Luke 2: Jesus’ birth & presentation back to God

• v.1-7 The Birth of Jesus
• v.8-21 The Angel comes to the Shepherds
• v.22-40 Jesus Presented in the Temple
• v.41-52 The Boy Jesus at the Temple

v.1-7 The Birth of Jesus

v.1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

v.2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

v.3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

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.

v.5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

v.6,7 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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.

[Note: The emperor exerts his will to bolster his pride, calling for a census of all his people. Each family-head had to return to his family home so Joseph takes Mary to Bethlehem so the new little family can be registered, so it was there that Jesus was born.]

v.8-21 The Angel comes to the Shepherds

v.8-12 An angel tells nearby shepherds of the birth that has just taken place

v.8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

v.9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

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.

v.11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

v.12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

[Note: The first ones to be told of the birth were shepherds to whom an angel was sent bringing the good news – the Saviour, the Messiah, had just been born – and they would find him in a stable in Bethlehem.]

v.13-18 The heavens are filled with song and the shepherds go as instructed

v.13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

v.14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

v.15 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.”

v.16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

v.17,18 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

[Note: Then there was a mighty heavenly choir who praised and glorified God. Afterwards the shepherds went down to Bethlehem and found the little family as they had been told, and they spread the news far and wide.]

v.19-21 Mary pondered these things as the shepherds left and they soon name the baby, Jesus

v.19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

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.

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.

[Note: Mary reflected on these things and the shepherds went back into the hills praising God. They name him Jesus as instructed when he is circumcised in the town [see notes at end of chapter.]

v.22-40 Jesus Presented in the Temple

v.22-24 After 33 days they travelled up to Jerusalem to the temple in accordance with the Law.

v.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

v.23 as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”,

v.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.” 

[Note: See the references at the end of the chapter.]

v.25-27a Introducing Simeon

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.

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.

v.27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.

[Note: Simeon, a godly man, was waiting for them, having been told he would see the Messiah, and now led by the Spirit to the Temple as the young family came.]

v.27b-35 Simeon blesses Jesus

When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,

v.28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

v.29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
v.30-32 For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

v.33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

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, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

[Note: Simeon took the child in his arms and thanked God for he saw the Lord’s answer to prophecy. Mary & Joseph marveled at this and then Simeon prophesied over the baby.]

v.36-38 Anna also acknowledges Jesus

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, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

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.

[Note: A prophetess, Anna was also there, and she too came and praised God for the child

v.39,40 Later they return home to Nazareth

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.

v.40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

[Note: Later Mary & Joseph eventually returned to Nazareth and Jesus grew as a gracious child. Unlike Matthew (see Mt 2:13-23), Luke doesn’t record the Egypt escape but simply picks up on the fact that eventually they return home to Nazareth.]

v.41-52 The Boy Jesus at the Temple

v.41-45 Twelve years later, Jesus is left in Jerusalem on one of their annual trips

v.41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.

v.42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.

v.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.

v.44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.

v.45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

[Note: It was the family’s regular annual trip to Jerusalem and Jesus was 12. He stayed behind after the feast but unfortunately his parents didn’t realize he wasn’t with them, and so they later return to look for him.]

v.46-52 Jesus shows awareness of who he was

v.46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

v.47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

v.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.”

v. 49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

v.50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

v.51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

v.52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

[Note: After 3 days’ searching, they find him, with people being amazed by him. His parents chide him, and he gives a strange answer – but they didn’t understand. Mary pondered these things, and Jesus grew well.]

[Additional Notes on the three rites observed in verses 21 to 24

i) circumcision (v.21) – laid down in Gen 17:12 & Lev 12:3 as on the eighth day, the day science has subsequently agreed is the safest day to carry out this minor surgery that signified the boy was a part of the covenant community of Israel. It was also the time the child was named – see also 1:59 with John.]

ii) the redemption of the first-born (v.23) – see Ex 13:1,2,11-15, Num 18:14,15 – a rite recognizing that every first born was special having been bought by God at the Passover from ‘destruction of the fist-born’, a reminder by a token payment of what God had done and that these were His redeemed people.

iii) Sacrifice to ‘purify’ a woman after childbirth (v.22.24) – laid down in Lev 12:1-4. The word ‘unclean’, refers less to any moral or sanitary state but simply means ‘not in a fit state’ to go through the various rites of the Tabernacle or temple worship. We may live in a day when drugs help many women to cope with their menstrual period or post-birth experiences, but in Old Testament times such helps were not available and a woman’s such time would often be quite debilitating. Her remaining ‘out of action’ for forty days was an act of grace to spare her, in her time of recovery after the birth, from having to participate in what we might call today ‘church services’!]

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: