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Luke 2:21
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19 aBut Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  
20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and apraising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.  

Circumcision of Jesus

21 aAnd when eight days were completed1 for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called bJesus, the name given by the angel cbefore He was conceived in the womb.  

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22 Now when athe days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord  
23 a(as it is written in the law of the Lord, b“Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),  
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, a“A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”  

Simeon Sees God’s Salvation

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, awaiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not asee death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  
Commentaries:
Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?
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What Does Luke 2:21 Mean?



Luke 2:21-24

Some try to convince others that Jesus was born under the law by pointing out the scriptures that show His parents performing Old Covenant rituals. This includes His circumcision and giving the commanded offering after His birth. However, note that these were things that were done by Joseph and Mary, not by Christ Himself. Jesus was only eight days old at the time of His circumcision and was not even aware of what was going on.

Earl L. Henn
Was Jesus Christ Born Under the Law?

Related Topics: Ceremony | Circumcision | Jesus Christ Born Under the Law | Jesus Christ's Example | Old Covenant Rituals | Under the Law



Luke 2:21-24

On Jesus' eighth day of life, He was circumcised, and, as a firstborn, He was dedicated to God's service. It is interesting that Luke makes no mention of Mary and Joseph offering a lamb as a redeeming sacrifice, though he does record the sin and burnt offerings that they presented later on the fortieth day of His human life.

This omission appears to be because:

1. Jesus Himself was to become the redeeming sacrifice to which all other redeeming sacrifices had pointed since Moses' time;

2. His physical life was now completely dedicated to God, as had been pictured by all the other firstborn since Moses' time; and

3. He was not to be redeemed from a life of total service to God, neither by the offering of a lamb nor by the service of the now corrupt Levitical priesthood. The imperfect Levitical priesthood, which had pictured His perfect life of service since Moses' day, was soon to be set aside, and His own priesthood (after the order of Melchizedek; see Hebrews 6:20) would be reinstated.

The offering of the two turtledoves or pigeons refers to the fortieth-day purification, not to the fact that Jesus was the firstborn. Again, this purification offering was required for all births, not just for the firstborn. Luke adds in Luke 2:27: "And when the parents brought in[to the Temple] the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law . . ."

Staff
The Law of the Firstborn

Related Topics: Firstborn, Law of | Fortieth Day Purification | Jesus Christ as Redeeming Sacrifice | Jesus Christ's Circumcision | Jesus Christ's Dedication to God's Service | Law of the Firstborn | Melchizedek priesthood | Purification Offering


 
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