Luke 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Review Questions on Chapter Two

Review Questions on Chapter Two

• Describe the birth of Jesus.
• To whom did the angels appear?
• What happened on the eighth day of Jesus’ life?
• Who were two of the people present?
• What do we know of Jesus’ early years?
• Jesus was what kind of youth?

“The Circumcision of the Child Jesus” by Guido Reni

+

Preceding

Luke 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 2:1-7 – A Firstborn’s Birth In Bethlehem

Luke 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 2:8-14 – Angels and Shepherds in the Night

Luke 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 2:15-20 – Shepherds Find the Infant Christ

Luke 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 2:21-24 – Presenting the Baby to God

Luke 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 2:25-35 – Simeon’s Blessing and Warning

Luke 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 2:36-38 – Anna’s Thanks before Those Waiting

Luke 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 2:39-40 – The Young Child Grow

Luke 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 2:41-52 – Twelve Year Old Jesus in the Temple

Nazarene Commentary Luke 2:41-50 – Twelve Year Old Jesus in the Temple

 

++

Additional reading

1. Thought for the Christmas time: A sense of history
2. Omniscient God opposite a not knowing Jesus
3. For Getting to know Jesus
4. God’s salvation
5. Jesus Messiah
6. Jesus son of God
7. Jesus son of God or god the son
8. Jesus Christ (the Messiah)

+++

Related articles

1. Luke 2
2. Christmas Eve
3. The Christmas Story (with light commentary)
4. Babe of Bethlehem
5. December 25: The Birth of Jesus
6. Christmas-Luke 2- Birth of Christ
7. That’s What Christmas Is All About
8. “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” ~An Angel
9. What Angels Do
10. The true gain and fruit of the angel’s message
11. Hark the Herald, Angels Sing
12. The Angel’s Good News—3
13. Now the angels honor us as friends
14. Christmas-Luke 2- The Sign
15. The Years Stretch Out
16. My Eyes Have Seen
17. Seeing Was Believing
18. Anna’s Example
19. Something forgotten, fun facts and curiosities about the Christmas story
20. God’s Perfect Gift
21. What About Joseph?
22. Text for the Week: Behind That Silent Night
23. On the 12th Day of Christmas
24. We Are Treasured
25. A Mother Knows
26. No Longer a Manger Baby: Letting Jesus Grow Up – A Sermon on Luke 2:41-52
27. Epiphany 1
28. When Jesus Was a Kid
29. The Bible in a Year—Day 76—Numbers 5 – 6; Luke 2:1-20; Proverbs 7:6-20
30. Friday 17th March 2023 – Luke 2 “She gave birth to her firstborn, a son”.
31. Glorious thoughts
32. Like A Sparrow in the House of God
33. Finding Jesus
34. The Temple in Luke’s Narrative
35. He Will Reign

Luke 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 2:8-14 – Angels and Shepherds in the Nigh

Luke 2:8-14 – Angels and Shepherds in the Night

LK2:8 Now there were shepherds[1] in the same area who were living outside keeping watch at night[2] over their flock. LK2:9 Then YHWH’s angel[3] appeared to them and YHWH’s glory[4] shone all around them and so they became frightened with a great fear. LK2:10 And the angel said to them: “Do not be frightened. For, behold, I declare to all of you a great joy for all the people. LK2:11 Because today there was born to you in David’s city a savior[5] who is Lord Messiah.[6] LK2:12 And this will be your sign – you will find an infant wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” LK2:13 Then suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of celestial armies[7] praising The God and saying: LK2:14 “Glory to God in the heights, and on earth peace among men of goodwill!”[8]

*

[1] Shepherds: Though Luke compiled his Gospel thirty years later it is still possible he was able to interview one or more of these shepherds. Certainly he could get facts from their children who would have been told the story.

[2] Living outside keeping watch at night: Suggesting it was not yet winter and was mild enough in the fall to sleep outdoors.

[3] YHWH’s angel: A Hebraism that occurs often in the Old Testament. [Genesis 16:7; Exodus 3:2; Numbers 22:22]

[4] YHWH’s glory: A Hebraism. [Exodus 16:7, 10; 24:16, 17; 40:34, 35]

“and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?”” (Ex 16:7 NIV)

“While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked towards the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud.” (Ex 16:10 NIV)

“16 and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.” (Ex 24:16-17 NIV)

“34 ¶ Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” (Ex 40:34-35 NIV)

[5] A savior: Or, deliverer. The Greek SOTER is without the article. The designation is used of God and judges of Israel. [Isaiah 19:20]

“It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a saviour and defender, and he will rescue them.” (Isa 19:20 NIV)

[6] Lord Messiah: Or, Christ, Anointed Lord, Messiah and Lord, Christ the Lord. [Daniel 9:24, 25]

“24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. 25 “Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens’, and sixty-two ‘sevens’. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.” (Da 9:24-25 NIV)

[7] A multitude of celestial armies: Or, KJV: a multitude of the heavenly host; GDS: a throng of the heavenly army; AMP: an army of the troops of heaven.

[8] Peace among men of goodwill: Or, on earth peace, good will toward men; RSV: among men with whom he is pleased; ABU: peace toward men of his good pleasure; MON: among men who please him. [Isaiah 9:6] Compare Jesus’ use of Isaiah 61:2 at Luke 4:19.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa 9:6 NIV)

“to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,” (Isa 61:2 NIV)

“to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”” (Lu 4:19 NIV)

+

Preceding

Luke 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 2:1-7 – A Firstborn’s Birth In Bethlehem

Matthew 1:18-25 – Genesis of Jesus Christ

Matthew 22:41-46 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus Asks a Trump Question

Matthew 24:4-8 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer: Part One – Beware Being Misled

The Climax of Matthew’s story

Mark 8:27-29 Simon Peter said Jesus is the Messiah,the Son of The Living God!

++

Additional reading

1. Written to recognise the Promised One
2. Truth, doubt or blindness
3. Do not be afraid. Good news because a Saviour has been born
4. For Getting to know Jesus
5. The True Significance of Jesus’ Birth
6. The sent one from God
7. Jesus begotten Son of God #3 Messiah or Anointed one
8. Afraid to see the man of the heavens opened
9. No Other Name (But Jesus)
10. The saviour Jesus his human side
11. Today’s thought “outstretched arm of Jehovah” (February 01)
12. Memorizing wonderfully 51 Acts 2:22-38 Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God
13. Called My Son Out of Egypt
14. Anointing of Christ as Prophetic Rehearsal of the Burial rites
15. Let’s Think About Redemption Differently
16. As near to God as you want Him to be
17. Reason to preach #5 Trained to do it God’s way
18. Wishing lanterns and Christmas
19. Prayer theme for December: Pray for the coming of the Prince of Peace

+++

Related

1. A Message of Hope from a Minor Prophet (Christmas Eve Sermon, 12/24/13)
2. Luke’s Gospel-Chapter 2-Verses 8-14
3. Sermon on Luke 2:8-14
4. A Christmas Prayer – Luke 2:8-14
5. Have I Got News For You #adventbookclub – Day 21
6. Answer
7. God Offers Peace to All
8. A Journey to Bethlehem – Joy
9. Birth of Jesus Christ: Good news
10. The Reveal
11. March 19 Gathering: Anointed
12. TLIC Family-day – 50 – February 19 – anointed – 3
13. Good Grief, It’s Christmas
14. Charlie Brown Christmas
15. Was Jesus anointed at the home of Lazarus or Simon the Leper? / Christian Theology & Apologetics
16. @egwinspirational
17. Merry Christmas
18. “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
19. What Christmas is all about
20. The Meaning of Christmas…
21. ♣ What Is THE Meaning Of Christmas?
22. Let’s start talking to each other again!
23. Remind Me Again, Linus, What Is Christmas All About?
24. The True Meaning of Christmas (in which I quote Luke the Theologian via Charles Schultz)
25. The True Meaning of Christmas Christmas time is here Happiness and cheer Fun for all that children call Their favorite time of the year Christmas
26. ☆Merry Christmas!☆
27. December 14th: Hark the Herald Angels Sing
28. The Sunday Message
29. 2012 NRA Christmas Message – Part 2
30. Christmas Devotions: Angels
31. Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men?
32. Danger in the Manger!
33. Christmas: Peace to Those on Whom His Favor Rests
34. “Behind Every Cloud…”: Gen. 9.12-15; Luke 2.8-14; Acts 1.6-9; Rev. 1.7: An Advent Sermon

Luke 2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 2:1-7 – A Firstborn’s Birth In Bethlehem

CHAPTER TWO:
THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF JOHN AND JESUS

