4 And G1161 Joseph G2501 also G2532 went up G305 from G575 Galilee, G1056 out of G1537 the city G4172 of Nazareth, G3478 into G1519 Judaea, G2449 unto G1519 the city G4172 of David, G1138 which G3748 is called G2564 Bethlehem; G965 (because G1223 he G846 was G1511 of G1537 the house G3624 and G2532 lineage G3965 of David:) G1138
Hath not G3780 the scripture G1124 said, G2036 That G3754 Christ G5547 cometh G2064 of G1537 the seed G4690 of David, G1138 and G2532 out of G575 the town G2968 of Bethlehem, G965 where G3699 David G1138 was? G2258
But thou, Bethlehem H1035 Ephratah, H672 though thou be little H6810 among the thousands H505 of Judah, H3063 yet out of thee shall he come forth H3318 unto me that is to be ruler H4910 in Israel; H3478 whose goings forth H4163 have been from of old, H6924 from everlasting. H3117 H5769
And G1161 in G1722 the sixth G1623 month G3376 the angel G32 Gabriel G1043 was sent G649 from G5259 God G2316 unto G1519 a city G4172 of Galilee, G1056 named G3739 G3686 Nazareth, G3478 To G4314 a virgin G3933 espoused G3423 to a man G435 whose G3739 name G3686 was Joseph, G2501 of G1537 the house G3624 of David; G1138 and G2532 the virgin's G3933 name G3686 was Mary. G3137
And G2532 he came G2064 and dwelt G2730 in G1519 a city G4172 called G3004 Nazareth: G3478 that G3704 it might be fulfilled G4137 which G3588 was spoken G4483 by G1223 the prophets, G4396 G3754 He shall be called G2564 a Nazarene. G3480
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Samuel, H8050 How long wilt thou mourn H56 for Saul, H7586 seeing I have rejected H3988 him from reigning H4427 over Israel? H3478 fill H4390 thine horn H7161 with oil, H8081 and go, H3212 I will send H7971 thee to Jesse H3448 the Bethlehemite: H1022 for I have provided H7200 me a king H4428 among his sons. H1121
And G2532 Nathanael G3482 said G2036 unto him, G846 Can G1410 there any G5100 good thing G18 come G1511 out of G1537 Nazareth? G3478 Philip G5376 saith G3004 unto him, G846 Come G2064 and G2532 see. G1492
And G2532 he came G2064 to G1519 Nazareth, G3478 where G3757 he had been G2258 brought up: G5142 and, G2532 as G2596 his G846 custom G1486 was, G2596 he went G1525 into G1519 the synagogue G4864 on G1722 the sabbath G4521 day, G2250 and G2532 stood up G450 for to read. G314
And G2532 Jesus G2424 himself G846 began G756 to be G2258 about G5616 thirty G5144 years of age, G2094 being G5607 (as G5613 was supposed G3543 ) the son G5207 of Joseph, G2501 which was the son of Heli, G2242 Which was the son of Matthat, G3158 which was the son of Levi, G3017 which was the son of Melchi, G3197 which was the son of Janna, G2388 which was the son of Joseph, G2501 Which was the son of Mattathias, G3161 which was the son of Amos, G301 which was the son of Naum, G3486 which was the son of Esli, G2069 which was the son of Nagge, G3477 Which was the son of Maath, G3092 which was the son of Mattathias, G3161 which was the son of Semei, G4584 which was the son of Joseph, G2501 which was the son of Juda, G2455 Which was the son of Joanna, G2490 which was the son of Rhesa, G4488 which was the son of Zorobabel, G2216 which was the son of Salathiel, G4528 which was the son of Neri, G3518 Which was the son of Melchi, G3197 which was the son of Addi, G78 which was the son of Cosam, G2973 which was the son of Elmodam, G1678 which was the son of Er, G2262 Which was the son of Jose, G2499 which was the son of Eliezer, G1663 which was the son of Jorim, G2497 which was the son of Matthat, G3158 which was the son of Levi, G3017 Which was the son of Simeon, G4826 which was the son of Juda, G2455 which was the son of Joseph, G2501 which was the son of Jonan, G2494 which was the son of Eliakim, G1662 Which was the son of Melea, G3190 which was the son of Menan, G3104 which was the son of Mattatha, G3160 which was the son of Nathan, G3481 which was the son of David, G1138
Now G1161 when Jesus G2424 was born G1080 in G1722 Bethlehem G965 of Judaea G2449 in G1722 the days G2250 of Herod G2264 the king, G935 behold, G2400 there came G3854 wise men G3097 from G575 the east G395 to G1519 Jerusalem, G2414 Saying, G3004 Where G4226 is G2076 he that is born G5088 King G935 of the Jews? G2453 for G1063 we have seen G1492 his G846 star G792 in G1722 the east, G395 and G2532 are come G2064 to worship G4352 him. G846 When G1161 Herod G2264 the king G935 had heard G191 these things, he was troubled, G5015 and G2532 all G3956 Jerusalem G2414 with G3326 him. G846 And G2532 when he had gathered G4863 all G3956 the chief priests G749 and G2532 scribes G1122 of the people G2992 together, G4863 he demanded G4441 of G3844 them G846 where G4226 Christ G5547 should be born. G1080 And G1161 they said G2036 unto him, G846 In G1722 Bethlehem G965 of Judaea: G2449 for G1063 thus G3779 it is written G1125 by G1223 the prophet, G4396 And G2532 thou G4771 Bethlehem, G965 in the land G1093 of Juda, G2448 art G1488 not G3760 the least G1646 among G1722 the princes G2232 of Juda: G2448 for G1063 out of G1537 thee G4675 shall come G1831 a Governor, G2233 that G3748 shall rule G4165 my G3450 people G2992 Israel. G2474
