Luke 2 – Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Luke 2:1-7: The birth of Jesus

A. Find Out:    

1. What did the emperor require? v.1
   • In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2. When did this happen, and with what consequence? v.2,3
   • (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to their own town to register.
3. So where did Joseph have to go? v.4
   • So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
4. With whom did he go? v.5
   • He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
5. What happened while they were there? v.6
   • While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
6. Where was the baby born and why? v.7
   • and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

B. Think:

1. Check on a map for Nazareth and Bethlehem .
2. How were Mary & Joseph forced by circumstances?
3. Why do you think all this happened?

C. Comment:

When we come to what is perhaps one of the most repeated stories in Scripture (every Christmas), we are confronted with a question rarely asked: why? Why did the emperor suddenly decide to hold a census? Why did Joseph and Mary have to go just at the time when Mary was expecting? Why did they end up having to have the baby in a stable? Luke gives us none of the answers!

What we find is a young couple who seem to get swept along in the circumstances of the world.  Mary didn’t ask to be pregnant. They would probably rather have not been away from home at this time. It all seems as if circumstances are completely out of control, and they are just getting carried along in the tide of them.

What was the end result of all of this?  A lamb (see Jn 1:29) was born in a stable. The lamb was part of the house or family of king David (1 Chron 17:11 -14) and it was fitting that he should therefore be born in Bethlehem , the home of David.  Beyond this, as we read further on in Luke, we’ll see that many of the following circumstances meant it was far more convenient for them to be in Bethlehem rather than Nazareth . Did God whisper the idea to the proud Caesar?   We don’t know but in the outcome the details are exact in God’s planning.

D. Application:

1. Chaotic Circumstances: Your life circumstances may appear chaotic, but look for God in them. You may need to wait before understanding comes.
2. God works out His plans with infinite care: Can I sense today God’s purposes for my life being worked out, a general sense of Him behind it all?

Passage: Luke 2:8-20: Angels & Shepherds

A. Find Out:

1. Who next received a visit from whom, with what result? v.8,9
   • And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
2. What did the angel say to the terrified shepherds? v.10
   • But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
3. What was that good news & how would it be proved? v.11,12
   • Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’
4. What thwn happened? v.13,14
   • Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
   • 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   •     and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’
5. What was the response of the shepherds? v.15,16
   • When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’
   • 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
6. What did they do after they saw Jesus? v.17
   • When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
7. What was the response in the neighbourhood? v.18
   • and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
8. Yet what did Mary do? v.19
   • But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
9. And what did the shepherds do? v.20
   • The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

B. Think:

1. How would you describe the shepherds from all we’re told of them?
2. How would you summarize the content of the heavenly messengers?
3. What seems to have been Mary’s response to all these things?

C. Comment:

For the third time in his Gospel, Luke records an angelic visitation. Do the angels now come to the great? No, to the lowly, to shepherds, who were virtually outcasts, living out on the hillsides with their sheep all the time. Shepherds are being told about the birth of a Lamb (remember yesterday). First it is just one angel and he’s enough to frighten them all, and then it’s a tremendous company of angels all praising God for what is happening. This is clearly a time of immense rejoicing. Heaven does not view the coming of the Son of God to earth in “doom and gloom” terms, but in terms of great rejoicing.

The response of the shepherds is exemplary! “Let’s go and see” is their immediate response, and having seen they tell everyone, and having told everyone, they go back to their jobs on the hillsides still praising God. THAT is a good response! Oh that Christians would have that same response when the revelation of God comes!

Mary’s response is interesting: she first of all “treasured up all these things”. That means she held onto them. Then she “pondered them in her heart”. That means she gave careful consideration to them. Mary again, is a good example for us. She holds onto all that happens and carefully considers it all. May we do the same!

D. Application:

1. God chooses the weak & lowly: Whatever my status in life, do I understand my frailty without the Lord, recognising weakness that needs Him. Do I see others with Jesus’ eyes or the judgmental eyes of today’s world?
2. A faith response? When God speaks does he find in me and eager desire to respond like the shepherds? Does He find in me a response that wants to tell others of the good news?
3. Treasuring God’s words: Do we hold onto & ponder the wonder of what we’ve seen & heard from God, or do we easily forget or ignore it?

Passage: Luke 2:21-28: Going to the Temple

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons’. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God

A. Find Out:

1. What happened on the eighth day? v.21
   • On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
2. When did they go to Jerusalem and why? v.22-24
   • When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons’.
3. How is Simeon described? v.25
   • Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
4. What had God shown him? v.26
   • It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
5. Why was he there on that day? v.27a
   • Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.
6. What did he do when this family arrived? v.27b,28
   • When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God

B. Think:

1. How did the Law direct these circumstances?
2. How did the Spirit direct them?
3. What part did humans then have to play?

C. Comment:

The passage before us now is a remarkable combination of word and Spirit. First of all Mary and Joseph are responding to the word of God. First it is the word from the angel to name their son Jesus. Next it is responding to the Law of God that instructed circumcision and then the offering for the first born. Thus it is, in their case, the Law that brings them to the Temple in Jerusalem at this time.

