1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
Glory in the Highest
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
15 So when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at the things the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
The Gospel of Luke has a two-fold purpose:
It is a historical record-
It was written and directed for the Greeks, The thinking man. Remember Luke was a doctor of medicine.
It also has a spiritual purpose and that is to present the Son of God.
The three great historical nations had to contribute in their own way to prepare the soil planting of Christianity.
The Jews were on the side of the religious element.
The Greeks on Science, art, and wisdom.
And The Romans as masters of the world on the side of the political element.
While the phrase “seeking after wisdom” characterizes the Greek philosophy of the Hellenistic-Roman era,
the Jewish worldview can be summed up in the phrase “the Jews require a sign.” (Meander)
It is true that sign has also been translated into other versions of the Bible as “miraculous signs” or “miracles.”
1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
So, we see in Matthew, Mark, and Luke these three gospels are directed to three different groups.
synoptic Gospels
Matthew: To the Jew
Mark: To the Roman
Luke: To the Greek
John: was distinct in his writing
Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the synoptic Gospels because they include many of the same stories, often in a similar sequence and in similar or sometimes identical wording.
They stand in contrast to John, whose content is largely distinct.
The message of the cross of Christ was either foolishness or a stumbling block.
For many Greeks, the logical conclusion of their assumptions was that God could not and would not take on a mortal body, suffer, and then be resurrected.
For many Jews, the logical conclusion of their assumptions was that God had already declared the terms of salvation through the Torah and that there was no need for any further revelation.
Paul and other New Testament authors could not through logic persuade either Greeks or Jews of the truthfulness of the gospel because their audience had completely different ideas about the nature and revelation of God.
Instead, as Paul explains, the testimony of Christ’s Atonement had to be given and received “not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4).
Rather than trying to preach the gospel in the “wisdom of words” (1 Corinthians 1:17), we can know there is another path, the one taught by Paul and reemphasized in our day.
The witness of Christ is given and received “not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4).
Just as in Paul’s day, Church members today come from many backgrounds. They had many different assumptions about reality before they joined the Church.
But the Holy Ghost’s testimony of the divinity of Christ and this work was enough to overcome whatever philosophical or religious reservations they may have held previously.
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
Strong's G3625 οἰκουμένη- oy-kou-men'-ay
Means inhabited earth it means the civilized world of that day
Now, who is this man Caesar Augustus?
Caesar Augustus was the adopted son of Julius Caesar
His original name was Octavius Augustus.
Now the name Augustus was not a name but a title given by the senate. He had many titles. He was called king, emperor, and dictator.
Caesar Augustus made the attempt to make himself a god.
2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
Notice all where taxed.
everyone to his own city.
History: Quirinius was governing Syria
According to secular history, a conundrum is posed because Herod’s death and Quirinius governing in Syria do not sync with the timeline.
Evidence now strongly suggests Herod’s death occurred during 2 BC potentially changing the equation.
In his day Quirinius (Cyrenius in Greek) was a famous, powerful Roman Consul, the highest Senate rank achievable.
His resume included stints as a provincial governor in Crete & Cyrene, Galatia, Pamphylia, and possibly Asia, and was a war hero for his military victories – all prior to 4 BC.
Jewish history views Quirinius quite differently.
He is known to them as the infamous governor of Syria who in 6 AD imposed a Roman provincial taxation triggering a Jewish revolt.
3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
Now Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to be registered because they were from the lineage of the house of David. So even though Jesus was born of Mary and God the Father, Joseph and Mary had the same lineage.
Back then they did not marry outside of a lineage and God had commanded in the law not to do so.
They were God’s chosen people and most of the world believed in other gods.
1 “When the LORD your God brings you into the land which you go to possess and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Gigacities and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, 2 and when the LORD your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them. 3 Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. 4 For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so, the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.
God gave the command but Moses married a Cushite woman and Aaron and Miriam did not like it so they spoke against Moses. Numbers 12:1.
In the New Testament, we are not to be unequally yoked
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 it tells us that.
Now it is not race but light and darkness so, believers are to marry believers, not non-believers.
God no longer is looking on the outward but at the heart.
1 Corinthians 7:39 says, A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
Notice in the Lord that means you both believe the same things concerning Jesus Crist.
5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
I love this because it is History and Spiritual in truth.
A man attempting to make himself God signs the tax bill and Mary carrying the Lord Jesus Crist in her womb.
6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.
All this was arranged by God. We look at this and think she had it hard but doesn’t the bible say, God does not give us more than we can handle?
The Bible goes on to say in Philippians 4:13 we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
Mary was about to deliver Jesus and all was arranged by God so He would be delivered in Bethlehem.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Heb. 1:6 says, but when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.
We had in Matthew an account of the notice given of the arrival of this ambassador, this prince from heaven, to the wise men, who were Gentiles, by a star;
here we are told of the notice given of it to the shepherds, who were Jews, by an angel: to each God chose to speak in the language they were most conversant with.
See here how the shepherds were employed; they were abiding in the fields near Bethlehem, and keeping watch over their flocks by night.
The angel was not sent to the chief priests or the elders (they were not prepared to receive these tidings), but to a company of poor shepherds, who were like Jacob, plain men dwelling in tents, not like Esau, cunning hunters.
The patriarchs were shepherds.
Moses and David particularly were called from keeping sheep to rule God's people, and by this instance, God would show that he had still a favor for those of that innocent employment.
Tidings were brought to Moses of the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt when he was keeping sheep, and to these shepherds, who, it is probable, were devout pious men, the tidings were brought of greater salvation.
Notice. They were not sleeping in their beds when this news was brought to them but they were abiding in the fields and watching.
Those that would hear from God must stir up themselves. They were broad awake, and therefore could not be deceived by what they saw and heard.
The Bible tells us in Luke 21:36
But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Romans 13:11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
Ephesians 5:14 ESV
Anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
They were employed, this was not an act of devotion, the shepherds were doing what they were called to do.
They were in a peasant position.
They were humble men. Watching the flock by night.
9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Ephistēmi in Greek means the angel was close by more than likely they were above the shepherds.
It also says they were greatly afraid. This in Greek means they were terrified.
As Zacharias and Mary when Gabriel came to them.
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
Again, the angel said do not be afraid just as Gabriel did.
An angel of the Lord will be someone that brings comfort. There is no comfort with Demons.
These angels brought the Good News.
Jesus Christ is born!
Why is it good news, because through Him salvation has come to the world?
And soon will return again in the Rapture of the Church.
11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
We covered the whole sign thing.
We are to live by faith, not signs but God in His mercy gives them to us.
John 4:48 ESV So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”
Luke 21:25-27 ESV / “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
End time signs,
The temple was destroyed in 70 AD by Titus the Roman
2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV / But understand, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
1 Timothy 4:1 ESV / Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV / For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Matthew 24:5 ESV / For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.
Matthew 24:24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Jesus declared, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:26-27).
The Angels give God the glory, let us learn to always give God the glory in everything we do.
That is all angels are created to do but they have a choice as we saw when Lucifer deceived many to follow him and are his demos today.
Lastly, God sends Goodwill to all men and peace then the Shepard’s obeyed and when to the baby.
PRAY!
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