Luca 2

1 Or in que’ di avvenne che un decreto uscì da parte di Cesare Augusto, che si facesse un censimento di tutto l’impero.

2 Questo censimento fu il primo fatto mentre Quirinio governava la Siria.

3 E tutti andavano a farsi registrare, ciascuno alla sua città.

4 Or anche Giuseppe salì di Galilea, dalla città di Nazaret, in Giudea, alla città di Davide, chiamata Betleem, perché era della casa e famiglia di Davide,

5 a farsi registrare con Maria sua sposa, che era incinta.

6 E avvenne che, mentre eran quivi, si compié per lei il tempo del parto;

7 ed ella diè alla luce il suo figliuolo primogenito, e lo fasciò, e lo pose a giacere in una mangiatoia, perché non v’era posto per loro nell’albergo.

8 Or in quella medesima contrada v’eran de’ pastori che stavano ne’ campi e facean di notte la guardia al loro gregge.

9 E un angelo del Signore si presentò ad essi e la gloria del Signore risplendé intorno a loro, e temettero di gran timore.

10 E l’angelo disse loro: Non temete, perché ecco, vi reco il buon annunzio di una grande allegrezza che tutto il popolo avrà:

11 Oggi, nella città di Davide, v’è nato un Salvatore, che è Cristo, il Signore.

12 E questo vi servirà di segno: troverete un bambino fasciato e coricato in una mangiatoia.

13 E ad un tratto vi fu con l’angelo una moltitudine dell’esercito celeste, che lodava Iddio e diceva:

14 Gloria a Dio ne’ luoghi altissimi, pace in terra fra gli uomini ch’Egli gradisce!

15 E avvenne che quando gli angeli se ne furono andati da loro verso il cielo, i pastori presero a dire tra loro: Passiamo fino a Betleem e vediamo questo che è avvenuto, e che il Signore ci ha fatto sapere.

16 E andarono in fretta, e trovarono Maria e Giuseppe ed il bambino giacente nella mangiatoia;

17 e vedutolo, divulgarono ciò ch’era loro stato detto di quel bambino.

18 E tutti quelli che li udirono si maravigliarono delle cose dette loro dai pastori.

19 Or Maria serbava in sé tutte quelle cose, collegandole insieme in cuor suo.

20 E i pastori se ne tornarono, glorificando e lodando Iddio per tutto quello che aveano udito e visto, com’era loro stato annunziato.

21 E quando furono compiuti gli otto giorni in capo ai quali e’ doveva esser circonciso, gli fu posto il nome di Gesù, che gli era stato dato dall’angelo prima ch’ei fosse concepito nel seno.

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

23 com’è scritto nella legge del Signore: Ogni maschio primogenito sarà chiamato santo al Signore,

24 e per offrire il sacrificio di cui parla la legge del Signore, di un paio di tortore o di due giovani piccioni.

25 Ed ecco, v’era in Gerusalemme un uomo di nome Simeone; e quest’uomo era giusto e timorato di Dio, e aspettava la consolazione d’Israele; e lo Spirito Santo era sopra lui;

26 e gli era stato rivelato dallo Spirito Santo che non vedrebbe la morte prima d’aver veduto il Cristo del Signore.

27 Ed egli, mosso dallo Spirito, venne nel tempio; e come i genitori vi portavano il bambino Gesù per adempiere a suo riguardo le prescrizioni della legge,

28 se lo prese anch’egli nelle braccia, e benedisse Iddio e disse:

29 "Ora, o mio Signore, tu lasci andare in pace il tuo servo, secondo la tua parola;

30 poiché gli occhi miei han veduto la tua salvezza,

31 che hai preparata dinanzi a tutti i popoli

32 per esser luce da illuminar le genti, e gloria del tuo popolo Israele".

33 E il padre e la madre di Gesù restavano maravigliati delle cose che dicevan di lui.

34 E Simeone li benedisse, e disse a Maria, madre di lui: Ecco, questi è posto a caduta ed a rialzamento di molti in Israele, e per segno a cui si contradirà

35 (e a te stessa una spada trapasserà l’anima), affinché i pensieri di molti cuori sieno rivelati.

36 V’era anche Anna, profetessa, figliuola di Fanuel, della tribù di Aser, la quale era molto attempata. Dopo esser vissuta col marito sette anni dalla sua verginità,

37 era rimasta vedova ed avea raggiunto gli ottantaquattro anni. Ella non si partiva mai dal tempio, servendo a Dio notte e giorno con digiuni ed orazioni.

38 Sopraggiunta in quell’istessa ora, lodava anch’ella Iddio e parlava del bambino a tutti quelli che aspettavano la redenzione di Gerusalemme.

39 E come ebbero adempiuto tutte le prescrizioni della legge del Signore, tornarono in Galilea, a Nazaret, loro città.

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

41 Or i suoi genitori andavano ogni anno a Gerusalemme per la festa di Pasqua.

42 E quando egli fu giunto ai dodici anni, salirono a Gerusalemme, secondo l’usanza della festa;

43 e passati i giorni della festa, come se ne tornavano, il fanciullo Gesù rimase in Gerusalemme all’insaputa dei genitori;

44 i quali, stimando ch’egli fosse nella comitiva, camminarono una giornata, e si misero a cercarlo fra i parenti e i conoscenti;

45 e, non avendolo trovato, tornarono a Gerusalemme facendone ricerca.

46 Ed avvenne che tre giorni dopo lo trovarono nel tempio, seduto in mezzo a’ dottori, che li ascoltava e faceva loro delle domande;

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

48 E, vedutolo, sbigottirono; e sua madre gli disse: Figliuolo, perché ci hai fatto così? Ecco, tuo padre ed io ti cercavamo, stando in gran pena.

49 Ed egli disse loro: Perché mi cercavate? Non sapevate ch’io dovea trovarmi nella casa del Padre mio?

50 Ed essi non intesero la parola ch’egli avea lor detta.

51 E discese con loro, e venne a Nazaret, e stava loro sottomesso. E sua madre serbava tutte queste cose in cuor suo.

52 E Gesù cresceva in sapienza e in statura, e in grazia dinanzi a Dio e agli 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.