Luke was the best educated of the other disciples, and he is telling us what he witnessed and was told to him by those people that saw these events happen, that are recorded. This is the book that allows us to fix the birth of Christ to the day, as we read in the first chapter. By knowing the time of conception of John the Baptist, and six months later to the day, Mary came to Elisabeth her cousin, with the good tidings that she was carrying the Christ child. So in chapter two of Luke we will see the conditions that were in place at the time of Jesus Christ's birth.

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."

"And it came to pass" in the Hebrew text is "v`yahi bemeyi". This is a Hebraism that is always used that marks a time whereby trouble is ending in a blessing. It will be used several times in the book of Luke. 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.

Luke 2:2 "(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)"

So this pinpoints the time of this first census, Cyrenius was the governor of Syria. The second time of the census was years later, as recorded in Acts 5:37. This is not something that is recorded only in God's Word but is well documented even today through the British museum.

Luke 2:3 "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.

Luke 2:4 "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)"

This is true, for Jerusalem is at a much higher elevation than Nazareth of Galilee. Joseph took his wife Mary with him, and traveled to his home at Bethlehem-Judah, just outside of Jerusalem. "Bethlehem" in the Hebrew tongue means "the house of bread". The Bread, in relation to the Bread that you take in communion, is Christ, the child that shall be born here in Bethlehem. Jesus is the Bread of spiritual life, eternal life.

Though Jesus [the Branch of Zachariah] will be born in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary will leave Bethlehem to bring up the Christ child away from the temple of Jerusalem. Zachariah 6:12 "And speak unto him, saying, `Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the Man Whose name is the BRANCH; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the Lord:".

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.

Genesis 35:17 "And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, "Fear not; thou shalt have this son also."

Notice again here that we see "And it came to pass", for there will be a tragedy, and out of the sorrow come a blessing, the birth of Benjamin. Luke uses this expression some sixteen times. It leaves the writing to show exactly as the event took place.

Genesis 35:18 "And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: But his father called him Benjamin."

Ben-oni in the Hebrew means "Son of my sorrow." This was accurately named, but Jacob would not have it that way and named him "Benjamin", meaning "son of my right hand, or my strength".

Genesis 35:19 "And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth-lehem."

Rachel died in this town of Bethlehem, the same town that the Christ child would be born it.

Luke 2:5 "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.

Luke 2:6 "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.

Luke 2:7 "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.

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.

Luke 2:8 "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."

It is important to notice that at the time of the birth of Christ, the time of year was a time when shepherds could stay in the field with their flocks. The sheep were not in the field on December 25, nor were shepherds out there keeping watch over them. This verse tells us that Christ was born at a time when shepherds could be in the field. This did not take place in the winter months, but at harvest time. We went over this in the first chapter as to the exact time our Lord Jesus Christ was born. The Companion Bible details the time of birth in Appendix 179, and documents Jesus birth to be at the "feast of Trumpets or Tabernacles", at the end of September, and circumcised on "the day of Atonement".

Luke 2:9 "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid."

The "glory of the Lord" is given in Strong's Hebrew dictionary; 7935; "Shekanyah, shek-an-yah; meaning yah has dwelt." It means that God dwelt there. This was the very angel of God that was with these Shepherds as they were watching their sheep at night. Sure God would be there, for it was the birth of His only begotten Son, and any Father would desire be present for His Son's birth. This was a Divine birth, and it shook the shepherds to be in the presence of such glory.

Luke 2:10 "And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

The Angel of God was witnessing to these Shepherds, and telling them of the Divine birth that was taking place. The Greek used here for, "I bring you good tidings", is "euangelizomai", its, I evangelize or announce to you great joy. That Joy is that has come is through salvation that comes only through the birth of Jesus Christ. this Christ child that is born will pay the price for those that repent and believe on Him.

