IN THOSE DAYS - About the time of the birth of John and of Christ. A DECREE - A law commanding a thing to be done. CAESAR AUGUSTUS - This was the Roman emperor. His first name was Octavianus. He was the nephew of Julius Caesar, and obtained the empire after his death. He took the name “Augustus -... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS TAXING WAS FIRST MADE ... - This verse has given as much perplexity, perhaps, as any one in the New Testament. The difficulty consists in the fact that “Cyrenius,” or “Quirinius,” was not governor of Syria until 12 or 15 years after the birth of Jesus. Jesus was born during the reign of Her... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CITY OF DAVID - Bethlehem, called the city of David because it was the place of his birth. See the notes at Matthew 2:1. BECAUSE HE WAS OF THE HOUSE - Of the family. AND LINEAGE - The “lineage” denotes that he was descended from David as his father or ancestor. In taking a Jewish census, famil... [ Continue Reading ]
HER FIRST-BORN SON - Whether Mary had any other children or not has been a matter of controversy. The obvious meaning of the Bible is that she had; and if this be the case, the word “firstborn” is here to be taken in its common signification. SWADDLING CLOTHES - When a child among the Hebrews was b... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SAME COUNTRY - Round about Bethlehem. SHEPHERDS - Men who tended flocks of sheep. ABIDING IN THE FIELD - Remaining out of doors, under the open sky, with their flocks. This was commonly done. The climate was mild, and, to keep their flocks from straying, they spent the night with them. It is al... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GLORY OF THE LORD - This is the same as a “great” glory - that is, a splendid appearance or “light.” The word “glory” is often the same as light, 1 Corinthians 15:41; Luke 9:31; Acts 22:11. The words “Lord” and “God” are often used to denote “greatness” or “intensity.” Thus, “trees of God” mean... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS SHALL BE A SIGN ... - The evidence by which you shall know the child is that you will find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.... [ Continue Reading ]
GLORY TO GOD - Praise be to God, or honor be to God. That is, the praise of redeeming man is due to God. The plan of redemption will bring glory to God, and is designed to express his glory. This it does by evincing his love to people, his mercy, his condescension, and his regard to the honor of his... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO BETHLEHEM - The city of David, where the angel had told them they would find the Saviour. These shepherds appear to have been pious people. They were waiting for the coming of the Messiah. On the first intimation that he had actually appeared they went with haste to find him. So all people shou... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY HAD SEE IT - When they had satisfied themselves of the truth of the coming of the Messiah, and had ascertained that they could not have been mistaken in the appearance of the angels. There was evidence enough to satisfy “them” that what the angels said was true, or they would not have gone... [ Continue Reading ]
MARY KEPT ALL THESE THINGS - All that happened, and all that was said respecting her child. She “remembered” what the angel had said to “her;” what had happened to Elizabeth and to the shepherds - all the extraordinary circumstances which had attended. the birth of her son. Here is a delicate and be... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SHEPHERDS RETURNED - To their flocks. GLORIFYING ... - Giving honor to God, and celebrating his praises.... [ Continue Reading ]
EIGHT DAYS ... - This was the regular time for performing the rite of circumcision, Genesis 17:12. CALLED JESUS - See the notes at Matthew 1:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
DAYS OF HER PURIFICATION - Among the Hebrews a mother was required to remain at home for about forty days after the birth of a male child and about eighty for a female, and during that time she was reckoned as impure - that is, she was not permitted to go to the temple or to engage in religious serv... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT IS WRITTEN ... - Exodus 13:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO OFFER A SACRIFICE ... - Those who were able on such an occasion were required to offer a lamb for a burnt-offering, and a pigeon or a turtle-dove for a sin-offering. If not able to bring a “lamb,” then they were permitted to bring two turtle-doves or two young pigeons, Leviticus 12:6, Levitic... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE NAME WAS SIMEON - Some have supposed that this Simeon was a son of the famous “Hillel,” a distinguished teacher in Jerusalem, and president of the Sanhedrin; but nothing is certainly known of him but what is here related. He was an aged man, of distinguished piety and reputation, and was anxio... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS REVEALED UNTO HIM - In what way this was done we are not informed. Sometimes a revelation was made by a dream, at others by a voice, and at others by silent suggestion. All we know of this is that it was by the Holy Spirit. NOT SEE DEATH - Should not die. To “see” death and to “taste” of... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE SPIRIT - By the direction of the Spirit. INTO THE TEMPLE - Into that part of the temple where the public worship was chiefly performed - into the court of the women. See the notes at Matthew 21:12. THE CUSTOM OF THE LAW - That is, to make an offering for purification, and to present him to... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED GOD - Thanked or praised God.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW LETTEST - Now thou “dost” let or permit. This word is in the indicative mood, and signifies that God was permitting him to die in peace, by having relieved his anxieties, allayed his fears, fulfilled the promises, and having by the appearing of the Messiah, removed every reason why he should liv... [ Continue Reading ]
