Mary = a tear
In Mary, we have stories of her as a young girl, a mother, and a mature woman.
Even so, the gospels are about Jesus, not his mother. Her appearances in the gospel stories are meant to tell us something about Jesus, not Mary. The real focus in on Him.
Writers of the New Testament saw Mary as relatively unimportant. For them, Jesus was the central figure. He was the focus of all their attention and hopes. Mary is included only when something she does throws light on the person of Jesus.
The Divine purpose in the Gospel by Luke is to present the Lord Jesus Christ as the servant of YHVH. In the book of Matthew Jesus was presented as the Messiah, the King of Israel; while in the Gospel of Mark Jesus was seen as the ideal Man, the Son of Man.
In Luke Jesus will be presented as "the Friend of publicans and sinners", the outcast of the society of the day.
The word "Luke" means "light giver". Luke wrote with much simplicity and gave forth much light to the reader in understanding the Word of God. Luke made more reference to women to any of the other Gospels, and by his use of Words showed that he had a gift in explaining himself, and because of this he was referred to as the humanitarian; he understood people and their problems.
Luke’s gospel contains stories not found in the other gospels. In Luke’s gospel, the references to Mary are:
1:26-38, the Annunciation
1:39-56, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth
2:1-7, the birth of Mary’s son Jesus
2:21-38, Mary takes Jesus to the Temple
2:41-52, Mary and Joseph lose Jesus during a visit to Jerusalem
4:16-30, Jesus is rejected at Nazareth
8:19-21, the family of Jesus visit him during his ministry.
In the gospel written by Luke, Mary was a model of what a follower of Jesus ought to be: she had faith in God, she thought deeply about what was happening to her, and she co-operated with God, holding nothing back. She was also a very human figure, experiencing distress and joy as she watched over her child.
Mary promised herself in marriage to a young man called Joseph. He was a worker in wood, metal or stone, producing practical objects for agricultural or domestic use.
But Mary’s life was not to be the normal one a young Galilean woman might expect.
The gospels say that an ‘angel’ came to her, telling her that she was to be the mother of an extraordinary man, one who would be called the Son of God.
This event was called the Annunciation.
'The angel said to her “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus”.’
Mary became pregnant, even though she and Joseph had not been together intimately.
Being an unmarried mother in that culture was very difficult, much more so than in today’s society. People were not seen as individuals as they are now, but members of their group/clan, and any action of an individual reflected on the whole group. Mary’s family would have found it very hard to believe that there was no human father; her pregnancy would bring dishonor to all of them.
Soon after this, Mary went to visit an older cousin of hers, Elizabeth. Perhaps the visit was a way of getting her out of harm's way: an unmarried pregnant girl was in real danger from outraged relatives, and Elizabeth's house may have been a safe haven for the young girl.
1:26-38. VISIT OF GABRIEL TO MARY.
26-28-. Mission of the Angel.
-28. Angel. Salutation.
29. Mary. Troubled.
30-33. Angel. Promise.
34. Mary. Inquiry.
35-37. Angel. Answer.
38-. Mary. Content.
Dec. 24-25th
Luke 1:26 In the sixth month
(After the vision of Zachariah. This [cp. v.36] is the passage which gives John's age as 6 months older than the Lord's)
the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
(Nazareth = the guarded one. This visit was to inform Mary that she had been selected, special, a virgin to conceive and bear the coming Messiah. So it would be on December 25th [sundown of the 24th] that the Spirit would come and dwell with mankind. Our Lord Jesus Christ would be conceived.
The problem today is that mankind has become so twisted in thinking that many can't perceive the idea that the unborn is a human being, with soul and spirit, and thus by tradition that have tried to make the Scriptures fit to their traditions. However their traditions will make things happen that are completely out of season. So it was on this same day, December 25th that Mary conceives and runs to her cousin Elisabeth's home to tell her of what has just taken place. This is important to understand, and does not take away from the importance of Christmas, for this is the true time that God came to dwell with man, for the time of conception is the time the soul and spirit enters into the embryo within the womb.
By changing Christ's birth through man's tradition, he thinks that it makes abortion right, for he can then say, the soul and spirit enters the womb at birth. German law did all sorts of things with this tradition before the war, and in the end they eased their minds even to the killing of those born with physical problems, the mentally ill, the aged, and even to the point of genocide for the sake of a better life style. They were willing to give up the "sanctity of life" for the sake of their "quality of life" style. King Solomon said, "There is nothing new under the sun, that which has happened will happen again." And we see it coming true today in some of the laws in our land.
The birth of Christ was a perfect birth and would be nine month's to the day later, which would fall in September on the feast of Tabernacles.)
27 To a virgin espoused
(A year before marriage. See Matt. 1:18. Mary was engaged to Joseph, but had known no man.)
to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
(= a tear. The Heb. Miriam.)
28 And the angel came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"
(This is prophecy being fulfilled; "Behold" calls attention to the prophecy given in the Old Testament.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.)
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
(She is a virgin and wondering how this is possible, but there was no doubt. She was very young, and she could not understand why God would select her to have His child. Mary always wanted to do that which was right, and she could not see herself as having such an honor.)
30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
(Grace, which is favor to the unworthy, and patience is favor to the obstinate, as mercy is favor to the miserable, as pity is favor to the poor, &c.)
Dec. 25th
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb
(Conception takes place on Dec. 25, not the birth, that comes later.)
and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.
(Gr. Iesous is the same as Heb. Yahshua, and means Salvation of Yahaveh, or Yahaveh the Savior. The Father and the Son. Note the 4 statements of the angel, combining the 4 key-text of the 4 Gospels:
[1] You shall ...bring forth a Son: "Behold the Man".
[2] You shall call His name Jesus: "Behold My Servant".
[3] He shall be great...the Son of the Highest": "Behold your God".
[4] He shall reign,&c.: "Behold your King".)
32 He shall be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give to Him the throne of His father David,
(Sent of God. Born of woman. Crucified for our sins. Enter into the Kingdom forever. God works among people. This is quite a bit to tell this young teenage girl. Gabriel is telling Mary that she is about to bear the Savior of the world, that she will be the mother of the very person that all mankind will look to for their salvation. Her Child will be the eternal king of all Israel. Here she is told that she is going to conceive while she is not even married. When Gabriel told the same thing to Zacharias, the old priest sat there questioning this very messenger from God. The only thing that he could believe is what he could see and reason for himself. Mary didn't question that it would be done, but how it was possible when she was so young and did not have a man to do it. Mary's pregnancy was way to early in her life.
If you want your prayers answered, it is alright to ask for guidance and instruction, but don't doubt that it is possible for God to do. God can do anything He pleases, for He created all things and controls all things.)
33 And He shall reign over the house of Jacob
(Put for all the natural seed of the 12 tribes.)
for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end."
(Eternal. Don't ever allow anyone to take that away from you, either. God is in control. There is an eternal kingdom in the future. Do you have a place there? Satan would like for you to join him in the lake of fire. Do things God's way. Don't allow Satan to take the Most High God away from you.)
34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"
(Mary's answer shows how she understood the angel's promise. She does not question the fact, as Zacharias did, but only inquires as to the mode. To Mary the promise seems too early, to Zacharias too late. She is not doubting that God would do this, but confused how she could have this Christ under her present conditions. We know that this birth will take place by Divine Intervention by the Holy Spirit of God; by God's presence. If God can take a hunk of clay and form a man [Adam] and from that man form his wife Eve, He will have no problem causing this human form of His Divine Son to be conceived in the womb of Mary. I see no problem in our Father causing this Divine conception. Remember that God, YHVH spoke and nothing became everything. This is no problem for the creator of heaven and earth.
If one doubt that, it doesn't change one thing, but it does establish the path that this person chose to walk in for himself. But what is important is that you don't doubt this, for your doubt will be a sign of your lack of faith. Your salvation is based on the Divine Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, His perfect life, and the sacrifice of His shed blood on the Cross. Jesus Christ's death and resurrection is the basis of our Salvation, and when you pray in Jesus Name, you are telling the Heavenly Father that you believe it to be true. As written in Hebrews 10:7; (Jesus came in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do Thy will O God."
Hebrews 10:9,10 Then said He, "Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God." He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." [10]
The purpose of Jesus coming from the beginning was to fulfill all the prophecies that were written in the Word of God as revealed by God and written down by the prophets. Zacharias was following the order for the first, that of sacrifice, and Jesus Christ, Mary's unborn was coming to be the offering for sin once for all people and time. Mary believed everything Gabriel told her, and she had no doubt that it would happen.)
35 And the angel answered and said unto her. "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy Thing Which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
(This is the fulfillment of a promise that goes all the way back to the time of Adam, in Genesis 3:15; that of a coming Messiah that shall be born of woman, suffer and die at the hands of the Kenites. All through the Scriptures the prophets had received the promise by God of a coming Messiah, and detailed the life of the coming Savior. The Prophets pinpointed the names that he would be called; the Branch, Wonderful, Immanuel, etc. Even the day, location being Bethlehem-Judah, and many other details of Jesus life. Now Gabriel is telling Mary how she will be the blessed woman that will fulfill the duty of giving birth to our Lord and Savior.
What an honor to tell this teenage woman; I can see why she was so excited to run to Elisabeth's home with the message. As we read earlier in Isaiah 7:14; "...Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Mary now knows that she will be the one to give birth to this Diving Child. This Divine Child will be the greatest gift that God has given to mankind, the Redeemer of our soul from the bonds of sin that would destroy us. As we read above from Hebrews 10:7; Jesus came for one purpose, and that was to do the will of the Father that sent Him. Father's will was to have the perfect sacrifice, and in Christ's shed blood, there would be no more sacrifice of the blood of rams and goats. So this Child to be born to Mary will be the greatest gift from God to man that will ever be.)
36 And behold, your cousin Elizabeth
(Mary's mother and Elizabeth's mother were sisters. Full blood Levites.)
she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
(It is interesting to note we have two pregnancies. One, it was too late. Elizabeth was older than normal. The second, was too early. Mary had not known a man. Elizabeth's son would be the forerunner, John the Baptist. This time of Mary's conception was six months after Elisabeth's conception with John, so this pinpoints the date of Christ's conception to be December 25th. This then would pinpoint Jesus actual birth to be in September on the feast of the tabernacles, as it was prophesied, and should be.
So the other thing to think on, is how could Mary be a cousin to Elizabeth, a full blood Levite, and have her own parentage of the blood of Judah? We know that Mary's father was of the tribe of Judah, from the lineage given in Luke 3:23-38. However Mary's mother and Elizabeth's parent were both full blood Levites. So we see that Jesus lineage will be both of the lineage of Judah and David, as well as of Levi and Aaron.
So by the fact that these two were cousins tells us so much more than what appears on the surface.)
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible."
(Do you have a problem? Ask Him. All happened in God's order and control then, as it will be in the future. Your Father, the Most High, is in control.)
38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
(There was no doubt in her mind, for she accepted her role that the Lord would use her. Sure she asked God how and why, but when she was told her, she was willing to serve.)
39-56. VISIT OF MARY TO ELIZABETH.
39,40. Mary. Journey.
41-45. Blessing of Mary.
46-55. Hymn of Mary.
56. Mary. Return.
When Mary and Elizabeth met, there was a moment of mutual recognition, where each woman realized that the child of the other would be a person of great importance. Mary spoke the words of a beautiful prayer, expressing her wonder at what had happened. The prayer is called the ‘Magnificat’
Luke 1:39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
(Went the same day, the day of conception.)
40 And entered in the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41-45. BLESSING OF MARY.
41-. Hearing.
-41. Exultation of Babe.
42-. Speaking.
-42,43. Benediction.
44. Exultation of Babe.
45. Beatitude.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb;
(The spirit enters at the point of conception. This is why abortion is wrong - its murder! Cp. Gen. 25:22. This is our documentation that the soul of a child enters at conception, as Mary has just conceived, while John the Baptist is six months along, yet unborn in the womb and can sense the Holy Spirit's presence in the Christ Child just conceived.)