The book G976 of the generation G1078 of Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 the son G5207 of David, G1138 the son G5207 of Abraham. G11 Abraham G11 begat G1080 Isaac; G2464 and G1161 Isaac G2464 begat G1080 Jacob; G2384 and G1161 Jacob G2384 begat G1080 Judas G2455 and G2532 his G846 brethren; G80 And G1161 Judas G2455 begat G1080 Phares G5329 and G2532 Zara G2196 of G1537 Thamar; G2283 and G1161 Phares G5329 begat G1080 Esrom; G2074 and G1161 Esrom G2074 begat G1080 Aram; G689 And G1161 Aram G689 begat G1080 Aminadab; G284 and G1161 Aminadab G284 begat G1080 Naasson; G3476 and G1161 Naasson G3476 begat G1080 Salmon; G4533 And G1161 Salmon G4533 begat G1080 Booz G1003 of G1537 Rachab; G4477 and G1161 Booz G1003 begat G1080 Obed G5601 of G1537 Ruth; G4503 and G1161 Obed G5601 begat G1080 Jesse; G2421 And G1161 Jesse G2421 begat G1080 David G1138 the king; G935 and G1161 David G1138 the king G935 begat G1080 Solomon G4672 of G1537 her G3588 that had been the wife of Urias; G3774 And G1161 Solomon G4672 begat G1080 Roboam; G4497 and G1161 Roboam G4497 begat G1080 Abia; G7 and G1161 Abia G7 begat G1080 Asa; G760 And G1161 Asa G760 begat G1080 Josaphat; G2498 and G1161 Josaphat G2498 begat G1080 Joram; G2496 and G1161 Joram G2496 begat G1080 Ozias; G3604 And G1161 Ozias G3604 begat G1080 Joatham; G2488 and G1161 Joatham G2488 begat G1080 Achaz; G881 and G1161 Achaz G881 begat G1080 Ezekias; G1478 And G1161 Ezekias G1478 begat G1080 Manasses; G3128 and G1161 Manasses G3128 begat G1080 Amon; G300 and G1161 Amon G300 begat G1080 Josias; G2502 And G1161 Josias G2502 begat G1080 Jechonias G2423 and G2532 his G846 brethren, G80 about the time G1909 they were carried away G3350 to Babylon: G897 And G1161 after G3326 they were brought G3350 to Babylon, G897 Jechonias G2423 begat G1080 Salathiel; G4528 and G1161 Salathiel G4528 begat G1080 Zorobabel; G2216 And G1161 Zorobabel G2216 begat G1080 Abiud; G10 and G1161 Abiud G10 begat G1080 Eliakim; G1662 and G1161 Eliakim G1662 begat G1080 Azor; G107 And G1161 Azor G107 begat G1080 Sadoc; G4524 and G1161 Sadoc G4524 begat G1080 Achim; G885 and G1161 Achim G885 begat G1080 Eliud; G1664 And G1161 Eliud G1664 begat G1080 Eleazar; G1648 and G1161 Eleazar G1648 begat G1080 Matthan; G3157 and G1161 Matthan G3157 begat G1080 Jacob; G2384 And G1161 Jacob G2384 begat G1080 Joseph G2501 the husband G435 of Mary, G3137 of G1537 whom G3739 was born G1080 Jesus, G2424 who G3588 is called G3004 Christ. G5547 So G3767 all G3956 the generations G1074 from G575 Abraham G11 to G2193 David G1138 are fourteen G1180 generations; G1074 and G2532 from G575 David G1138 until G2193 the carrying away G3350 into Babylon G897 are fourteen G1180 generations; G1074 and G2532 from G575 the carrying away G3350 into Babylon G897 unto G2193 Christ G5547 are fourteen G1180 generations. G1074
Now David H1732 was the son H1121 of that Ephrathite H376 H673 of Bethlehemjudah, H1035 H3063 whose name H8034 was Jesse; H3448 and he had eight H8083 sons: H1121 and the man H376 went H935 among men H582 for an old man H2204 in the days H3117 of Saul. H7586
And all the people H5971 that were in the gate, H8179 and the elders, H2205 said, H559 We are witnesses. H5707 The LORD H3068 make H5414 the woman H802 that is come H935 into thine house H1004 like Rachel H7354 and like Leah, H3812 which two H8147 did build H1129 the house H1004 of Israel: H3478 and do H6213 thou worthily H2428 in Ephratah, H672 and be famous H7121 H8034 in Bethlehem: H1035
And as for me, when I came H935 from Padan, H6307 Rachel H7354 died H4191 by me in the land H776 of Canaan H3667 in the way, H1870 when H5750 yet there was but a little H3530 way H776 to come H935 unto Ephrath: H672 and I buried her H6912 there in the way H1870 of Ephrath; H672 the same is Bethlehem. H1035
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Luke 2
Commentary on Luke 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
In this chapter, we have an account of the birth and infancy of our Lord Jesus: having had notice of his conception, and of the birth and infancy of his forerunner, in the former chapter. The First-begotten is here brought into the world; let us go meet him with our hosannas, blessed is he that cometh. Here is,
And this, with what we have met with (Mt. 1 and 2), is all we have concerning our Lord Jesus, till he entered upon his public work in the thirtieth year of his age.
