The Christmas Story From The Gospel Of Luke Part 7 Final Glimpse Into Jesus' Early Life

Mary complied with the law of Moses regarding her purification after childbirth.

Luke 2:22-24  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; 23  (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24  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. 

Luke continues his record of Jesus' birth and the Christmas story.

The words "Days of her purification" refer to thirty-three days that followed seven days of her uncleanness, forty days in all. 

God commands ritual purification for the woman only after childbirth.

Leviticus 12:1-7  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman conceive seed, and bear a man child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of the impurity of her sickness shall she be unclean. 3  And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4  And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. 5  But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her impurity: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days. 6  And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the priest: 7  and he shall offer it before the LORD, and make atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her blood. This is the law for her that beareth, whether a male or a female. 

This period of time was established by the law, after the birth of a male child.

I want you to take note of what God's law says.

Thirteen times it says that this purification is for the woman after giving birth to a child. 

She was ceremonially unclean and could not enter the sanctuary until the purification process prescribed by God is completed.

Then, she was to offer a sacrifice to the priest who offered it to God on her behalf.

Luke 2:22  And when 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.

I want to take a moment and have you look at Luke 2:22 in the Revised Version. 

{I also looked at the NASB, ESV, NIV and they all change the word "her" to "their."}

The vast majority of English translations change the word "her" to "their."

Why does this matter?

Because this purifying ritual was for the woman's cleansing after childbirth. It was expressly commanded for the mother by God.

She was required to go through the cleansing process, and then to make the specified offering to the Lord.

To change the word "her" into "their" is not scriptural.

The Greek word in this example is the pronoun "autos"

In each case this word is used, the context must be used to determine how the word "autos" should be translated. 

For example, the word “autos” can refer to self, like himself or herself.

It also serves as a personal pronoun of the third person, such as him, her, or it.

In every place were the word "autos" is found, the context must be used to determine precisely which pronoun is employed. 

Therefore, the alteration made to this verse in many modern Bibles is simply not acceptable under any circumstance. 

The context of the verse includes the mother of Jesus visiting temple out of necessity to comply with Mosaic laws.  

Thus, Mary and the law of God are the most specific and important parts of this context.

The Law of Moses specifically prescribed a time of ritual purification for women only to complete after menstruation, or pregnancy, and especially after giving birth to a male child. 

There is no good reason at all for changing “her purification” into “their purification”, unless a modern editor wished to imply that the entire family was impure, including Jesus. 

We must exercise some discernment in cases like this since Satan has constantly attacked both the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ since the first century A.D.

This is why I suggest you use care if you are reading a modern translation, especially when looking at doctrinally important passages of scripture.

A senior saint named Simeon was guided by God's Spirit to the temple when Jesus was there.

Luke 2:25-32  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. 26  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27  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, 28  Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29  Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30  For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31  Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32  A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 

Again and again, we see how the hand of God orchestrated the events that happened at the birth of His Son Jesus Christ.

The angel of the Lord spoke to Zechariah and Mary. 

He also spoke in dreams to Joseph four times and once to the wise men!

God guided wise men in Babylon to Bethlehem with a star in the east.

He sent His angels to the shepherds caring for their flock so that they could see the Christ child.

Now, He guided this senior saint to see Jesus whom the Holy Spirit said he would see before he died.

When Simeon saw Jesus he lifted him up in his arms and blessed God for allowing him to see Israel's Messiah.

He spoke of salvation to both Jews and Gentiles and that Jesus would be the glory of Israel and a light to the nations.

Luke 2:33-35  And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34  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; 35  (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 

All of this was overwhelming to Joseph and Mary and they were filled with astonishment and amazement.

The Holy Ghost filled Simeon as he spoke about the Christ child's future ministry to mankind.

Another senior saint named Anna was also longing to see Messiah.

Luke 2:36-38  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; 37  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. 38  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. 

The name Anna literally means grace and the birth of Jesus opened heaven's floodgates for the gospel of Christ and the grace of God to save those who repent and believe on Christ.

The name Anna also connects with Hannah of the Old Testament. She gave birth to Samuel who was greatly used by God.

Anna was a widow for a very long time and she served God by praying and fasting both night and day.

Anna was married for seven years before her husband died and she lived as a widow for eighty four years, meaning that she was at least one hundred and three years of age!

(Jewish daughters were often married at age 12).

Her love of God was manifest in that she spent all day and night at the temple.

She came into the temple right at the moment that Mary and Joseph were coming out of it.

She instantly gave thanks that God allowed her to see Jesus, the Messiah. 

Then, Anna spoke about the redemption promised by God coming to pass, to all the people she met.

Luke 2:39-40 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 

Luke's account of the Christmas story ends here.

We have a final note that all things regarding the purification of Mary and the circumcision of Jesus were completed according to what the law of God commanded.

Every command of God relating to the purification of Mary, and the presentation and redemption of her firstborn, and the sacrifices and ceremonies connected with it were done properly.

Mary, Joseph and Jesus returned to Nazareth and Jesus grew as babies do.

Jesus grew in body, in strength, and in stature. 

This proves that it was a true physical body Christ assumed, and like ours, went through the normal growth process.

Jesus' character is noted as waxing strong in spirit and being filled with wisdom.

His rational soul grew strong and vigorous. His understanding was clear, his judgment solid, and his memory strong and retentive.

Jesus' will, and the desires of it, were to things that were good and pure and wholesome.

The reality of God manifest in the flesh continued to exert itself more and more, in proportion to the increase of Jesus' rational soul growing strong. 

Jesus being filled with wisdom speaks of having extraordinary understanding, and wisdom to flee from everything sinful and evil.

It would be living out the wisdom King Solomon wrote of in the book of Proverbs.

This reminds us that we should never forget Jesus was perfect man, as well as God.

Finally, we are told that the grace of God was upon Him. God showed Him favor, and was pleased with Him and blessed Him.

Jesus was wise, pure, pleasing God, and deeply skilled in the knowledge of the divine law. 

He set a lovely example for all children and was subject to his parents, and increased in favor with God and man.

There is one more account of Jesus' youth recorded by Luke that took place when He was twelve years of age.

This is all that God wanted us to know about the childhood of His Son Jesus Christ.

Thus, this is the Spirit inspired record of Jesus' life for His first 30 years.

At age thirty, Jesus would begin His gospel ministry and the greatest work of God, the salvation of sinners!

May this final chapter of Luke's Christmas story be a great blessing to each of us and to our families.

Bob