Luke 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

The word "Jesus" means "YHVH's Savior" in the Greek, while in the Hebrew, "Joshua". The term Savior has a meaning, for there must be someone lost before there can be anyone doing the saving. All mankind in the flesh is born in sin, and their soul being without Salvation is eternally lost. Jesus Christ was born into this earth age of flesh man so that any person, any soul that by faith believes and comes to him in Repentance can find salvation for his soul by the Savior.

The name "Christ" means "the Anointed one". The word "Christos" in the Greek means "to rub as in anointing". This anointing is given in the healing and protection of God's people. That protection or healing is given in and through our faith in Jesus Christ, and the rubbing and applying of the olive oil [the oil of our people] to the person or thing that is being anointed.

Luke 2:12 "And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

This angel of God is telling these shepherds that He is giving them a sign to prove that this birth of this Anointed, the Savior, is truly born and became flesh amongst them. If we were told that such a important person was born, we would expect him to be royalty, but here, the sign is that this "Babe, the Christ", will be covered over with rags, and lying in a manger where the animals are fed.

Luke 2:13 "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,"

Luke 2:14 " "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

The translators have adjusted this a little, for "good will toward men" should read "among men of good pleasure". The Sense is the same, for the "good pleasure [eudokias instead of eudokia]" is that of Jehovah alone. The glory of God is given to the men that God favors, those men and women, boys and girls that love the Lord. Sure salvation is open to everyone, but Christ is not going to bring anyone peace unless they meet the conditions, and believe upon Him. As this verse was written, there would be nothing but peace in the entire world, and that just is not so. The peace enters your heart at repentance, and the Spirit of God then brings that peace to your soul and spirit.

Today the whole world is crying peace, peace, yet the whole world is filled with terrorism. Yes, we are told that in end times the cry for peace would be in whole world, but suddenly there would come destruction. That destruction that is going to come will be the coming of Satan in his role as Antichrist. This verse is so true though for men that are pleasing to God do have peace of mind in their hearts. This was a very special day to our heavenly Father, for His own Son was born, and He sent a host of souls there in heaven to witness the fact and to praise His name before men.

Luke 2:15 "And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."

The Shepherds had witnessed not only the heavenly choir singing the praises of the birth of Christ, but had spoken to and felt the shekinah glory of the angel of God in their presence. Now in the still of the night, they are talking one to another of what they had just witnessed, and it didn't take long for each of them to head into Bethlehem to see this Divine baby for themselves. Standing in the presence of God's glory, they had to be shaken in their minds.

Luke 2:16 "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger."

These shepherds ran to Bethlehem, and went to the manger and saw for themselves this baby lying in a manger. God gave them a sign, and they witnessed that sign for themselves. That sign from verse twelve was "You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. This was true and the event had happened.

Luke 2:17 "And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child."

The moment that these shepherds saw the child, and witnessed the sign from the angel, they started seed planting immediately. The Messiah was born, the Savior of the world has come, and we saw Him in the manger. Eye witnesses telling the story that they had witnessed, and the prophecies of the prophets had come to pass. The Anointed on is with us, for they just could not keep quiet as to what they had seen.

Luke 2:18 "And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds."

The shepherds never left anything out of their story, and as the story was told, the people listened in amazement. An angel of God appeared to each of them, with the Lord Himself, and the heavenly Choir singing the praises of this Christ child.

Luke 2:19 "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."

Mary took all the treasured thoughts of her firstborn, and stored them away in her mind. There is no way that she would lose any part of what happened that night from her memory.

Luke 2:20 "And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."

Those shepherds heard the voice of the angel of God, they heard the host from heaven, and they saw it with their own eyes. In their singing and praising God, there is no way that they would forget one moment of that night. These shepherds had a seen it first hand, and I feel that Luke had talked first hand to these shepherds in his life. Remember how the book of Luke opened back in Luke 1:2; "I walked with those eyewitnesses of the Word": Luke spoke to them first hand and Luke is passing that good news on to followers, and the beloved of God.