[“Birth and Growth of a Father’s Son”]
Key word: Christ

Luke 2:1-7 – A Firstborn’s Birth In Bethlehem

LK2:1 Now it occurred in those days[1] that a decree[2] was sent out from Caesar Augustus[3] to register[4] all the inhabitants of the land.[5] LK2:2 This was the first census during the time Quirinius[6] was governor of Syria. LK2:3 So everyone traveled to register in their individual towns. LK2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee and the village of Nazareth to Judea and David’s village called Bethlehem.[7] LK2:5 Because his family was of David’s genealogy he registered there with his pregnant fiancée[8] Mary. LK2:6 And it came about while they were there it became the time for her to give birth. LK2:7 She gave birth to a son – her firstborn[9] – and then she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them at the inn.[10]

*

[1] In those days: About 10 AD.

[2] Decree: The Greek is DOGMA.

[3] Caesar Augustus: The Roman Emperor died in 15 AD.

[4] Register: Or, taxed, census, registration.

[5] All the inhabitants of the land: The word may refer only to Judea.

[6] Quirinius: His full name is Publius Sulpicius Quirinius. Tacitus the Roman historian mentions him: “[Quirinius] sprang from the municipality of Lanuvium – had no connection; but as an intrepid soldier and an active servant he won a consulate under the deified Augustus, and, a little later, by capturing the Homonadensian strongholds beyond the Cilician frontier, earned the insignia of triumph,… adviser to Gaius Caesar during his command in Armenia.” [The Annals, III, XLVIII)] He died 21 AD. Josephus mentions him: “Quirinius, a Roman senator who had proceeded through all the magistracies to the consulship and a man who was extremely distinguished in other respects, arrived in Syria, dispatched by Caesar to be governor of the nation and to make an assessment of their property. Coponius, a man of equestrian rank, was sent along with him to rule over the Jews with full authority.” Josephus mentions that he ordered a taxation which may have caused the need for the census. This led to a Jewish revolt. [Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, 1, 2, 3, 4 [i, 1]] For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Acts 5:37. Another commentary states: “Quirinius stood in exactly the same relation to Varus, the governor of Syria, as at a later time Vespasian did to Mucianus. Vespasian conducted the war in Palestine while Mucianus was governor of Syria; and Vespasian was legatus Augusti, holding precisely the same title and technical rank as Mucianus.” [The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge 1957, Vol. IX, pp. 375, 376] This and other histories and archaeological discovers proves the existence of such a person.

[7] Bethlehem: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 2:6. [Micah 5:2]

“”But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”” (Mic 5:2 NIV)

[8] Fiancée: Or, espoused wife, betrothed, engaged, having been given in marriage. The state of engagement made Mary his woman or wife. Though they were not married by the Jewish ritual of the wedding feast, there was no legal condemnation under the Law of Moses.

[9] Firstborn: Or, her first child. The Greek is PROTOTOKON, the first born of a woman. Thus, inferring she had other children. [Matthew 1:25]

“and Joseph did not know Mary until after she gave birth to a son. Joseph called his name ‘Jesus.’” (Mt 1:25 MHM)

[10] Inn: Or, lodging house. This may have been a guestroom, however it may have been a caravanary – a place where those on the trade routes stopped for over night rest. Surely it was primitive and one thing dominated the sense – the odor of animals.

+

Preceding

Story of Jesus’ birth begins long before the New Testament

Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1 Review Questions on Chapter One

++

Additional reading

1. Jahushua, Joshua, Jeshua or Jesus an Immanuel or God with us an incarnated God or a human being?
2. Memorizing wonderfully 25 Tabernacle of David Out of Bethlehem
3. A season of gifts
4. Thought for the Christmas time: A sense of history
5. Jesus begotten Son of God #2 Christmas and pagan rites
6. The place where Jesus was brought up
7. In a few days time it will be 2020 years ago that the Messiah was born

