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The Gospel of Luke Chapter Two
Commentary by Timothy H. Burdick
In Chapter Two of
the Gospel of Luke, the author, Dr. Luke, starts by using
the phrase, “in those days.” In order for us to establish
any logical order in Luke, it is important for us to
remember that there were no Chapter and Verses when He
wrote. That came much later. He picks up the story where we
left off before, with no artificial distinctions between
Chapter One and Chapter Two. The phrase, “In those days,”
made reference to Caesar Augustus’ new rule. The Roman
Empire had been ruled by various generals previously. I
would liken it to governors ruling different provinces. Now,
however, ultimate power was being placed in the hands of one
man. This Caesar reigned from January 16th, 27 BC, to August
19, 14 AD. “Augustus” was the title bestowed upon him, and
he liked the title because it meant “divine.” With no one
else to appeal to, he was the most powerful man on the face
of the earth. His word was final, and you just didn't ask
questions. As the saying goes, “the buck stopped there.”
Under his rule, the Roman Empire experienced a long period
of peace and prosperity. It is in this framework that a
decree was issued insisting that “all the world should be
registered” and taxed.
Verse 2 says that this was the census that took place when
“Quirinius was governing Syria.” Wickipedia has this to say
about the census: "The Gospel of Luke associates the birth
of Jesus with the census carried out by Quirinius." Some
scholars have seen a conflict between the historian
Josephus’s account of this taxation, and Luke’s account. Ben
Withering says about this, "Unfortunately, we do not have
any Roman records of this census, so we do not know the
date. For one thing, the census may not have been done in
all regions in the same year. Luke’s word about it could
mean that Caesar decreed that the enrollment which had been
previously been going on in some parts of the empire, should
now be extended to all parts. Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary
Chapel gives us more insight into how we can understand the
census when he says, "It is interesting that in Egypt, we
have actually found records of these censuses made by the
Roman government."
In Verses 3 and 4, we see that everyone in the empire was
registering, as ordered by the Caesar of Rome, and Joseph
went up from Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of
Bethlehem, the town of David. He did this because he was
descended from the family line of King David of Israel. One
author tells us a little bit about this town. He says,
"Bethlehem is located about five miles south of Jerusalem,
on the east side of the ‘Patriarch’s Highway.’ David was
born in this area and tended his father’s sheep in that
place. Mary and Joseph were pledged in marriage to each
other, and so the both of them had to make the long journey.
Even though Mary was expecting a baby, she wouldn't be
allowed to stay at home.” In our day of modern conveniences,
we forget how harrowing a trip like this could have been. We
have romanticized it in our Christmas programs, but it was
grueling, and could have meant death for the expectant
mother. One author says about their trip: "The journey that
Mary and Joseph made together was about 75-miles from
Nazareth to Bethlehem." Mary would have ridden on a donkey
while Joseph walked beside her.
In Verses 6 and7, we see that the time came for Mary to give
birth. This must have been a lonely time for Mary. She did
not apparently have any help from a midwife when she gave
birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling
cloths, which are strips of cloth. The fact that Jesus was
born in Bethlehem, was in direct fulfillment of Micah 5:2,
which says, "But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are
small among the thousands of Judah, out of you will come for
Me, One who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are
from old, from ancient times." As I said above, Jesus was
Mary’s firstborn. The firstborn had a special place in God’s
economy. Wayne Blank says about this, "The firstborn was
given special rights, privileges and responsibilities. The
birthright of the first born included a double allotment of
the estate and leadership over members of the family who
were born later."
About there being no room in the inn, Dr. Terry Hall says,
“Some misconceptions concerning the circumstances of His
birth result from a mistranslation of the Greek word, “Kataluma,”
which actually means ‘guest room,’ not ‘inn.’ It seems that
we have imposed our own understanding on the story.” Rather
than looking at it through the lenses of Middle Eastern
culture, we have seen it from our own perspective.
In Luke 2:8 through 20, we see the story of the shepherds
begin to unfold. The shepherding of sheep was an important
part of Israel’s economy. It was considered a lowly task,
however, and one that was an abomination especially in the
Egyptian culture, which was part of the heritage of Israel.
