In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke 2: 1-21 ESV
Luke 2: 1-21
Steven Cole has interesting introduction - A few years ago, newscaster Andy Rooney responded to the charge that his profession only covered the negative side of everything. He imagined a newscast in which it was reported that planes took off and landed safely. In Florida, the orange crop was hit by another night of average weather. The oranges just hung in there and grew. In Detroit, General Motors announced that 174,000 Chevrolets would not be recalled because they were all perfect. Rooney’s point was that good news isn’t always appreciated unless it’s against the backdrop of bad news. Our text tells us the best news in the world, but two factors make it difficult for people to appreciate it. First, the Christmas story is perhaps the most widely known story in history. As a result, many people, even Christians, shrug it off as not being especially exciting or relevant to the problems they are facing. Second, many people do not realize what dire straits they are in regarding their standing before God and their eternal destiny. So when they read the familiar story that a Savior has been born in the city of Bethlehem, they yawn and say, “That’s nice. What’s for dinner?” Not seeing their desperate need for salvation, they fail to appreciate the fact that this story is the best news in all of history. The best news in the world is that a Savior was born for you, who is Christ the Lord. A couple of years ago, Moody Magazine (Jan./Feb., 1996) reported that 49 percent of professing Christians agree that “all good people, whether they consider Jesus Christ to be Savior or not, will live in heaven after they die.” (ED: Compare this August, 2021 Barna report which notes that of Americans who claim to be born again "60% believe that if a person is good enough, or does enough good things, they can earn their way into Heaven." Woe! Jesus' words in Mt 7:21-23+) If that opinion is true, then the story of the birth of Jesus may warm your heart and make you feel good. But it won’t be the best news in the world, news that you cannot live without. However, if the Bible is correct in stating that all people have sinned and apart from Christ they are under God’s condemnation (ED: cf Ro 3:10, Ro 3:20, Ro 3:23, Ro 6:23), then the news that the Savior has been born is hardly just nice! It is the best news in the world and it is absolutely crucial! (The Best News in the World Luke 2:1-20) - Precept Austin
A decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered - Rome is the major world ruler at this time, and they are taking a census in order to tax the people.
Which is called Bethlehem - It is of utmost importance that the mother of Jesus be taken from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the town where David grew up. This is to insure that the word of God is kept and true, for Bethlehem is the prophesied place for the One to be ruler over Israel to come forth. The census of Caesar gives Joseph reason to take Mary to Bethlehem.
1Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel. 2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel— One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity. 3Therefore Israel will be abandoned until she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers will return to the children of Israel.… Micah 5: 1-3
Laid Him in a manger - What humble beginnings for the King of all to put on. There was not even a place for Him at the inn. Many say, "well if I would have known Who it was, if I would have known He was of royalty", but Jesus says, "when you have done it unto the least of these My brethren you have done it unto Me." Do you recognize Him now, are you still too busy, is He still so unappealing? Will you not make room?
1Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. Isaiah 53: 1-2
There were shepherds out in the field - Luke will be giving this to someone most likely of great political stature, Most Excellent Theophilus, but he is doing a sort of divinely inspired documentary, so he must give all that the Spirit wants, no more, no less. I say this because shepherds were of very low esteem, many were like our carnies today, outliers, poor men, hirelings. They would not have held much in the way of influence, and their testimonies would mean little to most. These, like the fishermen, would be men of low education that the world would easily overlook.
Kostenberger comments - Paul’s words are a fitting commentary on the way God works in general, including the circumstances of the Messiah’s birth. What is more, just as the worship of the magi pointed forward to Jesus’s ethnically universal rule (encompassing both Jew and Gentile), the message to the shepherds points forward to an accessibility that depends not upon one’s status (religious or socioeconomic), position, wealth, or prestige. The birth of this child was good news for all! (The First Days of Jesus: The Story of the Incarnation) - Precept Austin
And they were filled with great fear - Here we go again, and again an angel has to tell them, fear not.
I bring you good news of great joy - The gospel is the best news, it is news that carries eternal weight, unfathomable glory. The gospel starts with telling the bad news, the truth of men's current state as creatures fallen from communion with God and deserving of His just wrath.
…22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6: 22-23
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior Who is Christ the Lord - This is the good news, that God is just and unchanging, yet He has given of Himself, His Son, the One Who is of the same essence yet another Person. He has given Him as a Savior, a conqueror of sin in life, and a payment for my sin in His death. This is extraordinary news, and yet we are not born aware of it, and men take it as such a light thing, but there is no greater gift.
15that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.… John 3: 15-17
Glory to God in the highest - This must have been quite a spectacle for these poor shepherds. Kings and Pharisees would almost expect the delights of such a visitation. The self righteous will always wonder why God reaches out to the wretched.
And on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased - Jesus is the peace offering that brings us back into fellowship with God, forever tearing the shroud to the Most Holy.
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3: 4-7
Peace (1515)(eirene from verb eiro = to join or bind together that which has been separated) literally pictures the binding or joining together again of that which had been separated or divided and thus setting at one again, a meaning convey by the common expression of one “having it all together”. It follows that peace is the opposite of division or dissension.
Wiersbe adds "The Jewish word shalom (peace) means much more than a truce in the battles of life. It means well-being, health, prosperity, security, soundness, and completeness. It has to do more with character than circumstances. Life was difficult at that time just as it is today. Taxes were high, unemployment was high, morals were slipping lower, and the military state was in control. Roman law, Greek philosophy, and even Jewish religion could not meet the needs of men’s hearts. Then, God sent His Son!" (Scroll to page 144 in The Bible Exposition Commentary) - Precept Austin
When the angels went away from them into heaven - The shepherds can't wait to look into the pronouncement of the angels.
When the angels (aggelos/angelos) had gone away from them into heaven - While they had departed visibly into a very real place called Heaven, a place all followers of Christ will also one day enter. When we die we will be absent from our body and present with the Lord (2 Cor 5:6-8+, Php 1:21-24+). No delays! No limbo! No purgatory. No soul sleep. Instant entrance into the same Heaven to which these angels returned, into the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We may not have visible angels today but we can be certain they also "appear" for our aid. The writer of Hebrews says (referring to angels) asks a rhetorical question - "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?" (Heb 1:14+). - Precept Austin
Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart - The shepherds repeated to her what was in the same vane and context that the angel Gabriel had explained. To hold one's child is a meditation, but to hold the Son of God is difficult to conceive. She is a little girl, but yet so wise, quietly taking it all in, but also securing it in her mind.
Spurgeon on pondering them in her heart - (Mary) Weighed them, estimated them at their right value. Mary laid these things up in store, and pondered them, giving them their due weight and value. Oh, that we did the same with every truth that we learn! The best of coffers to lay up anything in is the heart. Happy are those who, like Mary, store up the things of Christ, not in their brain though that would make them orthodox; but in their heart, for that will bring them salvation. (Luke Exposition) - Precept Austin
He was called Jesus - Savior
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