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit:
(The Holy Spirit was present)
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit
(Messiah.)
of your womb!
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
(When does intelligence come in a child's mind? When can an unborn sense feelings, good or bad, love and joy. This verse documents that even an unborn child can sense the joy of the filling of the Holy Spirit. The Christ child was within Mary, and the Holy Spirit also filled both Elisabeth and John the Baptist, six months mature within Elisabeth's womb.)
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."
(Its going to happen exactly as the Lord declares a thing. From mother Eve all the way down to Mary, God protected the lineage. God protected that womb umbilical cord to umbilical cord, whereby Satan couldn't interfere with this One that would be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. We will see that everything that was told Mary, and those things written by the prophets will come to pass. The Holy Spirit has revealed this to Elisabeth while Mary is standing before her.
This is why we become familiar with God's Word, for it reveals to us the many mysteries of our time, that are stripped away by man's traditions. If you know what the future brings, than as it comes to pass it won't be a surprise, but blessed performance that God does keep His Word.)
46-55. HYMN OF MARY.
46-49. Favors to herself. Condensation.
50. Mercy to all that revere Him.
51-53. Favors to others. Discrimination.
54,55. Mercy remembered to Israel.
46-49. FAVORS TO HERSELF.
6,47. Mary rejoicing.
48-. Reason.
-48. All rejoicing.
49. Reason.<
46 And Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord,
(How she did love Him. How could she not! Our Heavenly Father chose Mary out of all the souls born in this earth age of flesh man, to bear the Savior of the Word. Mary was truly the blessed of all woman.)
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior,
48 For He has regarded
(See James 2:3, and cp. 1 Sam. 1:11. Ps. 33:14; 119:32.)
the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
(This is exactly as it would be, and Mary knew this, why? Because she knew that that soul within her was the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. Mary was well versed in the writings of the Prophets, and she knew that she was the one that was written about for the past thousands of years. From mother Eve, all the way down to Mary, God protected that lineage through all the generation, and the proof of God's protection is what the Old Testament is all about. The man [Adam] and his family that the coming Messiah would come through. God protected that womb, umbilical cord to umbilical cord, from Eve to Mary. The protection was to keep Satan from interfering with God's plan for the salvation of the souls of his children.)
49 For He That is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name.
(See Ps. 20:1. There is no doubt in her mind that her Child is the promised Immanuel of Isaiah.)
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
(All generations had opportunity. This is exactly as it is. God's mercy is on all them that revere Him, no matter what time or generation your are born into. This even applies to those born prior to Christ death on the Cross, and even before Noah. Those that revere God will have the mercies of God shown to them. In 1 Peter 3:18,19: For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit; By which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison,
Upon Jesus death while in the tomb, He went all the way back to those souls that lived and died prior to his death, giving them the same opportunity to receive salvation that you and I have.
1 Peter 3:20 Which sometimes were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
All generations have had the opportunity to accept or reject Christ for themselves.)
51 He hath shewed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
(You have free will if you want to mess up. If you want to mess up, go ahead, see where you get. You can follow God's path of truth and righteousness, and be obedient to His commandments, in which God will show you His mercy and blessings. It is up to you whether you will be blessed or cursed by God, for you have the free will to follow Satan's ways or God's ways. God will not stand in your way. To follow God's way, requires you to get into God's Word and follow His ways.)
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats,
(Amaziah [2 Kings 14:10]; Uzziah [2 Chron. 26:16]; Nebuchadnezzar [Dan. 5:20]; Belshazzar [Da. 5:23,30])
and exalted them of low degree.
(Or humble. His elect. See Rom. 11.)
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things;
(Especially the truth)
and the rich
(With ill-gotten gains.)
He has sent empty away.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
(Cp. Isa. 41:8,9. Ps. 98:3. Jer. 31:3.)
in remembrance of His mercy,
55 as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham
(Gen. 17:19. cp. Mic. 7:20. Gal. 3:16. Acts 2:39.),
and to His seed for ever."