Frank Doyle has this to say about shepherds in Bible times:
"The shepherd of the Biblical Middle East had a much smaller
flock. He would bring them out to pasture each day, and
spend all of his time with them. In the evening, he would
bring them back to the enclosure where they would be safe
from prey and animals. He knew each one individually, and
would search if even one was missing."
That is the way God watches over each one of us. He searches
for us if even one of us is lost, bringing us back home
where it is safe. That is why Jesus could say, "I am the
good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his
sheep" (John 10:11). Now, perhaps you can visualize this
scene more fully. The shepherds were likely sitting around
the campfire with their sheep, and an angel suddenly
appeared to them. Imagine how afraid you would be if the
glory of God suddenly appeared to you. Notice that it was
only after the angel calmed their fears that he could tell
them about Christ’s birth. I think we need to stop and think
about what the angel did. For I believe that many times our
fears stand in the way of our receiving God’s best. Paul has
this to say: "For you did not receive a spirit that makes
you a slave again to fear, but you received a Spirit of
sonship or adoption and by Him we cry Abba, Aramaic for
Father” (Romans 8:15).
Also look with me at 2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God did not give
us a spirit of timidity (some translations “fear”) but a
spirit of love, and of power, and of self-discipline." After
the angel told them of Christ’s birth, he went on to tell
them that the message was for all people. In the Old
Testament, God had dealt primarily with the Jews, But the
angel wants the shepherds to know that Christ, the King of
the Jews has come for all men and women everywhere. Paul has
this to say: "For God does not show favoritism" (Rom 2:11).
God accepts each of us, just as we are.
In verse 13, we see the angels praising God. According to
the Scriptures, one of the main functions of angels is to
give God praise. One example of this would be Revelation
5:11 and 12, where it says, "Then I looked and heard a voice
of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands and ten
thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and
the living creatures and the elders saying with a loud
voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power,
and wealth, and wisdom, and strength and honor, and glory,
and praise."
Verse 13 of Luke 2 has been misunderstood, and that troubles
me. In the King James Version, this verse reads “peace on
earth, good will towards men.” Certainly, we are to be
promoters of peace. Jesus told us about that in Matthew 5:9
- "Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called the
sons of God." However, the ultimate peace that we can
experience is peace with God. Saint Augustine said, “Thou
hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until
they find their rest in Thee." Every Christmas we hear of an
enforced ceasefire that the world likes to refer to as
peace. This is not peace at all as God meant it. Don't get
me wrong; any type of cease fire is good, but our hearts are
still restless. There will be no lasting peace until man
first establishes peace with God.
If you will permit me this, it is interesting to compare
Luke 2:15 with Acts 1:10 and 11. Luke says, "and while they
were looking steadfastly into heaven as he went, behold two
men stood by them dressed in white, who also said, ye men of
Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This
same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will
come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven."
To me it's interesting in verse 19 that Mary pondered or
meditated on all these things in her heart. She didn't jump
to conclusions or doubt God, but she was quiet before the
Lord. Look with me at Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that
I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be
exalted in the earth." We all need to experience times of
quiet in our noisy world. I believe like never before we
need to focus on God. What does it mean to you to meditate
upon God? How many times do you and I glorify God after the
fact because something has happened like He said it would?
This is what happened in verse 20. Scriptures like Job 15:11
make me think about my doubts. It asks, "are God’s
consolations not enough for you, words spoken gently to
you?"
Verse 22 talks about the purification ritual. This ceremony
is described in Leviticus 12:2 through 4. "Speak unto the
children of Israel, saying, if a woman conceives seed and
bears a man-child then she shall be unclean seven days; and
in the days of the impurity of her sickness shall she be
unclean. And the eighth day, the flesh of his fore-skin
shall be circumcised. And she shall continue in the blood of
her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no
hallowed thing or come into the sanctuary till the days of
her purifying be fulfilled."
The reference for verse 23 is Exodus 13:2. It says,
“Sanctify unto me all the first born. Whatsoever openeth the
womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast,
it is Mine."
Verse 24 has as its reference Leviticus 12:8. This says,
"And if her means suffice not for a lamb, then she shall
take two turtle doves or two young pigeons; the one for a
burnt offering and the other for a sin-offering: and the
priest shall make atonement for her and she shall be clean."
This was the offering that poor people gave. We have every
reason to believe that Jesus grew up in poverty. He knew
what it was like to wonder how His basic needs would be met.
