Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Luke
Book: Luke
Chapter: 2
Overview:
The
Birth of
Christ.
(1-7) It is made known to the shepherds.
(8-20) Christ presented in the
Temple.
(21-24) Simeon prophesies
concerning
Jesus.
(25-35) Anna prophesies concerning him.
(36-40) Christ with the learned men in the
Temple.
(41-52)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
41-52 It is for the honour of
Christ that children should
attend
On public
Worship. His parents did not return till they
had stayed all the
Seven days of the
Feast. It is
Well to stay
to the
End of an ordinance, as becomes those who say, It is good
to be here. Those that have lost their comforts in
Christ, and
the evidences of their having a part in him, must bethink
themselves where, and when, and how they lost them, and must
turn back again. Those that would recover their lost
acquaintance with
Christ, must go to the place in which he has
Put his name; there they may
Hope to meet him. They found him in
some part of the
Temple, where the doctors of the
Law kept their
schools; he was
Sitting there, hearkening to their instructions,
proposing questions, and answering inquiries, with such
Wisdom,
that those who heard were delighted with him. Young persons
should seek the knowledge of Divine
Truth, attend the ministry
of the
Gospel, and ask such questions of their elders and
teachers as may tend to increase their knowledge. Those who seek
Christ in sorrow, shall find him with the greater joy. Know ye
not that I ought to be in my
Father's
House; at my
Father's
work; I must be about my
Father's business. Herein is an
Example; for it becomes the children of
God, in conformity to
Christ, to attend their heavenly
Father's business, and make all
other concerns give way to it. Though he was the
Son of God, yet
he was subject to his earthly parents; how then will the foolish
and weak sons of men answer it, who are disobedient to their
parents? However we may neglect men's sayings, because they are
obscure, yet we must not think
So of
God's sayings. That which
at first is dark, may afterwards become
Plain and easy. The
greatest and wisest, those most eminent, may learn of this
admirable and Divine
Child, that it is the truest greatness of
soul to know our own place and office; to deny ourselves
amusements and pleasures not consistent with our state and
Calling.