Lucas 2

Lucas 2

William MacDonald - At least three different rituals are described in this passage: 1. First there was the circumcision of Jesus. This took place when He was eight days old. It was a token of the covenant that God made with Abraham. On this same day, the Child was named, according to Jewish custom. The angel had previously instructed Mary and Joseph to call Him JESUS. 2. The second ceremony was concerned with the purification of Mary. It took place forty days after the birth of Jesus (see Lev. 12:1–4). Ordinarily parents were supposed to bring a lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering. But in the case of the poor, they were permitted to bring “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons” (Lev. 12:6–8). The fact that Mary brought no lamb, but only two young pigeons is a reflection of the poverty into which Jesus was born. 3. The third ritual was the presentation of Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem. Originally, God had decreed that the firstborn sons belonged to Him; they were to form the priestly class (Ex. 13:2). Later, He set aside the tribe of Levi to serve as priests (Ex. 28:1, 2). Then the parents were permitted to “buy back” or “redeem” their firstborn son by the payment of five shekels. This they did when they dedicated him to the Lord. (See context in Believer's Bible Commentary) Circumcision (4059)(peritemno from perí = around + témno = cut off - see also study of peritome) means literally to cut something off or away ("to cut off around"), signifying a removal of that which has been cut away. Luke is the only one use this word in the Gospels (Lk 1:59, cf Jn. 7:22; Acts 7:8; Acts 15:1; Acts 15:5; Acts 16:3; Acts 21:21) Jesus (2424)(Iesous) is transliteration of the Greek Iesous, which in turn is the transliteration of the Hebrew name Jehoshua or Yeshua which means Jehovah is help or Jehovah is salvation. Stated another way the Greek Iesous corresponds to the OT Yehoshua which is contracted as Yeshua. Iesous was translated into Latin as Jesus. Conceived (4815)(sullambano from sun/syn = together with + lambáno = to take, to seize) means literally to seize or take together and conveys the picture of clasping. Sullambano has several meanings depending on the context, the most common meaning being to arrest someone (7/16 uses) or take them into custody. To apprehend someone by virtue of a warrant from authority. The next most frequent use is to conceive (become pregnant) (5/16 uses) picking up on the basic meaning of clasping in a sexual sense. Luke uses sullambano 11/16 times - Lk. 1:24; Lk. 1:31; Lk. 1:36; Lk. 2:21; Lk. 5:7; Lk. 5:9; Lk. 22:54; Acts 1:16; Acts 12:3; Acts 23:27; Acts 26:21; Phil. 4:3; Jas. 1:15 Womb (2836) koilia from koilos = hollow) refers literally to a hollow space or cavity (although not used with this sense in Scripture) and then to (1) the belly (stomach), (2) the womb (uterus) and (3) (figuratively) the inner man or innermost being, which is almost synonymous with way the NT usually uses heart (kardia). Koila - 22v appetite(1), appetites(1), belly(1), innermost being(1), stomach(7), womb(11), wombs(1). Matt. 12:40; Matt. 15:17; Matt. 19:12; Mk. 7:19; Lk. 1:15; Lk. 1:41; Lk. 1:42; Lk. 1:44; Lk. 2:21; Lk. 11:27; Lk. 15:16; Lk. 23:29; Jn. 3:4; Jn. 7:38; Acts 3:2; Acts 14:8; Rom. 16:18; 1 Co. 6:13; Gal. 1:15; Phil. 3:19; Rev. 10:9; Rev. 10:10 Related Resource: Excursus on Circumcision - for the spiritual significance What does the Bible say about circumcision? What is the Christian view of circumcision? What is circumcision of the heart? I know of a Name, A beautiful name Jean Perry I know of a Name, A beautiful Name, That angels bro't down to earth; They whispered it low One night long ago, To a maiden of lowly birth. Refrain: That beautiful Name, That beautiful Name, From sin has power to free us! That beautiful Name, That wonderful Name, That matchless name is Jesus! 2 I know of a Name, A beautiful Name, That unto a Babe was given; The stars glittered bright Thro'out that glad night, And angels praised God in heav’n. [Refrain] 3 The One of that Name, My Savior became, My Savior of Calvary; My sins nailed Him there, My burdens He bare. He suffered all this for me. [Refrain] 4 I love that blest Name, That wonderful Name, Made higher than all in heaven; ’Twas whispered, I know, In my heart long ago, To Jesus my life I’ve given. [Refrain] Luke 2:22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord NET Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord GNT Καὶ ὅτε ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωϋσέως, ἀνήγαγον αὐτὸν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα παραστῆσαι τῷ κυρίῳ, NLT Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. KJV And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; ESV And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord NIV When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ASV And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord CSB And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord Luke 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Exodus 34:19 “The first offspring from every womb belongs to Me, and all your male livestock, the first offspring from cattle and sheep. Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus ESV Global Study Bible THE INCARNATE SON IS PRESENTED TO HIS FATHER And when the days for their purification (katharismos) according to the law of Moses were completed (pimplemi): After the days for Mary’s purification were completed and she was again permitted to enter the temple. After the birth of a boy child, a woman was considered unclean for forty days or eighty days if it was a girl infant. Mary could otherwise engage in normal activities, but she could not take part in any of the Jewish religious ceremonies because she was considered ceremonially unclean. Note that three different aspects of the Old Testament Law are intertwined in these verses: The Law required that all male children be circumcised on the eighth day after birth in Lk 2:21, the Law requiring women wait 40 days after the birth of a son before presenting themselves in the temple for their purification in Lk 2:22 and the Law requiring that a mother and father present their firstborn son before the Lord to be “redeemed” by the offering of a sacrifice in Lk 1:23. Fruchtenbaum - Luke 2:22 indicates that this happens 40 days after Jesus’ birth, as required by the Law of Moses. For male babies it was 40 days, and for female babies it was 80 days. Note the words their purification about which John