Luca 2

1 OR in que’ dì avvenne che un decreto uscì da parte di Cesare Augusto, che si facesse la rassegna di tutto il mondo.

2 Questa rassegna fu la prima che fu fatta, sotto Quirinio, governator della Siria.

3 E tutti andavano, per esser rassegnati, ciascuno nella sua città.

4 Or anche Giuseppe salì di Galilea, della città di Nazaret, nella Giudea, nella città di Davide, che si chiama Betleem; perciocchè egli era della casa, e nazione di Davide;

5 per esser rassegnato con Maria, ch’era la moglie che gli era stata sposata, la quale era gravida.

6 Or avvenne che, mentre eran quivi, il termine nel quale ella dovea partorire si compiè.

7 Ed ella partorì il suo figliuolo primogenito, e lo fasciò, e lo pose a giacer nella mangiatoia; perciocchè non vi era luogo per loro nell’albergo.

8 OR nella medesima contrada vi erano de’ pastori, i quali dimoravano fuori a’ campi, facendo le guardie della notte intorno alla lor greggia.

9 Ed ecco, un angelo del Signore si presentò a loro, e la gloria del Signore risplendè d’intorno a loro; ed essi temettero di gran timore.

10 Ma l’angelo disse loro: Non temiate; perciocchè io vi annunzio una grande allegrezza, che tutto il popolo avrà;

11 cioè che oggi, nella città di Davide, vi è nato il Salvatore, che è Cristo, il Signore.

12 E questo ve ne sarà il segno: voi troverete il fanciullino fasciato, coricato nella mangiatoia.

13 E in quello stante vi fu con l’angelo una moltitudine dell’esercito celeste, lodando Iddio, e dicendo:

14 Gloria a Dio ne’ luoghi altissimi, Pace in terra, Benivoglienza inverso gli uomini,

15 Ed avvenne che quando gli angeli se ne furono andati da loro al cielo, que’ pastori disser fra loro: Or passiam fino in Betleem, e veggiamo questa cosa ch’è avvenuta, la quale il Signore ci ha fatta assapere.

16 E vennero in fretta, e trovarono Maria, e Giuseppe, e il fanciullino, che giaceva nella mangiatoia.

17 E vedutolo, divolgarono ciò ch’era loro stato detto di quel piccolo fanciullo.

18 E tutti coloro che li udirono si maravigliarono delle cose ch’eran lor dette da’ pastori.

19 E Maria conservava in sè tutte queste parole, conferendole insieme nel cuor suo.

20 E i pastori se ne ritornarono, glorificando e lodando Iddio di tutte le cose che aveano udite e vedute, secondo ch’era loro stato parlato.

21 E QUANDO gli otto giorni, in capo de’ quali egli dovea esser circonciso, furon compiuti, gli fu posto nome GESÙ, secondo ch’era stato nominato dall’angelo, innanzi che fosse conceputo nel seno.

22 E quando i giorni della loro purificazione furon compiuti secondo la legge di Mosè, portarono il fanciullo in Gerusalemme, per presentarlo al Signore

23 come egli è scritto nella legge del Signore: Ogni maschio che apre la matrice sarà chiamato Santo al Signore;

24 e per offerire il sacrificio, secondo ciò ch’è detto nella legge del Signore, d’un paio di tortole, o di due pippioni.

25 OR ecco, vi era in Gerusalemme un uomo il cui nome era Simeone; e quell’uomo era giusto, e religioso, ed aspettava la consolazione d’Israele; e lo Spirito Santo era sopra lui.

26 E gli era stato divinamente rivelato dallo Spirito Santo, ch’egli non vedrebbe la morte, che prima non avesse veduto il Cristo del Signore.

27 Egli adunque, per movimento dello Spirito, venne nel tempio; e, come il padre e la madre vi portavano il fanciullo Gesù, per far di lui secondo l’usanza della legge,

28 egli sel recò nelle braccia, e benedisse Iddio, e disse:

29 Ora, Signore, ne mandi il tuo servitore in pace, Secondo la tua parola;

30 Perciocchè gli occhi miei hanno veduta la tua salute;

31 La quale tu hai preparata, per metterla davanti a tutti i popoli;

32 Luce da illuminar le Genti, E la gloria del tuo popolo Israele.

33 E Giuseppe, e la madre d’esso, si maravigliavano delle cose ch’erano dette da lui.

34 E Simeone li benedisse, e disse a Maria, madre di esso: Ecco, costui è posto per la ruina, e per lo rilevamento di molti in Israele; e per segno al quale sarà contradetto

35 ed una spada trafiggerà a te stessa l’anima; acciocchè i pensieri di molti cuori sieno rivelati.

36 Vi era ancora Anna profetessa, figliuola di Fanuel, della tribù di Aser; la quale era molto attempata, essendo vissuta sett’anni col suo marito dopo la sua verginità.

37 Ed era vedova d’età d’intorno ad ottantaquattro anni; e non si partiva mai dal tempio, servendo a Dio, notte e giorno, in digiuni ed orazioni.

38 Ella ancora, sopraggiunta in quell’ora, lodava il Signore, e parlava di quel fanciullo a tutti coloro che aspettavano la redenzione in Gerusalemme.

39 ORA, quando ebber compiute tutte le cose che si convenivano fare secondo la legge del Signore, ritornarono in Galilea, in Nazaret, lor città.

40 E il fanciullo cresceva, e si fortificava in ispirito, essendo ripieno di sapienza; e la grazia di Dio era sopra lui.

41 Or suo padre e sua madre andavano ogni anno in Gerusalemme, nella festa della Pasqua.

42 E come egli fu d’età di dodici anni, essendo essi saliti in Gerusalemme, secondo l’usanza della festa; ed avendo compiuti i giorni d’essa,

43 quando se ne tornavano, il fanciullo Gesù rimase in Gerusalemme, senza la saputa di Giuseppe, nè della madre di esso.

44 E stimando ch’egli fosse fra la compagnia, camminarono una giornata; ed allora si misero a cercarlo fra i lor parenti, e fra i lor conoscenti.

45 E, non avendolo trovato, tornarono in Gerusalemme, cercandolo.

46 Ed avvenne che tre giorni appresso, lo trovaron nel tempio, sedendo in mezzo de’ dottori, ascoltandoli, e facendo loro delle domande.

47 E tutti coloro che l’udivano stupivano del suo senno, e delle sue risposte.

48 E quando essi lo videro, sbigottirono. E sua madre gli disse: Figliuolo, perchè ci hai fatto così? ecco, tuo padre ed io ti cercavamo, essendo in gran travaglio.

49 Ma egli disse loro: Perchè mi cercavate? non sapevate voi ch’egli mi conviene attendere alle cose del Padre mio?

50 Ed essi non intesero le parole ch’egli avea lor dette.

51 Ed egli discese con loro, e venne in Nazaret, ed era loro soggetto. E sua madre riserbava tutte queste parole nel suo cuore.

52 E Gesù si avanzava in sapienza, e in istatura, e in grazia dinanzi a Dio, e dinanzi gli uomini.

Luca 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

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)

Verses 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.

Verses 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.

Verses 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.

Verses 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.

Verses 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.

Verses 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.