Luk 2:1-7
The fulness of time was now come, when God would send forth his Son, made of a woman, and made under the law; and it was foretold that he should be born at Bethlehem. Now here we have an account of the time, place, and manner of it.
According to this decree, the Jews (who were now nice in distinguishing their tribes and families) provided that in their enrolments particular care should be had to preserve the memory of them. Thus foolishly are they solicitous to save the shadow, when they had lost the substance.
That which Augustus designed was either to gratify his pride in knowing the numbers of his people, and proclaiming it to the world, or he did it in policy, to strengthen his interest, and make his government appear the more formidable; but Providence had another reach in it. All the world shall be at the trouble of being enrolled, only that Joseph and Mary may. This brought them up from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, because they were of the stock and lineage of David (v. 4, 5); and perhaps, being poor and low, they thought the royalty of their extraction rather than a burden and expense to them than a matter of pride. Because it is difficult to suppose that every Jew (women as well as men) was obliged to repair to the city of which their ancestors were, and there be enrolled, now, at a time when they kept not to the bounds of their tribes, as formerly, it may be offered as a conjecture that this great exactness was used only with the family of David, concerning which, it is probable, the emperor gave particular orders, it having been the royal family, and still talked of as designed to be so, that he might know its number and strength. Divers ends of Providence were served by this.
Luk 2:8-20
The meanest circumstances of Christ's humiliation were all along attended with some discoveries of his glory, to balance them, and take off the offence of them; for even when he humbled himself God did in some measure exalt him and give him earnests of his future exaltation. When we saw him wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, we were tempted to say, "Surely this cannot be the Son of God.' But see his birth attended, as it is here, with a choir of angels, and we shall say, "Surely this cannot be the Son of God.' But see his birth attended, as it is here, with a choir of angels, and we shall say, "Surely it can be no other than the Son of God, concerning whom it was said, when he was brought into the world, Let all the angels of God worship him,' Heb. 1:6.
We had in Matthew an account of the notice given of the arrival of this ambassador, this prince from heaven, to the wise men, who were Gentiles, by a star; here we are told of the notice given of it to the shepherds, who were Jews, by an angel: to each God chose to speak in the language they were most conversant with.
Luk 2:21-24
Our Lord Jesus, being made of a woman, was made under the law, Gal. 4:4. He was not only, as the son of a daughter of Adam, made under the law of nature, but as the son of a daughter of Abraham was made under the law of Moses; he put his neck under that yoke, though it was a heavy yoke, and a shadow of good things to come. Though its institutions were beggarly elements, and rudiments of this world, as the apostle calls them, Christ submitted to it, that he might with the better grace cancel it, and set it aside for us.
Now here we have two instances of his being made under that law, and submitting to it.
At his circumcision, according to the custom, he had his name given him; he was called Jesus or Joshua, for he was so named of the angel to his mother Mary before he was conceived in the womb (Lu. 1:31), and to his supposed father Joseph after, Mt. 1:21.
Luk 2:25-40
Even when he humbles himself, still Christ has honour done him to balance the offence of it. That we might not be stumbled at the meanness of his birth, angels then did him honour; and now, that we may not be offended at his being presented in the temple, like other children born in sin, and without any manner of solemnity peculiar to him, but silently, and in the crowd of other children, Simeon and Anna now do him honour, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.
The account given of him here is,
Now,
Luk 2:41-52
We have here the only passage of story recorded concerning our blessed Saviour, from his infancy to the day of his showing to Israel at twenty-nine years old, and therefore we are concerned to make much of this, for it is in vain to wish we had more. Here is,