Luke 3:10

Luke 3:10 says, And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?  The people asked John what they should do when they repented.  Repentance should not just change the way we think, but the way we act as well.  We don't need to ask someone else what we need to do though, but need to ask God.  Verse eleven adds, He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.  John said they needed to share what they had with those in need.  I believe that God still expects us to do the same today.  Verse twelve states, Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?  The publicans, the tax collectors, asked what they should do.  Repentance should bring a desire to change, and even though God will direct us in that change, we as Christians should help new Christians to know what God expects of them, by example first.  Verse thirteen adds, And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.  John told them to not overcharge on taxes. Verse fourteen says, And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.  The soldiers also came to John asking what they should do, and he told them to not mistreat anyone and to be content with their wages.  As soldiers, they could have demanded payment from people since they were in power.  No matter what our position today, we must treat other people fairly.  Verse fifteen declares, And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;  The people were expecting the coming of the Messiah, or Christ, and wondered if John was the Christ.  We today don't have to wonder, because we know Who Christ is, and that is Jesus.  Verse sixteen adds, John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:  John gave them an emphatic no as an answer.  He was not worthy to even unbuckle the shoes of the coming Christ, and could only baptize with water, whereas the coming Christ would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit.  Baptism today is only symbolic of the change that Jesus Christ makes in our lives when we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, and He alone can make this change.  Verse seventeen continues, Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.  John said the coming Christ would separate those who believed in God from those who didn't.  Someone may fool everyone into believing they are a Christian, but Jesus Himself is the final authority.  Verse eighteen says, And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.  John preached many truths as he exhorted the people to repent and come to God in preparation for the coming Messiah.  We must preach God's truth today as we call on people to repent and come to God as we await the return of Jesus Christ, the Savior of all who put their faith in Him.  Verse nineteen adds, But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,  John had even spoken out against Herod, the tetrarch, or ruler, for his incestuous relationship with his brother's wife and many other evils that he did.  We must speak out against evil no matter how powerful those committing it may be today.  Verse twenty continues, Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.  Herod had John imprisoned.  We must speak the truth of God today, even if it causes us to be imprisoned.  Verse twenty-one states, Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,  As well as the other people,  Jesus Himself was baptized by John.  Jesus set the example for us.  Verse twenty-two adds, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.  Jesus' baptism was different in one way.  The Holy Ghost came down in the shape of a dove and a Voice from Heaven declared Jesus to be His beloved Son in Whom He was well pleased.   There may not be these things seen and heard when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and are baptized, but we can be certain that we become a child of God and that He is well pleased with us.  Of course, this happens when we accept Jesus and become indwelled by the Holy Spirit, but baptism shows our obedience to Christ.

Luke 3:1

Luke 3:1 says, Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,  This time was dated by the rule of Tiberius, the last and most cruel of the the Caesars according to Matthew Henry.  Luke also named Pilate as the ruler of Galilee and his brother Philip as ruler of Itheruria and Trachonitis and Lysanias as ruler of Abilene.  The people of Isreal were once again under the rule of another nation.  Verse two adds, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.  Anna and Caiaphas were listed as being high priests.  God had ordained that there be but one high priest, but His people now had two.  Matthew Henry says they rotated years of service as high priest.  We as followers of Christ must make sure that we don't attempt to change any of God's law.  We, like the people of Israel, have but one High Priest, and that is Jesus Christ.  During this time, John was still in the wilderness when the word of God came to Him.  God's word will reach us wherever we are, if we are listening for it.  Verse three states, And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;  At God's direction, John left the wilderness and came into the country around Jordan preaching baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  Baptism was to be a sign of their repentance, and after the death of Jesus it became the symbolism of His death, burial and resurrection to us.  Verse four adds, As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  John was the prophet who was prophesied about by Isaiah, who would call on the people of Israel to prepare for the coming Messiah by repenting of their sins.  When Jesus comes to us today, we must repent of our sins and make ourselves ready for His guidance.  Verse five continues, Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;  Matthew Henry says this refers to the distinction between those who repented and those who didn't.  Those who put their faith in God would have their ways made straight and their rough ways made smooth.  I believe this was a spiritual reference and not a physical one.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, our spiritual life will be made straight and smooth, no matter what is going on in the world around us.  Verse six concludes, And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.  God's coming salvation through Jesus Christ would be made available to everyone.  This has always been and always will be true.  Verse seven declares, Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  John called those who came to be baptized a generation of vipers and asked who had warned them to flee from the wrath to come.  The only way to avoid the wrath of God on judgment day is to heed His warning of its coming and repent and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse eight adds, Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  John told them to not put their faith in simply being descendants of Abraham.  No matter who we are descendants of, we cannot be saved by this.  Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.  Verse nine continues, And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  John said that like unproductive trees that were cut down and cast into the fire, so would those who did not bear fruit for God be.  This did not mean that their works would save them, but that if they truly put their faith in God that they would be productive in His work.  This still applies to us today as Christians.  We do not work for salvation but for God's glory after we accept His free gift of salvation. 

