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10. The Birth of Jesus
(Mt. 2:1, Lk 2:1-7)
Bethlehem. |
Mt 2:1
1Now
when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod
b
the king, behold, wise men
from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
2:1
The word for “wise men” (magoi) can also mean teachers, scientists,
physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, or sorcerers. |
Lk 2:1-7
1Now it happened in
those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
c
that all the world should be enrolled. 2This was the first
enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
d
3All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
4Joseph 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 family of David; 5to enroll himself with Mary, who
was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.
6It
happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give
birth. 7She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him
in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no
room for them in the inn. |
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11. The Shepherds and the Gloria in Excelsis
(Lk 2:8-20)
Near Bethlehem. |
Lk 2:8-20
8There were shepherds in the same country
staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
e 9Behold, an angel of the
Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they
were terrified. 10The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for
behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
11For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a
Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12This is the sign to you: you
will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”
13Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
army praising God, and saying,
14“Glory to God in the
highest,
on earth peace, good will toward men.”
15It happened, when the angels went away
from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, “Let’s go to
Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has
made known to us.” 16They came with haste, and found both Mary
and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17When
they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them
about this child. 18All who heard it wondered at the things which
were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these
sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen,
just as it was told them. |
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12. The Circumcision
(Lk 2:21)
Bethlehem. |
Lk 2:21
21When eight days were fulfilled for the
circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the
angel before he was conceived in the womb. |
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13. The Presentation in the Temple
(Lk 2:22-38)
The nunc dimmittis of Simeon and the homage of the
prophetess Anna. Jerusalem. |
Lk 2:22-38
22When the days of their purification
according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to
Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the
law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the
Lord”),
24and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the
law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
25Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose
name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the
consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26It had
been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before
he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought
in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the
custom of the law, 28then he received him into his arms, and
blessed God, and said,
29“Now you are releasing your
servant, Master,
according to your word, in peace;
30for my eyes have seen your
salvation,
31which you have prepared
before the face of all peoples;
32a light for revelation to
the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33Joseph and his mother were marveling at
the things which were spoken concerning him, 34and Simeon blessed
them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the
falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken
against. 35Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that
the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
36There was one Anna, a prophetess, the
daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having
lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37and she
had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the
temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day. 38Coming
up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all
those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
2:23
Exodus 13:2,12
2:24
Leviticus 12:8
2:26
“Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean “Anointed One” |
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14. The Visit of the Magi f
(Mt 2:1-12)
Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Probably February, 4 B.C. |
Mt 2:1-12
1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem
of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men
from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2“Where is he who is
born King of the Jews? For we saw his star
g in the east, and have come to worship
him.” 3When Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all
Jerusalem with him. 4Gathering together all the chief priests and
scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. 5They
said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written through the
prophet,
6‘You Bethlehem, land of
Judah,
are in no way least among the princes of
Judah:
for out of you shall come forth a
governor,
who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”
7Then Herod secretly called the wise men,
and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. 8He
sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young
child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and
worship him.”
9They, having heard the king, went their
way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them,
until it came and stood over where the young child was. 10When
they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11They
came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they
fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him
gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12Being warned in a dream
that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country
another way.
2:1
The word for “wise men” (magoi) can also mean teachers, scientists,
physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, or sorcerers.
2:6
Micah 5:2 |
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15. The Flight into Egypt
(Mt 2:13-18)
The Massacre of the children of Bethlehem |
Mt 2:13-18
13Now when they had departed, behold, an
angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the
young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell
you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
14He arose and took the young child and his
mother by night, and departed into Egypt, 15and was there until
the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord
through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked
by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the
male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside,
from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had
learned from the wise men. 17Then that which was spoken by
Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
18“A voice was heard in Ramah,
lamentation, weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she wouldn’t be comforted,
because they are no more.”
2:15
Hosea 11:1
2:18
Jeremiah 31:15 |
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16. The Death of Herod and the Return to Nazareth h
(Mt 2:19-23) |
Mt 2:19-23
19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel
of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20“Arise
and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for
those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”
21He arose and took the young child and his
mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22But when he heard
that Archelaus i
was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was
afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of
Galilee, 23and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called
a Nazarene.” |
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17. The Childhood of Jesus at Nazareth j
(Lk 2:39-40) |
Lk 2:39-40
39When
they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord,
they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40The
child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with
wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. |
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18. The Visit of the Boy Jesus to Jerusalem When
Twelve Years Old
(Lk 2:41-50)
Passover of 8 A.D. or 761 A.U.C. k |
Lk 2:41-50
41His parents went every year to Jerusalem
at the feast of the Passover.
42When he was twelve years old, they went up
to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, 43and when
they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed
behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it, 44but
supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they
looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45When
they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. 46It
happened after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst
of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. 47All
who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When
they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why
have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously
looking for you.”
49He
said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t
you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50They
didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them. |
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19. The Eighteen Years at Nazareth
(Lk 2:51, 52)
From 8 to 26 A.D. |
Lk 2:51-52
51And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was
subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52And
Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. |
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Footnotes
a) Ever since Pope Julius I (336-352)
the traditional date for Christmas in the Western Church.
b) 37-4 B.C.
c) 30 B. C. - 14 A. D. Augustus
inaugurated the principle of systematic, periodic enrolments, to take place
every fourteen years. The first enrolment was originally decreed for 8 B.C.,
but the actual carrying out of this decree in Judea seems to have been
delayed on account of the peculiar local troubles under the rule of Herod.
d) Cyrenius or Quirinius was governor
of Syria twice. 11-8 B.C. and 6-10 AD. The second term is referred to in
Acts 5:37.
e) There were frequently dry seasons
between December and February In Judea when the keeping of sheep in the open
was possible. According to rabbinical references, Temple-herds, destined for
Temple-sacrifices, lay out the year around.
f) We do not know who the Magi were or
where they came from. At any rate, we do not consider them astrologers or
soothsayers, nor do we hold that a delusion was used by Providence to lead
them to the light. That would be ascribing to a pseudo-science a reality
which it does not possess.
g) It seems best to admit the
occurrence of a miracle, an astral phenomenon as a sign, and a revelation
which betokened the birth of a Jewish Messiah King, Nothing is gained by way
of an explanation based upon astrological superstition. There is no
Scriptural evidence that a planetary conjunction or any other astronomical
configuration ran be drawn upon to foretell anything. As to Balaam’s
prophesy (Num. 24:17), this was not a prediction of a literal star, but a
promise of the King. An Old Testament reference or prophecy would certainly
have been mentioned by Matthew according to his usual practice.
h) Herod died ,a few days before the
Passover 4 B.C. The time of the sojourn in Egypt was not probably of long
duration.
i) 4 B.C. to 6 A.D.
j) Luke passes from the presentation
immediately to Nazareth. We must bear in mind the respective purpose of the
two evangelistic accounts: of Luke (from the standpoint of Mary), to explain
how Jesus, whose home was Nazareth, was born in Bethlehem, of Matthew. to
show how it came about that Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem, lived in
Nazareth.
k) April 8-14 in 8 AD. |
|