11 The [1]record of the genealogy of [2]Jesus [3]the Messiah , the son of David , the son of Abraham : 2 Abraham [4]was the father of Isaac , [5]Isaac the father of Jacob , and Jacob the father of [6]Judah and his brothers . 3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar , Perez was the father of Hezron , and Hezron the father of [7]Ram . 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab , Amminadab the father of Nahshon , and Nahshon the father of Salmon . 5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab , Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth , and Obed the father of Jesse . 6 Jesse was the father of David the king . David was the father of Solomon by [8]Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah . 7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam , Rehoboam the father of Abijah , and Abijah the father of [9]Asa . 8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat , Jehoshaphat the father of [10]Joram , and Joram the father of Uzziah . 9 Uzziah was the father of [11]Jotham , Jotham the father of Ahaz , and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah . 10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh , Manasseh the father of [12]Amon , and Amon the father of Josiah . 11 Josiah became the father of [13]Jeconiah and his brothers , at the time of the deportation to Babylon . 12 After the deportation to Babylon : Jeconiah became the father of [14]Shealtiel , and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel . 13 Zerubbabel was the father of [15]Abihud , Abihud the father of Eliakim , and Eliakim the father of Azor . 14 Azor was the father of Zadok , Zadok the father of Achim , and Achim the father of Eliud . 15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar , Eleazar the father of Matthan , and Matthan the father of Jacob . 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary , by whom Jesus was born , who is called [16]the Messiah . 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations ; from David to the deportation to Babylon , fourteen generations ; and from the deportation to Babylon to [17]the Messiah , fourteen generations .
18 Now the birth of Jesus [18]Christ was as follows : when His mother Mary had been [19]betrothed to Joseph , before they came together she was found to be with child e by the Holy Spirit . 19 And Joseph her husband , being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned [20] to send her away secretly . 20 But when he had considered this , behold , an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream , saying , " Joseph , son of David , do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife ; for [21]the Child who has been [22]conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit . 21 "She will bear a Son ; and you shall call His name Jesus , for [23]He will save His people from their sins ." 22 Now all this [24]took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet : 23 " BEHOLD , THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD e AND SHALL BEAR A SON , AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME [25]IMMANUEL ," which translated means , " GOD WITH US." 24 And Joseph [26]awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife , 25 [27]but kept e her a virgin e until she gave birth to a Son ; and he called His name Jesus .
21 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus , that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth . 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria . 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census , each to his own city . 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee , from the city of Nazareth , to Judea , to the city of David which is called Bethlehem , because he was of the house and family of David , 5 in order to register along with Mary , who was engaged to him, and was with child . 6 While they were there , the days were completed for her to give birth . 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son ; and she wrapped Him in cloths , and laid Him in a manger , because there was no room for them in the inn .
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night . 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened . 10 But the angel said to them, " Do not be afraid ; for behold , I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people ; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior , who is Christ the Lord . 12 " This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger ." 13 And suddenly there appeared 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 men with whom He is pleased ." 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven , the shepherds began saying to one another , "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then , and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph , and the baby as He lay in the manger . 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child . 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds . 19 But Mary treasured all these things , pondering them in her heart . 20 The shepherds went back , glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen , just as had been told them.
21 And when eight days had passed , before His circumcision , His name was then called Jesus , the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb . 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 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord , " EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE Lord "), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord , " A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS ."
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon ; and this man was righteous and devout , looking for 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 would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ . 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple ; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus , to carry out for Him the custom of the Law , 28 then he took Him into his arms , and blessed God , and said , 29 "Now Lord , You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace , According to Your word ; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation , 31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples , 32 A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES , And the glory of Your people Israel ." 33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother , "Behold , this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel , and for a sign to be opposed - 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul -to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed ." 36 And there was a prophetess , Anna the daughter of Phanuel , of the tribe of Asher . She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage , 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four e . She never left the temple , serving night and day with fastings and prayers . 38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God , and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem .
(Read Luke 2:1-7)
The fulness of time was now come, when God would send forth his Son, made of a woman, and made under the law. The circumstances of his birth were very mean. Christ was born at an inn; he came into the world to sojourn here for awhile, as at an inn, and to teach us to do likewise. We are become by sin like an outcast infant, helpless and forlorn; and such a one was Christ. He well knew how unwilling we are to be meanly lodged, clothed, or fed; how we desire to have our children decorated and indulged; how apt the poor are to envy the rich, and how prone the rich to disdain the poor. But when we by faith view the Son of God being made man and lying in a manger, our vanity, ambition, and envy are checked. We cannot, with this object rightly before us, seek great things for ourselves or our children.
(Read Luke 2:8-20)
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 God in the highest, and peace on the earth. The shepherds lost no time, but came with haste to the place. They were satisfied, and made known abroad concerning this child, that he was the Saviour, even Christ the Lord. Mary carefully observed and thought upon all these things, which were so suited to enliven her holy affections. We should be more delivered from errors in judgment and practice, did we more fully ponder these things in our hearts. It is still proclaimed in our ears that to us is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord. These should be glad tidings to all.
(Read Luke 2:21-24)
Our Lord Jesus was not born in sin, and did not need that mortification of a corrupt nature, or that renewal unto holiness, which were signified by circumcision. This ordinance was, in his case, a pledge of his future perfect obedience to the whole law, in the midst of sufferings and temptations, even unto death for us. At the end of forty days, Mary went up to the temple to offer the appointed sacrifices for her purification. Joseph also presented the holy child Jesus, because, as a first-born son, he was to be presented to the Lord, and redeemed according to the law. Let us present our children to the Lord who gave them to us, beseeching him to redeem them from sin and death, and make them holy to himself.
(Read Luke 2:25-35)
The same Spirit that provided for the support of Simeon's hope, provided for his joy. Those who would see Christ must go to his temple. Here is a confession of his faith, that this Child in his arms was the Saviour, the salvation itself, the salvation of God's appointing. He bids farewell to this world. How poor does this world look to one that has Christ in his arms, and salvation in his view! See here, how comfortable is the death of a good man; he departs in peace with God, peace with his own conscience, in peace with death. Those that have welcomed Christ, may welcome death. Joseph and Mary marvelled at the things which were spoken of this Child. Simeon shows them likewise, what reason they had to rejoice with trembling. And Jesus, his doctrine, and people, are still spoken against; his truth and holiness are still denied and blasphemed; his preached word is still the touchstone of men's characters. The secret good affections in the minds of some, will be revealed by their embracing Christ; the secret corruptions of others will be revealed by their enmity to Christ. Men will be judged by the thoughts of their hearts concerning Christ. He shall be a suffering Jesus; his mother shall suffer with him, because of the nearness of her relation and affection.
(Read Luke 2:36-40)
There was much evil then in the church, yet God left not himself without witness. Anna always dwelt in, or at least attended at, the temple. She was always in a praying spirit; gave herself to prayer, and in all things she served God. Those to whom Christ is made known, have great reason to thank the Lord. She taught others concerning him. Let the example of the venerable saints, Simeon and Anna, give courage to those whose hoary heads are, like theirs, a crown of glory, being found in the way of righteousness. The lips soon to be silent in the grave, should be showing forth the praises of the Redeemer. In all things it became Christ to be made like unto his brethren, therefore he passed through infancy and childhood as other children, yet without sin, and with manifest proofs of the Divine nature in him. By the Spirit of God all his faculties performed their offices in a manner not seen in any one else. Other children have foolishness bound in their hearts, which appears in what they say or do, but he was filled with wisdom, by the influence of the Holy Ghost; every thing he said and did, was wisely said and wisely done, above his years. Other children show the corruption of their nature; nothing but the grace of God was upon him.