Luke 2:39

Luke 2:39 says, And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.  Mary and Joseph fulfilled all the requirements of Jewish law, then returned to Nazareth.  After we gather together to worship God, then we need to continue with our everyday life, while keeping God first.  Verse forty adds, And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.  Jesus grew strong in the Spirit and was filled with. wisdom, finding favor with God.  We need to remember that Jesus became human just as we are, so He was guided by the Holy Spirit.  We should also grew strong in the Spirit and be guided by His wisdom.  Verse forty-one states, Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.  Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.  They did not believe that they were exempt from following God's law, and neither are we.  Verse forty-two adds, And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. When Jesus was twelve, they went to Passover.  He was coming of age in Jewish law.  He may have gone with them every year, but this is the first recorded account.  It is best to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord as early as you understand what that means, and then to observe God's laws faithfully.  Verse forty-three states, And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.  When Mary and Joseph returned home, Jesus reminded behind.  They were evidently traveling with a group of people, so they didn't notice that Jesus wasn't with them.  Verse forty-four adds, But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.  After a days journey, Mary and Joseph began to search for Jesus among their kinsfolk.  Jesus evidently had some freedom to come and go without being in His parents company at all times.  We have the freedom to come and go without being in the presence of our fellow believers at all times, but it really is normally best when we are.  Verse forty-five continues, And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.  When Mary and Joseph didn't find Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem to hunt for Him.  If we lose our closeness with Jesus, we need to look for Him where we were last with Him spiritually.  Verse forty-six says, And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.  They did immediately found Jesus, but when they did, He was in the temple amidst the doctors of the law, hearing them and asking questions.  If people were looking for us today, what better place could we be found than among God's people, talking with them and learning more about God.  Verse forty-seven adds, And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.  Jesus astonished those who heard Him with His wisdom and understanding.  He still should astonish us today as we learn more about Him.  Verse forty-eight declares, And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.  When they located Jesus, Mary questioned Him as to why He had dealt with them in such a way.  We may sometimes want to ask Jesus the same thing, but we need to realize that whatever is happening in life that Jesus is right where He should be, and as Christians, the Holy Spirit is always with us to guide us.  Verse forty-nine adds, And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?  Jesus asked them why they were seeking Him, since He was about His heavenly Father's business.  That is still where Jesus is today.  Verse fifty states, And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.  Though we would think that Mary and Joseph would understand what Jesus meant, they didn't.  We would think that Christians today would always understand what Jesus means, often they don't.  Verse fifty-one adds, And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.  Jesus returned to Nazareth with them and remained subjected to them.  His time was still not at hand.  We need to make sure that we do things in God's time and not our own.  Mary kept Jesus' sayings in her heart, and so should we.  Verse fifty-two continues, And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.  Jesus continued to grow physically and in wisdom, and found favor with God and man.  As followers of Christ, we should continue to grow in our spiritual wisdom as long as we live.