(See Ps. 132:11.)
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Mary and Joseph had to attend a census-taking in Joseph’s ancestral town, Bethlehem, and Mary gave birth to her son there.
In traditional portrayals of the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph were the only family members present. In fact, Mary would have been helped during the birth by a group of her female relatives. You can read about giving birth at Childbirth in the ancient world (preparing for the birth, midwives, the delivery, care of the newborn baby, and birth control).
All the stories about Jesus’ early life convey the idea that He was extraordinary. Their message is that Jesus was more than an inspired teacher and thinker. By saying that Jesus’ birth was miraculous, Luke presented Jesus as divine.
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.
(Caesar Augustus was the Emperor of the Roman Empire, that controlled the civilized world at the time. Caesar issued an edict that all the people under the Roman empire were to enroll or register themselves for the sake of taking a census of all the people in the land of their origin.)
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
(His full name was Publius Sulpicius Quirinus)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
(Where ever a person was, he had to return to birthplace to be registered on a certain date. If he had a family, he took his family with him.)
4 And Joseph also went up
(Literally true, the ascent from Nazareth to Jerusalem being at least 1,500 feet.)
from Galilee,
(He had to go to Judea for enrollment)
out of the city of Nazareth,
(= Branch-Town, where He, Yahaveh's "Branch" [Zech. 3:8; 6:12], was brought up [4:16])
into Judaea, unto the city of David,
(1 Sam. 20:6. Zion also so called, 2 Sam. 5:9; 6:10,12,16. 1 Kings 2:10,&c.)
which is called Bethlehem;
(= house of bread. Symbolic of the bread you take for communion Cp. Gen. 35:19; 48:7. Ps. 132:6. About 5 miles south of Jerusalem. Rachel died here, and it was the birthplace of the last patriarch Benjamin, and the One and only begotten Son, the Savior of the world.)
(because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
(So at this time Joseph, the step-father of Jesus would have to go to the city of His fathers to be enrolled in the census that were taking place. Of course, Mary's father was of this lineage of David also. The city of Bethlehem dates way back in time even to the birth of Benjamin, the last of the sons of Jacob. In childbirth of Benjamin, Rachel was in hard labor, and died.)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
(Notice that Joseph and Mary are now married, and She is about to give birth to her Child. This would be six months after the birth of John the Baptist to her cousin Elisabeth.)
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
(As they arrived in Bethlehem, those labor pains were coming, and she was about to deliver this special Christ.)
September 29th, Feast of Tabernacles.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
(Jesus was born of a commoner. He was sent to the commoners, as well as the kings. Keep in mind that just as Joseph was required to return to Bethlehem to be registered in the census, so were all the other people also that had their family roots in Bethlehem. This little town was crowded. Mary gave birth to her firstborn Son, Jesus the Christ, not in the local inn, but in the back where the animals are kept. The eternal King over the Kingdom of God without end, was born into our age of flesh man in the lowest form that a child could enter. He was born out where the animals were feeding.
This verse uses a medical term here to express how the child would be dressed after birth. "Swaddling cloths" was a medical term meaning "to wrap like a bandage". It is another place of many places where Luke leaves his marking of the education that he had.)
After the birth of Mary’s son, He was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem.
A religious ceremony for the women followed the birth of a Jewish child. This marked the end of the post-partum period, and the resumption of sexual relations between wife and husband.
As a devout Jewess, Mary observed the rituals surrounding the birth of a child (Leviticus 12).
During the ceremony in the Temple two people, Anna and Simeon, foretold an extraordinary future for Mary’s son.
Luke 2:21 And at the end of eight days,
(I.e. on the last and great day of the Feast of Tabernacles [John 7:37].)
when He was circumcised,
(Only 4 named before birth: Ishmael, Isaac, John, and the Lord.)