+++

Related

1. Do you remember?
2. Unexpected Guests: Devotional Day 4
3. Monday 12.23.13 A Birth in Bethlehem
4. Unto Us a Child is Born #adventbookclub – Day 25
5. “Jesus Was Born of a Woman” Luke 2:1-7| Sermon Audio
6. The decision
7. Martha #adventbookclub
8. Martha iii #adventbookclub
9. Monday, December 22: A Child is Born
10. The Journey
11. FBC Advent Devotional
12. No Room #Advent
13. Messages for Christmas
14. A New Hope – Luke 2:1-7
15. The Innkeeper and the Common Man (Luke 2:1-7)
16. Wrapped in swaddling clothes
17. On a Silent Night
18. How Jesus (un)dressed for success
19. A Mysterious Sign from God (Luke 2:1-7)
20. No Place
21. December 25th: Mary, Did You Know?
22. 9th Day of Christmas: Wed, 02 Jan – Luke 2:1-7 ~ The Birth of Jesus
23. No Room in the Inn
24. Where can peace be found? (Luke 2:1-7)
25. Mary’s Story

Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1:5-7 – Zechariah and Elizabeth

Luke 1:5-7 – Zechariah and Elizabeth

LK1:5 In the days of Herod,[1] king of Judea, there happened to be a certain priest named Zechariah[2] out of the [priestly] division of Abijah,[3] as well as his wife named Elizabeth[4] from the daughters of Aaron. LK1:6 Now they were both righteous before The God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and righteous requirements of the LORD. LK1:7 Elizabeth had never had any children as she was barren and they were both well along in years.

*

[1] In the days of Herod: Luke does not begin with something obscure, as “once upon a time in a land far away.” He states the Roman appointed king of Judea, something that could be confirmed. There is considerable information in Josephus on the house of Herod and its various rulers. Though scholars disagree on the time of the death of Herod it is possible he lived until 2-1 BC, about the time of the birth of Jesus.

[2] Zechariah: Meaning “Yah Remembers.”

[3] Division of Abijah: King David divided the priests into 24 divisions. Abijah was the eighth. [1 Chronicles 24:10] Each of the divisions served for one week every six months.

[4] Elizabeth: Meaning “God of Plenty.”

+

Preceding

Luke – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Introduction to the Third Gospel

Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1:1-4 – A Factual and Logical Statement

Hosea Say What?

To remember:

• The Holy Family goes to Egypt = Matthew connects the prophetic dots Hosea 11:1-4:
• Hosea = speaking for God = harkening back to the Exodus =remembering Israel little toddler of a nation > God delivered them out of bondage in Egypt.
• God called His son Israel out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery = Hosea 11 is about.
• Matthew uses the Old Testament in his Gospel => goes to great lengths to show that Jesus’ birth, life, and death = rooted firmly in the Old Testament
• Jesus born of a virgin = fulfilling Isaiah 7:14
• born in Bethlehem = fulfilling Micah 5:1-2
• Jesus sought out to be killed by Herod = fulfilling Jeremiah 31:15
• Jesus preceded by John preparing the way = fulfilling Isaiah 40:3
• Jesus healed diseases = fulfilling Isaiah 53:4
• Jesus spoke through parables = fulfilling Psalm 78:2
• Jesus came to Jerusalem riding on a donkey = fulfilling Zechariah 9:9
• “fulfill.” = Greek plēroō = to fill up +=> Jesus brings Scriptures to their intended goal => incomplete revelation to and through Israel has been brought to completion.
• ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” = “time has been filled up and the kingdom is here”
• Jesus’ flight to and return from Egypt was filling up Hosea 11:1.
• filling up the redemptive historical purposes of the nation
• Jesus is the embodiment of Israel => the true and faithful Israel
• Jesus = new Genesis (New World) => life embodies the new Exodus
• Jesus fulfilling Israel’s history + bringing it to a climax
• Jesus = faithful Son called out of Egypt, filling up what was lacking in the first faithless son, Israel.
• first Israel, God’s son, broke the covenant and deserved God’s wrath =>  God his only begotten Son Jesus Christ == Matthew 3:17, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
• Jesus Christ = the one who came to complete all that Israel was designed to perform.

+

Preceding articles:

Matthew 2:1-6 – Astrologers and Priests in a Satanic Plot

Matthew 2:7-12 – Pawns of Herod, the Magi Find the ‘Child’