Then there is Simeon and he is there at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. First he has received the word of God by the Spirit that he would see the Messiah this side of heaven. That has kept him in a state of alertness, and we’re told the Holy Spirit was upon him, i.e. making him very aware of God’s presence and purpose. On this particular day he senses a prompting of the Spirit to go to the Temple and this he does. There he visits in a state of alertness.

Probably there were other visitors but he takes no notice of them. Suddenly he sees Mary and Joseph and their baby and (presumably) the Spirit stirs him again and he knows these are the ones he has been waiting for. A man open and alert to God! A couple who are open and obedient to God’s word. And so word and Spirit bring these obedient people together to herald the coming of God to His Temple for the first time since it was built by Herod!   

D. Application:

1. Guidance by God’s Word: Do I let God’s word guide and direct me? Am I really taking it and responding to it when I read it here?
2. Guidance by God’s Spirit: Am I open to the prompting and leading of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis? Is this something I need to learn to do?

Passage: Luke 2:28-40: Temple Conformations

A. Find Out:

1. What did Simeon pray and why? v.28-30
   • Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
   • 29 ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
   •     you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
   • 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
2. To whom did he realise God’s salvation was coming? v.31,32
   • For my eyes have seen your salvation,
     31  which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
     32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
         and the glory of your people Israel.’
3. What effect did he say the child would have? v.34,35
   • Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
4. What are we told about Anna? v.36,37
   • There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.
5. What did she do? v.38
   • Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
6. Where did Mary & Joseph go afterwards? v.39
   • When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
7. And what are we told abut Jesus? v.40
   • And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

B. Think:

1. List the things that Simeon knew about Jesus?
2. How was Anna a confirming witness?
3. Read Deut 19:15b. How was God complying with His own Law?

C. Comment:

Two prophetic people draw back the curtain of revelation on this tiny baby that is being presented in the Temple . The scope of Simeon’s understanding is staggering! He has a sense of fulfilment about him. How wonderful when God speaks something and you can see it so clearly fulfilled. The Lord has obviously spoken to this Spirit-filled man and now he knew that the word was fulfilled.

What does he know about Jesus?

• a) That he is God’s salvation. [v.30]
• b) That salvation is for the whole world, not just Israel [v.32].
• c) The very nature of this man will cause complete upheaval in people’s thinking [v.34]
• d) He will even be spoken against [v.34]
• e) He will be the means of revealing the heart and minds of many people [v.35] and
• f) He will even cause distress to Mary herself [v.35].

     How incredible is this prophetic insight!

But then in comes Anna, an old lady known by those who come to the Temple regularly to be a pious woman who spent her life in God’s presence, fasting and praying. There is no doubt about her credibility, and so she comes in and confirms all that Simeon is saying.

For any situation the Law required there to be at least two witnesses to establish the truth and here we have two incredible witnesses to confirm and verify the truth about this child. This is God’s child!   

D. Application:

1. Simeon’s example: If a man, does Simeon’s example challenge me? Am I such a man of revelation and insight? Why not?
2. Anna’s example: If a woman, does Anna’s example challenge me? Am I a woman of devotion like her? Why not?

Passage: Luke 2:41-52: Jesus, age twelve in Jerusalem

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’

49 ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

A. Find Out:

1. What happened annually, and now this year? v.41,42
   •  Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.
2. What happened after the feast and why? v.43,44
   • After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.
3. What did Mary & Joseph do about it? v.45
   • When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
4. Where was Jesus and what had he been doing? v.46,47
   • After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
5. What was Jesus’ response to their question? v.48,49
   • When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’
   • 49 ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’
6. What was their response? v.50
   • But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7. So what did Jesus do? v.51,52
   • Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

B. Think:

1. What do verses 41,42 tell us about Jesus’ parents?
2. What do verses 43,44 tell us about their community life?
3. What do we see about Jesus in verses 46 to 52?

C. Comment:

First note the character of Jesus’ natural family. Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover. This was quite a commitment. There was also a strong family and community feel to their lives, because when Jesus went missing, it was because Joseph and Mary thought he was “among their relatives and friends”, an indication of a lot of people travelling together.

But what is more important to note is what is happening to Jesus, for in this chapter Luke has been collecting testimonies to Jesus. When his parents find him he is at the Temple .  He has been there for three days.  Somehow he must have been receiving food and shelter. But he’s there taking part in the discussions that went on under the tutelage of the religious teachers. More than that, he’s fully involved in these discussions, showing that he fully understands all that is being said, asking questions and giving answers.

The fact that this is when Jesus is twelve may mean that it is the time when, in Jewish eyes, he takes on maturity.   He certainly shows it here. But it is Jesus’ testimony that is the crucial thing in these verses, that the Temple is his Father’s house. That leaves his parents confused.  What does that mean? They don’t know, but Mary holds onto these things and ponders them. For us, we can see it as yet a further signpost marking out who this is – God’s Son!

D. Application:

1. Community in Family: This passage shows a challenging example. Do we work at building community in our family?
2. Jesus Understand: Do we realise that Jesus does know everything about us. He is God’s Son and knows all things.