THY SALVATION - Him who is to procure salvation for his people; or, the Saviour.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE FACE OF ALL PEOPLE - Whom thou hast provided for all people, or whom thou dost design to “reveal” to all people.... [ Continue Reading ]
A LIGHT TO LIGHTEN THE GENTILES - This is in accordance with the prophecies in the Old Testament, Isaiah 49; Isaiah 9:6; Psalms 98:3; Malachi 4:2. The Gentiles are represented as sitting in darkness that is, in ignorance and sin. Christ is a “light” to them, as by him they will be made acquainted wi... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMEON BLESSED THEM - Joseph and Mary. On them he sought the blessing of God. IS SET - Is appointed or constituted for that, or such will be the effect of his coming. THE FALL - The word “fall” here denotes “misery, suffering, disappointment,” or “ruin.” There is a plain reference to the passage wh... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, A SWORD ... - The sufferings and death of thy Son shall deeply afflict thy soul. And if Mary had not been thus forewarned and sustained by strong faith, she could not have borne the trials which came upon her Son; but God prepared her for it, and the holy mother of the dying Saviour was sustain... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE TRIBE OF ASER - The tribe of Aser, or Asher, dwelt in the northern part of the land of Canaan. Why Anna was called a prophetess is not known. It might be because she had been the wife of a prophet, or because she was employed in celebrating the praises of God (compare 1 Chronicles 25:1, 1 Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE WAS A WIDOW OF ABOUT FOURSCORE AND FOUR YEARS - That is, she was about 84 years of age. It does not mean that she had been a widow for that long time. FASTINGS AND PRAYERS - Constant religious service. pending her time in prayer, and in all the ordinances of religion. NIGHT AND DAY - Conti... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY RETURNED INTO GALILEE - Not immediately, but after a time. Luke has omitted the flight into Egypt recorded by Matthew; but he has not denied it, nor are his words to be pressed as if he meant to affirm that they went immediately to Nazareth. A parallel case we have in the life of Paul. When he... [ Continue Reading ]
STRONG IN SPIRIT - In mind, intellect, understanding. Jesus had a human soul, and that soul was subject to all the proper laws of a human spirit. It therefore increased in knowledge, strength, and character. Nor is it any more inconsistent with his being God to say that his soul expanded, than to sa... [ Continue Reading ]
TWELVE YEARS OLD - All males among the Hebrews were required to appear three times a year before God, to attend on the ordinances of religion in the temple, and it is probable that this was the age at which they first went up to Jerusalem, Exodus 23:14; Deuteronomy 16:16. TO JERUSALEM - Where the f... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD FULFILLED THE DAYS - The days of the Passover. These were eight days in all - one day for killing the paschal lamb, and seven days for the observance of the feast of unleavened bread, Exodus 12:15; Leviticus 23:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
SUPPOSING HIM TO HAVE BEEN IN THE COMPANY - It may seem very remarkable that parents should not have been more attentive to their only son, and that they should not have been assured of his presence with them when they left Jerusalem; but the difficulty may be explained by the following consideratio... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THREE DAYS - This means, probably, “on the third day” after they had left Jerusalem - that is, the first day they went toward Galilee, on the second they returned to Jerusalem, and on the third they found him. Compare Matthew 27:63; Mark 8:31. IN THE TEMPLE - In the “court” of the temple, for... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY HAST THOU THUS DEALT WITH US? - Why hast thou given us all this trouble and anxiety, in going so far and returning with so much solicitude? THY FATHER - Joseph was not the “real” father of Jesus, but he was “legally” so; and as the secret of his birth was not commonly known, he was called his f... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW IS IT ... - “Why” have ye sought me with so much anxiety? “Mary” should have known that the Son of God was safe; that his heavenly Father would take care of him, and that he could do nothing amiss. WIST YE NOT - “Know ye not.” You had reason to know. You knew my design in coming into the world,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY UNDERSTOOD NOT ... - It is remarkable that they did not understand Jesus in this, but it shows how slow persons are to believe. Even his parents, after all that had taken place, did not seem to comprehend that “he” was to be the Saviour of people, or if they did, they understood it in a very im... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT DOWN WITH THEM - Down from Jerusalem, which was in a high, mountainous region. WAS SUBJECT UNTO THEM - Performed the duty of a faithful and obedient child, and not improbably was engaged in the trade of Joseph - that of a carpenter. Every Jew was required to learn some trade, and there is ever... [ Continue Reading ]
IN FAVOUR WITH GOD - That is, in proportion to his advance in wisdom. This does not imply that he ever lacked the favor of God, but that God regarded him with favor in proportion as he showed an understanding and spirit like his own. Happy are those children who imitate the example of Jesus - who ar... [ Continue Reading ]