Bible Study Series: Luke 2:22-24. Joseph and Mary were following the law after the birth of their child.
Friendly greetings and a warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn, so let’s learn together.
I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click here:
In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Luke 2:22-24
22 When the days of their purification were completed, according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23 just as it was written in the law of the Lord that “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.” 24 And they gave a sacrifice according to what was said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of doves or two pigeons.” (Luke 2:22-24)
Comments:
22:
Lev. 12:2-4, 6 says that the mother of a male child was unclean for seven days and then was to be confined for thirty-three days before journeying to the temple.
Childbirth, Bodily Discharges in Leviticus 12, 15 from a NT Perspective
23:
My translation is literal. The ancients were very “earthy” or “natural.” This verse is sourced back to Exod. 13:2, 12, 15.
“holy” means to consecrated and separated to the Lord. If you have repented of your sins and received the Holy Spirit who causes you to be born again, you are now holy to the Lord. You have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. He also wants to immerse-fill-baptize you with the Spirit, so you can have victory over sin that dominates and so you can serve him in righteousness and holiness. That is God’s plan for every human being across the globe.
Word Study on Holiness and Sanctification
Bible Basics on Sanctification and Holiness
24:
People were supposed to bring a lamb for the burnt offering and a dove for the sin offering. If the couple could not afford the lamb, they brought two doves or two pigeons, one bird for the burnt offering, one for the sin offering (Lev. 12:8). And so Mary and Joseph offered the animals of the poor. They were identified with the people. Luke spoke through the poem / song of Mary about the Great Reversal (Luke 1:51-53). The unjust rich and powerful were about to be dethroned and brought low, while the poor and lowly would be raised up.
But let’s not believe Joseph and Mary lived in abject poverty, because he did have a business near Tiberias and Sepphoris, two towns that were being rebuilt (Mark 6:3). No doubt he had a robust business and kept his sons (and daughters) busy (Matt. 12:46-48; 13:55).
GrowApp for Luke 2:22-24
1. Have you dedicated your child or children to the Lord? Please speak to your pastor if you have not and find out when your church has baby dedications.
2. Adults are called to get baptized to show their dedication (among other reasons). Have you been baptized?
3. Holiness means God separates you from common and unclean things and consecrates you to him. Do you believe you are consecrated to him and separated from your past sins? How has your holy life progressed, through the power of the Spirit? What is the best way for it to progress?
RELATED
Luke’s Birth Narrative: Pagan Myth or Sacred Story?
11. Eyewitness Testimony in Luke’s Gospel
3. Church Fathers and Luke’s Gospel
2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
SOURCES
For the bibliographical data, please click on this link and scroll down to the very bottom:
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 