Nazarene Commentary Luke 2:8-14 – Angels and Shepherds in the Night

Nazarene Commentary Luke 2:15-20 – Shepherds Find the Infant Christ

Matthew 2:13-15 – Escaping the Slaughter by a Flight to Egypt

+++

Related articles

• Wednesday, December 17, 2014 (heartfixxer.wordpress.com)
  Throughout the Old Testament we see Jesus Christ foretold of. It speaks to our all-knowing God and his love for mankind. Jesus wasn’t a second thought, he was in God’s plan the whole time. God’s gift to us is His overwhelming love.
• Keeping Promises: The Virgin Birth (pointtolife.wordpress.com)
  The virgin birth, the fact that Jesus Christ was born to a woman who was a virgin, (meaning she never had relations with a man (Luke 1:34)), is a fundamental doctrine of true Christianity for a number of reasons. First, the Old Testament not only foretells the virgin birth, the New Testament proclaims it. Secondly, it is the fulfilled prophecy in scripture that is used to validate the Bible as the Word of God. Third, the virgin birth is fundamental to the sinless nature of Christ. (Had Jesus been born of the union of  a man and a woman, He would have been a sinner like the rest of us, and thus incapable of paying for our sins on the cross.)
• Christmas Mystery – The Virgin Birth! Part 1 (insideprocess.wordpress.com)
  the most important aspect of the Virgin birth is this: God gave us an absolute favour – a favour you can freely reenact or walk into this season…
• Wonder Unto Others! (upwordsms.wordpress.com)
• His Birth and Our New Birth (mississippipep.wordpress.com)
  I cannot enter the realm of the kingdom of God unless I am born again from above by a birth totally unlike physical birth. “You must be born again” (John 3:7). This is not a command, but a fact based on the authority of God. The evidence of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that “Christ is formed” in me. And once “Christ is formed” in me, His nature immediately begins to work through me.
• Is God with us? (quotesthoughtsrandom.wordpress.com)
  God sent Jesus and God is with us.
• Isaiah prophesied the birth of Jesus (disciplesofhope.wordpress.com)
  As you read through the prophecies of Isaiah about the birth of Jesus you will realize that Jesus was born with a mission. Jesus Christ came on earth born of a woman, not for his own pleasure but to do the will of His Father in Heaven. Happy are those who believe that God sent Jesus to take away the sins of the world.

  Isaiah under the influence of the Spirit of God could so confidently speak about the Messiah. Yes, it needed confidence as Isaiah was speaking about Jesus hundreds of years before Jesus could be born and manifest as a man on earth though he is the Son of God.

• The Old Testament Promise Of Christ (1) (thechristiangazette.wordpress.com)
  You might wonder why faith is so important as we study these prophecies and their fulfillments.   Well, as we progress, we are going to see that this study is based upon an assumption that God’s Word is absolutely truthful…  How do we know that these prophecies were actually received years before their fulfillment?  It is based upon our belief that the authors of the Old Testament are the genuine authors and the time of their writings is as described in the Word.  How do we know that the fulfillments of these prophecies actually took place? It is based upon the trustworthiness of the Word’s historical accounts of the birth of Christ and physical lineage of Christ.
• Long To Look (biblicalnotes.com)
  Peter wrote, “It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:12, ESV). Amazing, that angels “long to look” into God’s work regarding human salvation. In that verse, “long” is translated from a Greek word (epithumeo) which means to desire passionately. And, “look” is translated from a Greek word (parakupto) which conveys the image of someone stooping down to look at something. Thus, the “good news” of the gospel is so intriguing that angels have a keen desire to stoop down and see what God is doing for you and me as he offers salvation through Jesus’ blood.
• The Bible And Cosmology by Dr. R. Laird Harris (creationconcept.wordpress.com)
  The world-view of the Scripture is mythological and is therefore
  unacceptable to modern man whose thinking has been shape
  d by science and is therefore no longer mythological. Modern
  man always makes use of technical means which are the result
  of science. In case of illness modern man has recourse
  to physicians, to medical science. In case of economic and
  political affairs, he makes use of the results of psychological,
  social, economic and political sciences, and so on. Nobody
  reckons with direct intervention by transcendent powers… man
  acknowledges as reality only such phenomena or events as are
  comprehensible within the framework of the rational order of the
  universe. He does not acknowledge miracles because they do
  not fit into this lawful order. When a strange or marvellous accident
  occurs, he does not rest until he has found a rational
  cause. The contrast between the ancient world-view of the Bible
  and the modern worldview is the contrast between two ways of
  thinking, the mythological and the scientific.

Christian Reformed Ink Archives

By. Kevin DeYoung

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:13-15)

That last verse has caused plenty of consternation over the years.  The Holy Family goes to Egypt, and this somehow fulfills Hosea’s reference to Israel’s exodus? It looks like Matthew is connecting the prophetic dots by the slimmest of connections.

View original post 1,641 more words