Lucas 2

Nacimiento de Jesús

1 Por aquellos días Augusto César decretó que se levantara un censo en todo el imperio romano.^[a]

2 (Este primer censo se efectuó cuando Cirenio gobernaba en Siria.)

3 Así que iban todos a inscribirse, cada cual a su propio pueblo.

4 También José, que era descendiente del rey David, subió de Nazaret, ciudad de Galilea, a Judea. Fue a Belén, la Ciudad de David,

5 para inscribirse junto con María su esposa.^[b] Ella se encontraba encinta

6 y, mientras estaban allí, se le cumplió el tiempo.

7 Así que dio a luz a su hijo primogénito. Lo envolvió en pañales y lo acostó en un pesebre, porque no había lugar para ellos en la posada.

Los pastores y los ángeles

8 En esa misma región había unos pastores que pasaban la noche en el campo, turnándose para cuidar sus rebaños.

9 Sucedió que un ángel del Señor se les apareció. La gloria del Señor los envolvió en su luz, y se llenaron de temor.

10 Pero el ángel les dijo: «No tengan miedo. Miren que les traigo buenas noticias que serán motivo de mucha alegría para todo el pueblo.

11 Hoy les ha nacido en la Ciudad de David un Salvador, que es Cristo el Señor.

12 Esto les servirá de señal: Encontrarán a un niño envuelto en pañales y acostado en un pesebre».

13 De repente apareció una multitud de ángeles del cielo, que alababan a Dios y decían:

14 «Gloria a Dios en las alturas,y en la tierra paz a los que gozan de su buena voluntad».^[c]

15 Cuando los ángeles se fueron al cielo, los pastores se dijeron unos a otros: «Vamos a Belén, a ver esto que ha pasado y que el Señor nos ha dado a conocer».

16 Así que fueron de prisa y encontraron a María y a José, y al niño que estaba acostado en el pesebre.

17 Cuando vieron al niño, contaron lo que les habían dicho acerca de él,

18 y cuantos lo oyeron se asombraron de lo que los pastores decían.

19 María, por su parte, guardaba todas estas cosas en su corazón y meditaba acerca de ellas.

20 Los pastores regresaron glorificando y alabando a Dios por lo que habían visto y oído, pues todo sucedió tal como se les había dicho.

Presentación de Jesús en el templo

21 Cuando se cumplieron los ocho días y fueron a circuncidarlo, lo llamaron Jesús, nombre que el ángel le había puesto antes de que fuera concebido.

22 Así mismo, cuando se cumplió el tiempo en que, según la ley de Moisés, ellos debían purificarse, José y María llevaron al niño a Jerusalén para presentarlo al Señor.

23 Así cumplieron con lo que en la ley del Señor está escrito: «Todo varón primogénito será consagrado^[d] al Señor».^[e]

24 También ofrecieron un sacrificio conforme a lo que la ley del Señor dice: un par de tórtolas o dos pichones de paloma».^[f]

25 Ahora bien, en Jerusalén había un hombre llamado Simeón, que era justo y devoto, y aguardaba con esperanza la redención^[g] de Israel. El Espíritu Santo estaba con él

26 y le había revelado que no moriría sin antes ver al Cristo del Señor.

27 Movido por el Espíritu, fue al templo. Cuando al niño Jesús lo llevaron sus padres para cumplir con la costumbre establecida por la ley,

28 Simeón lo tomó en sus brazos y bendijo a Dios:

29 «Según tu palabra, Soberano Señor,ya puedes despedir a tu siervo en paz.

30 Porque han visto mis ojos tu salvación,

31 que has preparado a la vista de todos los pueblos:

32 luz que ilumina a las nacionesy gloria de tu pueblo Israel».

33 El padre y la madre del niño se quedaron maravillados por lo que se decía de él.

34 Simeón les dio su bendición y le dijo a María, la madre de Jesús: «Este niño está destinado a causar la caída y el levantamiento de muchos en Israel, y a crear mucha oposición,^[h]

35 a fin de que se manifiesten las intenciones de muchos corazones. En cuanto a ti, una espada te atravesará el alma».

36 Había también una profetisa, Ana, hija de Penuel, de la tribu de Aser. Era muy anciana; casada de joven, había vivido con su esposo siete años,

37 y luego permaneció viuda hasta la edad de ochenta y cuatro.^[i] Nunca salía del templo, sino que día y noche adoraba a Dios con ayunos y oraciones.

38 Llegando en ese mismo momento, Ana dio gracias a Dios y comenzó a hablar del niño a todos los que esperaban la redención de Jerusalén.

39 Después de haber cumplido con todo lo que exigía la ley del Señor, José y María regresaron a Galilea, a su propio pueblo de Nazaret.

40 El niño crecía y se fortalecía; progresaba en sabiduría, y la gracia de Dios lo acompañaba.

El niño Jesús en el templo

41 Los padres de Jesús subían todos los años a Jerusalén para la fiesta de la Pascua.

42 Cuando cumplió doce años, fueron allá según era la costumbre.

43 Terminada la fiesta, emprendieron el viaje de regreso, pero el niño Jesús se había quedado en Jerusalén, sin que sus padres se dieran cuenta.

44 Ellos, pensando que él estaba entre el grupo de viajeros, hicieron un día de camino mientras lo buscaban entre los parientes y conocidos.

45 Al no encontrarlo, volvieron a Jerusalén en busca de él.

46 Al cabo de tres días lo encontraron en el templo, sentado entre los maestros, escuchándolos y haciéndoles preguntas.

47 Todos los que le oían se asombraban de su inteligencia y de sus respuestas.

48 Cuando lo vieron sus padres, se quedaron admirados.—Hijo, ¿por qué te has portado así con nosotros? —le dijo su madre—. ¡Mira que tu padre y yo te hemos estado buscando angustiados!

49 —¿Por qué me buscaban? ¿No sabían que tengo que estar en la casa^[j] de mi Padre?

50 Pero ellos no entendieron lo que les decía.

51 Así que Jesús bajó con sus padres a Nazaret y vivió sujeto a ellos. Pero su madre conservaba todas estas cosas en el corazón.

52 Jesús siguió creciendo en sabiduría y estatura, y cada vez más gozaba del favor de Dios y de toda la gente.

Lucas 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. "el imperio romano" . Lit. "el mundo" .
• [b]. "María su esposa" . Lit. "María, que estaba comprometida para casarse con él" .
• [c]. "paz " "… " "voluntad" . Lit. "paz a los hombres de buena voluntad" . Var. "paz, buena voluntad a los hombres" .
• [d]. "Todo " "… " "consagrado" . Lit. "Todo varón que abre la matriz será llamado santo" .
• [e]. Éx 13:2,12
• [f]. Lv 12:8
• [g]. "redención" . Lit. "consolación" .
• [h]. "a crear mucha oposición" . Lit. "a ser una señal contra la cual se hablará" .
• [i]. "hasta la edad de ochenta y cuatro" . Alt. "durante ochenta y cuatro años" .
• [j]. "en la casa" . Alt. "en los asuntos" .