Luke 2:25

Luke 2:25 says, And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.  There was a devout man named Simeon who was waiting on the consolation of Israel, or the coming Messiah.  He was just with others and devout to God, and the Holy Ghost was upon him..  We are waiting the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and must be just with others and devout to God, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-six adds, And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  The Holy Ghost had revealed to him that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ, or the Messiah.  We need to pray that we don't die until we see and accept Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-seven states, And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,  Simeon was led by the Holy Spirit to the temple at the time Mary and Joseph came to dedicate Jesus.  When we come to church today, we should come under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,  Verse twenty-nine continues, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: Simeon took Jesus in his arms, blessed God, and then asked that God let him depart in peace.  When we take Jesus into our arms we can live in peace from then on, if not with the world, at least with God.  Verse thirty says, For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,  Simeon said that he could depart in peace because he had seen God's salvation, Jesus Christ, the baby he held.   When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we have seen God's only salvation plan.  Verse thirty-one adds, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;  Simeon said God had prepared His salvation plan before all the people, and this has never changed.  When we hear the gospel, we have encountered God's salvation plan.  Verse thirty-two continues, A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.  Simeon said that Jesus had come to save both the Gentiles and the Jews, which would have included everyone from the Jewish perspective.  Jesus did not come to save just certain people, but to save any one who puts their faith in Him. Verse thirty-three states, And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.  Mary and Joseph marvelled at what Simeon said, though they had already been told Who Jesus was.  Verse thirty-four continues,  And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;  Simeon said that the child would be the fall and the rising of many.  We must fall to our own self pride and arise again by faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved.  Verse thirty-five declares, (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.  Simeon blessed them but also warned them of the coming suffering of Jesus.  It is because of His suffering that we are set free from suffering spiritually if we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  He will always indeed reveal the thoughts of every heart.  Verse thirty-five states,  And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;  There was also a widow there at the temple.  Verse thirty-seven adds, And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.  She was said to be a prophetess, who had been a widow eighty-four years, and who was devoted to serving God in the temple.  After we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we should dedicate the rest of our life to serving Him.  Verse thirty-eight continues, And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.  Anna recognized Who Jesus was, gave thanks to God, and then spoke to all those around her about Him.  We must first recognize who Jesus is, accept Him as our Savior and Lord, and then tell all those around us about Him, no matter how old we may be.

 

Luke 2:21

Luke 2:21 says, And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.  At His circumcision, which was also when babies were named, Mary's Son was named Jesus, in accordance with what the angel had told her.  Verse twenty-two adds, And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;  At the time prescribed by God's law, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Jerusalem to the temple to present Him to God.  They could have felt that since Jesus was the Son of God that they were exempt from following the God's law, but they didn't.  Today, being a follower of Christ does not exempt us from following God's laws either.  We do not follow them for salvation but for obedience.  Verse twenty-three continues, (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)  Under God's law, the first born male was sacred to the Lord.  God still expects us to dedicate to Him the first and the best of everything He blesses us with.  Of course, the bottom line is that everything we have as Christians should be dedicated to God.  Verse twenty-four concludes, And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.  Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born in a manger, and then to Jerusalem to dedicate Him to God, and they were still required to present the prescribed sacrifice to God.  We may at times feel that we have done so much for God that we should be exempt from giving tithes and offerings, but that is not the case.  We still need to give to God what His word tells us to give.