Perhaps He wondered where His next meal would come from. I
heard a preacher on television make an absurd statement that
I have never forgotten. He concluded that since the robe of
Jesus had no seam in it, He wore designer clothing. He went
on about how Jesus was “rich.” Contrast men’s fairy tales
with the Word of God. 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "For you know
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich,
for your sake He became poor that through His poverty we
might become rich."
Knowing that Jesus was poor on this earth has meant a great
deal to me. Let me share a story with you that will explain
what I mean. I was living in Florida, trying to get
somewhere at night. It was getting late, and I was in
unfamiliar circumstances. Finally I knew I was stranded. I
had no one to call on, and felt like I was in the middle of
nowhere. Being blind, I had only my cane. I had no dog at
that time. I didn't know what to do, so I did what I should
have done in the first place. I sat down in what I think was
a parking lot and asked God for help. All of a sudden this
Scripture came to me. it meant so much because I knew that
Jesus was going through this with me. In Luke 9:58 we read,
"Jesus said unto him, foxes have holes and the birds of the
air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His
head." In the Christmas story therefore, He came in poverty
so He could identify with all men. If you are feeling alone
in impoverished circumstances, you can know with out a doubt
that the Lord identifies with you. Some people then came to
me in the parking lot, took me in, fed me breakfast, and
kept me safe through the night. God watches out for His own.
In verses 25 through
36, we have the story of Simeon. He was a very godly man who
waited for the consolation or peace of Israel. He was led by
the Spirit into the Temple Court. Around the same time, Mary
and Joseph were fulfilling the customs of the Jewish Law in
regards to Jesus. It is important to note that Simeon called
Jesus a “light for revelation to the Gentiles.” He may have
been making reference to Isaiah 42:6. This says, "I Jehovah
have called thee in righteousness and will hold thy hand and
will keep thee and will give you for a covenant of the
people for a light of the Gentiles." When Simeon blessed
Joseph and Mary, He said that Jesus would be “for the
falling and raising of many.” This speaks to me of how He
will be either accepted or rejected by men. He also went on
to tell Mary that a sword would pierce her soul. Some
commentators have seen this as a distinct reference to the
cross. I don't believe, however, that this was all Simeon
was talking about. For while the cross was the ultimate in
pain of, course, Jesus was to face a life of rejection that
would pierce any mother’s soul.
Next in Verses 36
through 38 we have the story of Anna. Just as a little
aside, it is interesting that Luke tells that she was from
the tribe of Asher, but he doesn't tell us what tribe Simeon
was from. One way to understand her situation that is spoken
of is that she lived with her husband for seven years after
her marriage. As she also came up to Mary, Joseph, and the
baby, at just the right moment, we can also see God’s
perfect timing. Like Zacharias and Elizabeth, these two
never appeared on the pages of Scripture again. I think that
it is interesting to see the way that God uses people.
Sometimes God has a very important role for someone to play
that is very short-lived. The next event we see is the only
childhood story about Jesus found in any of the Gospels.
Look with me at Luke 2:41 through 52. Mary and Joseph went
up to Jerusalem every year to celebrate the feast of the
Passover. This Feast was established by God to remind the
children of Israel of their deliverance from Egypt. To find
out more about the Passover read Exodus 12:1-28. The trip
that twelve year-old Jesus took to the Temple was possibly
the first trip since His birth. It would have been nearing
the time of his Bar Mitzvah. As the story progresses, we see
Jesus remaining behind in the Temple after his parents left.
Apparently in regard to their travel, Joseph and Mary had
joined some kind of caravan. Hundreds of families would
travel in wagons or they walked alongside. The women would
usually go first, and the men caught up to them. If we try
and reconstruct this scene, we can see Mary and Joseph
asking each other that night what had happened to Jesus?
When neither one knew they turned to relatives. Still not
finding Him they went back to Jerusalem. This must have been
an exhausting journey. After his mother questioned him,
Jesus pointed to his real Father. These are the first
recorded words we have spoken by Jesus. They are important
because they express the purpose and mission for the rest of
His life. In conclusion, we see Mary pondering or meditating
on all the things that were so new to her. When his parents
didn't understand Him, Jesus submitted to them going back
home.
Friday Study Ministries
The First Church On The Net
www.FridayStudy.org
www.FirstChurchOnTheNet.org
"While
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
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