He was called Jesus,
(Gabriel naming this Child Yahshua. see Matt. 1:21)
the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
(Here then on the day of Atonement, on the eighth day after the feast of tabernacles, Jesus was brought to the temple for the circumcising. The name "Jesus" expresses the relation of Yahaveh to Him in Incarnation, by which "He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Paul tells us this in Philippians 2:8. Then in Philippians 2:6 we read; Who, being God, did not deem His glory a thing not to be thus relinquished. So stop and think for a moment. The name Jesus is the name associated with "the shame" which He endured in order that His people could be saved from their sins. This was the stated purpose from the start by the Angel of God. Matthew 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His People from their sins." There is only one way for this to happen, for Jesus to do exactly what he did, suffer the humility of the scorn by the Kenites, take the lies and stripes and be the sacrificial Passover Lamb on the Cross. Then when Jesus shed His innocent blood and came out of that tomb alive, He fulfilled that initial purpose: "to save His people from their sins." Is the world saved? hardly, of course the answer is no, but those that are His people, that believe in Jesus and have repented in Jesus name are saved from their sins. They are the beloved ones of God.)
22 And when the time
(I.e. 40 days after the birth of a son [80 after a daughter]. See Lev. 12:2-4.)
came for their
(i.e. Joseph and Mary.)
purification according to the law of Moses,
(See Ex. 13:12; 22:29; 34:19. Num. 3:12,13; 18:15. See Gal. 4:4.)
they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord;
(Ex. 13:2. Num. 18:15,16.)
23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
(Quoted from Ex. 13:2. Num. 18:15.)
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
(Lev. 12:2,6. See Heb. 10. He became these sacrifices. Stop and think for a moment. This entire process of the letting of blood of these innocent creatures, the turtledoves or pigeons would be done away with when Jesus goes to the cross and His blood is shed. The blood of Christ did away with all the parts of the law that dealt with animal blood sacrifice. He became the sacrifice for one and all times for the forgiveness of sins. At this point of the study it is important to review Hebrew 10:3-10.
The third verse reminds us that these blood sacrifices of the Old Testament are only a covering, good for one year, and the offering had to be made each year. We are reminded in verse four that those sacrifices were only a covering, they took away no sin. God took no pleasure in those sacrifices and offerings, and through the entire Old Testament the Prophets looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, the One that would fulfill the entire writings of the entire Old Testament. Jesus came "(in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God" Now lets look at verse eight.
Hebrews 10:8 And when He said, "Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offerings for sin Thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein;" which are offered by the law. 9 Then said He, "Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God," He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second. 10 By the which will [will of God] we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Jesus came to fulfill the will of God, and that will was to make Jesus Christ the blood sacrifice for one and all times. The moment of Christ death, the blood ordinance under the law of Moses were done away with, and made of no affect. The salvation of all mankind will be placed in the body of this one Child, Jesus the Christ.)
25-38. ATTESTATIONS. (EARTHLY.)
25-27. Simeon.
28-35. His testimony.
36,37. Anna.
38. Her testimony.
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon,
(= hearing. Cp. Gen. 29:33. Possibly the father of Gamaliel [Acts 5:24].)
and this man was righteous and devout, looking for
(Cp. Gen. 49:18. Isa. 49:23. Joseph of Arimathea was another who thus waited. Mark 15:43. Cp. v.38; 3:13; 24:21.)
the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
(Once Simeon had heard from the Lord that he would see Jesus before He died, this just and devout man was focused on waiting for that moment when the Christ child would be in his midst. Remember that the Spirit of God was in Simeon, and when Jesus came near, he would have the same reaction as John the Baptist had when Mary entered the room at Elisabeth's house, when he was six months conceived. "He leaped for Joy at the presence of the Christ child. Mary had just conceived Jesus when this took place. Of course Simeon would feel the presence of the Lord, and would leap for joy just as John did.)
27 And inspired by the Spirit He came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,
28 Then he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 "Lord, now lettest You Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word;
(Simeon is now looking forward to his time of death, for God was faithful in His promise to allow him to see and touch the Christ child: The anointed of God. Think of the joy that was in Simeon, this old man as he stood there with the Savior of the world held tenderly in his arms. What a joy.)