Luke 2 :8

Luke 2:8 says, And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, shepherds in the same country were keeping watch over their flock at night.  They were lowly people in the eyes of the world, doing what they did everyday.  We may be lowly in the eyes of the world, but we are still precious to God.  Verse nine adds, And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  The routine night of the shepherds was interrupted by the appearance of an angel, who is simply identified as the angel of the Lord.  When the angel came, God's glory shined all around them,and the were very afraid.   I have a feeling that we would be too if this happened to us, but since the Holy Spirit lives within us as followers of Christ, God's glory should shine out through us to the world around us.  Verse ten states, And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  The angel told the shepherds to not be afraid, because he brought good tidings of great joy, which would be available to all people.  When a person encounters Jesus Christ today through hearing the good news or gospel, there is no reason to be afraid.   Verse eleven adds, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  The good news was that in Bethlehem, the city of David, a Savior had been born to them, a bunch of lowly shepherds mostly over looked by the world.  When we hear the gospel of Christ, it applies to us, no matter our status, and if we accept believe it, then we know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord.  Verse twelve continues, And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  The angel then told the shepherds how to identify Jesus, the Savior.  He would not be a prince in a palace, but a baby in a manger.  This is probably not what they would have expected a Savior to be, and today Jesus is still not what a lot of people expect a Savior to be.  Verse thirteen declares, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Suddenly, the angel was joined by a heavenly host praising God.  If the angels were afraid before, their fear might have gone even higher.  Verse fourteen adds, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  The angels were praising God by calling for Him to be glorified in heaven so that there might be peace on earth.  Even if the whole world were to be at war, there still should be the peace of God for God's people.  Verse fifteen says, And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  After appearing, sharing the good news and praising God, the angels left.  They did not tell the shepherds what they had to do.  When we hear the gospel of Christ today, they one sharing it with us really cannot tell us that we have to believe it.  It is up to each individual to either accept or reject the gospel.  The shepherds decided to go and see for themselves what the angels had told them they would find.  Ultimately, each individual has to decide whether to come to Jesus Christ in faith based on belief in the gospel or to reject Him by disbelief.  Verse sixteen adds, And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  The shepherds left their flocks and went with haste and found Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus lying in a manger, just as the angel had said they would.  When we hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to leave whatever we are doing and come to Him for salvation.  Verse seventeen continues, And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  The shepherds told everyone what they had heard and seen, and so should we as Christians today.  Verse eighteen states, And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  The people who heard what the shepherds said wondered about it, but we are not told that they attempted to verify it themselves.  It is not enough to wonder about the gospel, but we must accept the truth of the gospel for it to do us any good.  Verse nineteen adds, But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.  Mary kept all the things the shepherds said and pondered them in her heart. Verse twenty continues,  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.  The shepherds went back to their flocks praising God for all that they had seen and heard.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we will still probably be doing the same job that we were doing before, but we should do so praising God.

Luke 2:1

Luke 2:1 says, And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  In the time period that Elisabeth had her baby, John, and Mary was expecting her baby, Jesus, Caesar Augustus decreed that the world should be taxed.  This also served as a census.  We are not the first people to be taxed, nor will we be the last.  Verse two adds, (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  We are told a little more about the taxing.  The whole world that was known then was under Roman rule, including the people of Israel.  Matthew Henry points out that the world was at peace at this time.  Verse three continues, And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  Unlike today, when we mail our taxes, the people then, including Mary and Joseph, had to go to their own city to be taxed and counted.  Verse four states, And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem for this taxing and census, because he, and Mary, were of the house and lineage of David.  Matthew Henry says that there was some conjecture that only thee descendants of David, the historical powerful king of Israel, were required to return to their historical home to be counted so that the Roman rulers could more easily keep up with them.  Whether it was all the Jews or just the descendants of David this was required of, the decree brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.  Verse five adds, To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  Caesar Augustus thought he was bringing them there to be counted and taxed, but Joseph and Mary were there to fulfill God's prophesy.  Mary had to travel to Bethlehem because of a decree of the government, even though she was close to giving birth, but she was there because that is where she needed to be according to God's prophesy.  Just as God used a ruler then who did not believe in Him to accomplish His purpose, He can do the same thing today.  Verse six continues, And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, it became time for her to have her baby.  This was the time chosen by God, and she was where God needed her to be.  She did not just tell Joseph that they had to get to Bethlehem before the baby was born, but God made it necessary by the use of a secular ruler who only thought he was exercising his power.  If we put our faith in Jesus Christ and do what He calls us to do, He can even use secular governments to accomplish His purpose.  Even if we feel helpless to do anything other than obey, we need to recognize that as long as we remain obedient to God He will work through us to accomplish His purpose.  Verse seven declares,  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  Mary gave birth to Jesus, her first born Son.  She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn.  There couldn't have been a mere lowly birth.  The world did not suddenly change outwardly, but it certainly changed spiritually.  God's redemption plan was being fulfilled, and the promised Messiah was born.  Just like then, many people today have no room in their heart for Jesus Christ, and for them He will always remain outside in a manger.  Jesus did not come as an all powerful ruler, but as a Child born without even a room in the inn.  Jesus was not Who the religious leaders expected Him to be, and He is still not Who too many people except Him to be today.