Luke 2:10

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO THEM, FEAR NOT (SEE THE NOTE AT LUKE 1:13 ); FOR, BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY, WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE, [ panti (G3956) too (G3588) laoo (G2992)] - or rather, 'to the whole people;' meaning the chosen people of Israel, but only to be by them afterward extended to the whole world, as a message of "good will to men" (Luke 2:14)....

10._Fear not _The design of this exhortation is to alleviate their fear. For, though it is profitable for the minds of men to be struck with awe, that they may learn to “give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name,” (Psalms 29:2;) yet they have need, at the same time, of consolation, that they may not be altogether overwhelmed. For the majesty of God could not but swallow up the whole world, if there were not some mildness to mitigate the terror which it brings. And so the reprobate fall down lifeless at the sight of God, because he appears to them in no other character than that of a judge. But to revive the minds of the shepherds, the angel declares that he was sent to them for a different purpose, to _announce to them _the mercy of God. When men hear this single word, that God is reconciled to them, it not only raises up those who are fallen down, but restores those who wer

8-20 Angels were heralds of the new-born Saviour, but they were only sent to some poor, humble, pious, industrious shepherds, who were in the business of their calling, keeping watch over their flock. We are not out of the way of Divine visits, when we are employed in an honest calling, and abide with God in it. Let God have the honour of this work; Glory to God in the highest. God's good-will to men, manifested in sending the Messiah, redounds to his praise. Other works of God are for his glory, but the redemption of the world is for his glory in the highest. God's goodwill in sending the Messiah, brought peace into this lower world. Peace is here put for all that good which flows to us from Christ's taking our nature upon him. This is a faithful saying, attested by an innumerable company of angels, and well worthy of all acceptation, That the good-will of God toward men, is glory to G...

Verse Luke 2:10. _BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS_] I am not come to declare the _judgments_ of the Lord, but his _merciful_ _loving-kindness_, the subject being a matter of _great joy_. He then declares his message. _Unto you _- to the Jews first, and then to the human race. Some modern MSS. with the utmost impropriety read ημιν, _us_, as if angels were included in this glorious work of redemption; but St. Paul says, _he took not upon him the nature of_ _angels, but the seed of Abraham_, i.e. the nature of Abraham and his posterity, the human nature; therefore the good news is to _you_, - and not to yourselves _exclusively_, for it is _to all_ _people_, to all the inhabitants of _this land_, and to the inhabitants of the whole earth....

EXPOSITION LUKE 2:1 _The Redeemer's birth_. LUKE 2:1 THERE WENT OUT A DECREE FROM CAESAR AUGUSTUS, THAT ALL THE WORLD SHOULD BE TAXED; more accurately, _that there should be a registration_, etc.; that is, with a view to the assessment of a tax. On the historical note of St. Luke in this passage much discussion has arisen, not, however, of much real practical interest to the ordinary devout reader. We will glance very briefly at the main criticism of this and the following verse. Respecting this general registration it is alleged (1) no historian of the time mentions such a decree of Augustus. (2) Supposing Augustus had issued such an edict, Herod, in his kingdom of Judaea, would

AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO THEM; FEAR NOT,.... For he was not a messenger of bad, but of good tidings: FOR BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS; tidings, that were both wonderful and amazing, and therefore a "behold" is prefixed to them, as well as to excite to attention; and which were good news, and glad tidings, for such the birth of Christ of a virgin is: in which the good will and amazing love of Cod to man are displayed, and the promises, and prophecies relating to him fulfilled; and the work of man's salvation, his peace, pardon, righteousness, c. about to be accomplished, and so matter OF GREAT JOY: not carnal, but spiritual not feigned, but real; not temporary, but lasting; even such as cannot be taken away, nor intermeddled with; and not small, but great, even joy unspeakable, and full of glory: WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE; not to every individual of mankind; not to Herod and his...

We WILL now read the story of our Saviour's birth as it is recorded in the Gospel according to Luke. Luke 2:1. _And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the City of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child._ Little did any idea enter into Caesar's head that he was accomplishing the purpose of God by bringing Mary to Bethlehem, at that particular time, so that her child might be born there. But God can accomplish the purpose of his providence, and of his grace, in any way that he plea

CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The Birth of Christ at Bethlehem (Luke 2:1)_ 2. The Glad Tidings Announced to the Shepherds. (Luke 2:8) 3. The Circumcision and Presentation (Luke 2:21) 4. Simeon and His Prophecy (Luke 2:25) 5. Anna the Prophetess (Luke 2:36) 6. In Nazareth (Luke 2:39) 7. In the Temple (Luke 2:41) 8. The Increase ...

THE BIRTH OF JESUS. Lk. only. In obedi ence to a decree of the Emperor Augustus, ordering a general census (the first, during the Syrian governor ship of Quirinius), every man went to his own city. Thus Joseph, being of Davidic lineage, journeys from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and with him Mary his betrothed (according to the Syr. Sin. his wife), though far advanced in pregnancy. At Bethlehem her son is born, in a stable, for Joseph had been unable to find a better abode. (The word for inn may denote either a khan or a lodging-place in Luke 22:11 it is translated guest chamber.) Thus Jesus is connected with the shepherd David. Shepherds in the district are startled by seeing an angel and the Shekinah radiance, but are reassured and told that Messiah has been born in the village, where they will find him in a stable. A choir of angels appears and sings of glory to God and peace among men. The...

JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM (Luke 2:1-7)...