30 For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
31 Which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
(It is well worded so there could be no confusion that this Child is the Christ. Every detail of His coming was given by the Prophets, there could be no doubt that Jesus was the Messiah.)
32 A light for revelation to the Gentiles,
(Gr. apokalupsis = a revelation by unveiling and manifesting to view. The 1st of 18 occ. Quoted from Isa. 42:6. Cp. Ps. 98:2,3. Isa. 49:6; 52:10&c. "Gentiles" see Isa. 25:7)
and for glory to Thy people Israel."
(Before the crucifixion, Christ was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but once the crucifixion was over, the vail in the temple was rent, and salvation lightened the way for the Gentiles also.)
33 And His father and His mother marveled at what was said about Him;
(Joseph and Mary stood there in the temple, waiting for the ritual to take place, and they heard many things spoken of this Son of there. Of course they would take glory at the praise of their Son. Both knew though from the beginning that this birth would be a special Child, for the Angel of God revealed that it would be the very Son of God.)
34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this Child is set for the fall
(I.e. stumbling-block. See Isa. 8:14, and cp. Matt. 21:42,44. Acts 4:11. Rom. 9:33. 1 Cor. 1:23.)
and rising of many in Israel,
(Matt. 11:15. Debated even to this day.)
and for a sign that is spoken against;
(Simeon knew that the Christ child would go to the cross, and rise from the dead to conquer sin. He knew that many would have the faith to receive their salvation, but he also knew that the death and resurrection would be debated throughout history. Even to this day the Jews reject the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord, and many of them even reject the thought of Jesus even existing. Yet in their own writings they detail all the parts of His life. Simeon was so true in the words that he spoke. Even amongst so called scholars and Christians there are many debates as to the things of Christ. Simeon knew that Jesus would be a blessing to some and a stumbling block to many other.
This looks also far into the future to our generation, that time when many will find Christ a stumbling block, for they in their ignorance will fall to the wrong christ Satan in his role as the Antichrist, and then at the coming of the true Christ rise to be changed into their incorruptible body. The signs that they follow are by their own traditions are a stumbling block to them. They simply do not know the order of events of the end times, and speak out against the truth from the Word of God. They just don't know the truth because they do not study God's Word, which is all part of the debate spoken of earlier from the first chapter.)
35 (Yea, and a sword will pierce through your own soul also),
(When on the Cross.)
that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."
(Cp. 5:22. Matt. 15:18. John 9:15. 1 Cor. 11:19. 1 John 2:19. He is addressing Mary here, for he knew the many heart aches that she would have, beside the many blessings that would come also.)
36 And there was a prophetess,
(A teacher, preacher. Only here and Rev. 2:20.)
Anna,
(Women of the Bible - https://www.facebook.com/groups/177854688940978/doc/197332313659882/ )
the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher;
(Thus Anna of Israel united with Simeon of Judah.)
she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,
(Husband died 7 years after marriage.)
37 and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
(This woman was the 1st one in Jerusalem that preached Jesus. Many preachers today would not like this Anna, for she "spake" of Christ, she preach of Christ to all that would listen to her. Anna was the first person in the Jerusalem that went out into the streets and preached the Gospel of Christ. She told them that the Christ child was here, and redemption was at hand.
Just because Paul told women not to chatter in church, the men folk tried to shut them up completely. Paul also to the men to sit still and pay attention, but they like to over look that. We are to have order in our churches, and gossip and busy jaws are not right in a church service. Its not right for anyone to chatter in church when God's Word is being taught.)
Luke 2:39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
So when all the ceremonies were finished, the sacrifices offered, and the preaching was over, according to the law of the Lord, they went back home to Nazarath. The governmental census was over, and all was well with the dedication within the Temple. They had the entire family there to witness the event, much the same way a baby dedication takes place today. The entire family is on their way home. Remember we are talking of a days journey.
Luke 2:40 And the Child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him.
Of course the Spirit and wisdom of God, and the grace of God would be upon Jesus; it was His only begotten Son.
