly pleasant and hopeful. But unhappy are they to whom this light, this Saviour of the world, becomes an occasion of greater sin and more terrible ruin. Even they who have distinguished honours allotted them have frequently some bitter trials annexed to them. And even they who live nearest to Jesus Christ must often seek him. It is enough that they find him at last, and lay up his words in their heart.—While parents consider how carefully they ought to attend the ordinances of God, and bring their children along with them, let children ponder what a delightful pattern of early knowledge, devotion, trust in God, and obedience to mean parents, is represented to them in our Redeemer.