Luke 2:21 "And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His name was called JESUS, Which was so named of 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 in the Hebrew is "Yahshua", and it means "[the] Salvation of Jehovah". The name "Jesus" expresses the relation of Jehovah 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.

Luke 2:22 "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;"

This law of Moses is recorded in Leviticus 12:2-4; "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, `If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean."

Leviticus 12:3 "And in the eighth day of flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised."

Leviticus 12:4 "And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled."

So we see that there would be a total of forty days before Mary the mother of Jesus could enter the Temple, to present Jesus to the Lord. If a woman had a female child the time of purifying would be eighty days.

Luke 2:23 "(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)"

This is in fulfillment of keeping the law of Moses as given above in Leviticus 12:2-4.

Luke 2:24 "And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

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."

Hebrews 10:9 "Then said He, "Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God," He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second."

Hebrews 10:10 "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.

Luke 2:25 "And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost [Spirit] was upon him."

The word "Ghost" is not in the manuscript, so I use the world Spirit, for Ghost indicates something unknown and negative, and the Spirit of our Lord is definitely known by those that love Him. God is not a spook or out to scare anyone.

Luke 2:26 "And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost [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.

Luke 2:27 "And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in temple: and when the parents brought in the Christ Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law,"

As Joseph and Mary entered into the temple to follow the custom of the law, the Spirit of God led Simeon into the temple at the same time.

Luke 2:28 "Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,"

This old man Simeon took the babe in his arms, and blessed God.

Luke 2:29 "Lord, now lettest Thou 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.

Luke 2:30 "For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,"

Simeon know exactly that his eyes had seen Jesus the Christ, who would bring salvation to the world, to those that would believe.

Luke 2:31 "Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;"

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.

Luke 2:32 "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of 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.

Luke 2:33 "And Joseph and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of 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.

Luke 2:34 "And Simeon blessed then, and said unto Mary His mother, "Behold, this Christ is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;"

The word "against" means "debated". 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.

Luke 2:35 "(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

This is prophecy by Simeon of that day when many will see the sword pierce through the soul of our Lord. Jesus knew what was about to happen, and he told John, take my mother and go. He is addressing Mary here, for he knew the many heart aches that she would have, beside the many blessings that would come also.

Luke 2:36 "And there was on Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of the great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;"

What this is saying is that Anna was a very old prophetess, that lived with her husband seven years and he died. I hope you caught that she was a prophetess, a teacher of the Word of God. She was a preacher.

Luke 2:37 "And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day."

Anna was a faithful woman, about eighty four years old, and she continued daily in prayer night and day. She lived within the temple all her life, from the time her husband died.

Luke 2:38 "And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."

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.

Luke 2:41 "Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover."

Each year Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

Luke 2:42 "And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast."

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.

Luke 2:43 "And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the Child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of 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?

Luke 2:44 "But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance."

Joseph and Mary went throughout the group that they were with, they found out that Jesus was not there.

Luke 2:45 "And when they found Him not, they turned back again 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.

Luke 2:46 "And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing 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.

Luke 2:47 "And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and 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.

Luke 2:48 "And when they saw Him, they were amazed: and His mother said unto Him, "Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing."

Mother Mary was worried, as any mother would be. Mary told Jesus that your step father and I have been worried about you. Mary wanted an answer from Jesus, and He will give it.

Luke 2:49 "And He said unto them, "How is it that ye sought Me? wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?"

The word "business" stated here, should read "house" from the manuscripts. 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.

Luke 2:50 "And they understood not the saying which He spake unto them."

At the time Joseph and Mary just could not understand what Jesus was telling them.

Luke 2:51 "And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but His mother kept all these sayings in her heart."

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.

Luke 2:52 "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."

As Jesus grew older, He grew both in knowledge and in maturity in all respects, both in the ways of 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."

This is the Savior that Luke is going to present to us over the next twenty two chapters.