41-50. THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER.
41,42. Parents at Jerusalem.
43. The Child. Tarrying behind.
44-46-. Parents search.
-46. The Child. Employment.
47. Effect. Astonishment.
48-. Parents at Jerusalem.
-48-. The Child. Questioned.
-48,49-. Parents. Search.
-49. The Child. Employment.
50. Effect. Unintelligent.
Luke 2:41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.
(April 3-4th every year.)
42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to custom;
(Here again the family of Jesus is in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, that feast to remember the time in Egypt when the death angle had to pass over those with the blood on the door mantel of their house. The death angel passed over when the people within the house were covered by the blood of the lamb.)
43 and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
(This was a time when many from Nazareth would make the trip to Jerusalem together, and Jesus by the age of twelve was well grown by this time. Jesus has never given them trouble before, so why shouldn't his parents think that Jesus was with them?)
44-46-. PARENTS SEARCH.
44-. Journey from Jerusalem.
-44. Search.
45-. Unsuccessful.
-45-. Journey back to Jerusalem.
-45,46-. Search.
-46-. Successful.
44 but supposing Him to be in the company
(i.e. the caravan)
they went a day's journey,
(probably to Beerōth, about 6 miles north of Jerusalem)
and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances;
45 And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
(They had come a full days walk, and now they had to return to Jerusalem to find out what happened to Him.)
46 After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers,
(i.e, Rabbis [the good ones].)
listening to them and asking them questions;
(It had been three days since they had left for home, and Joseph and Mary had gone all over Jerusalem looking for their young boy. When they finally went into the Temple, there Jesus was sitting in the midst of the doctors, the scholars of the time, listening and asking Him questions.)
47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.
(This twelve year old lad was blowing them away with His questions and the words that He was saying to them. He was putting these good doctors to shame.)
48 And when they saw Him they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, Your father
(this was legally correct on the part of Mary. But not truly so; therefor the Lord's correction, "My Father's business", next verse.)
and I have been looking for You anxiously."
(Mother Mary was worried, as any mother would be. Mary told Jesus that your step father and I have been worried about you.)
49 And He said to them, "How is it that you sought Me?
(These are the 1st recorded words of the Lord. The reference is to Ps. 40:5-11. John 4:34. Hence the Divine necessity. Cp. Matt. 16:21; 26:54. Mark 8:31. Luke 4:43; 9:22; 24:7,26,46. John 3:14; 4:4; 12:34,&c. The last recorded words as the Son of man were, "It is finished": i.e. the Father's business which He came to be about. Compare His 1st and last ministerial or official words. See Matt. 4:4, "It is written".)
Did you not know that I must be in My Father's house?"
(His house is where 2 or more are gathered. They couldn't see though it. Jesus is letting it be known that when He was in the temple He was home. He just could not see why there should be so much confusion as to His location when He never left the temple in the first place. This was His Father's house. Mary should have know such, as she was informed from the very beginning that this child that she would have would be the Son of God, the Messiah.)
50 And they did not understand the saying which He spoke to them.
(Cp. 9:45; 18:34. Mark 9:32. John 1:10,11; 10:6.)
51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and His mother kept all these things in her heart.
(That's what mothers do. Jesus submitted Himself to His earthly parents and went with them back home to Nazareth. Remember back in the ninth verse, Mary kept what the angel of God told here also and kept those thoughts in her mind also. She was a very blessed woman, and full of understanding. When everyone else leaves you, mother will stick by you to the very end. Mothers always see the best in their children, and Mary is no different.)
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.
(In Jesus youth everybody like Him, He was respectful to His parents, a good neighbor, will liked in the community, and at the synagogue. As Jesus was maturing, Mary locked all those memories away in her mind, keeping note of this special son of hers.
This chapter was one of the most important chapters in the bible, for it recorded the virgin birth of the promised Messiah. We read of the documentation of the fulfillment of all the prophecies of the Old Testament dealing with the coming of Savior, and the joy that His birth gave to the world. Jesus Christ is the living Word, brought into the world.
John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.")