Luke 2

2:1 And it came to pass [It happened] in those days, that there went out a decree [Law] from Caesar Augustus, that all the world [World meaning Rome and the area Caesar controlled.] should be taxed
.
[In other words a censes, an enrollment was taken at that time.]

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 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:)

[Bethlehem meaning house of bread, the bread of life]

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused [Wed] wife, being great with child.

[In other words she was ready to give birth.]

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

[In other words the nine month period of being pregnant was up.]

7 And she brought forth [Gave birth to] her firstborn son, [Jesus Christ] and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

[There was no room for them in the inn because the town was full of people because of the taxation.]

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding [Staying] in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

[Keep in mind sheep would not have been in the field on December 25th because December is winter time.]

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore [Exceedingly] afraid.

[They were afraid because Yahveh [God] was there.]

10 And the angel said unto [To] them, [To the shepherds] Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

[The good tidings and great joy would be because salvation [Eternal life] would be made possible by the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.]

11 For unto [To] you is born this day in the city of David [Jerusalem] a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

[The name Christ meaning the anointed one. He is the only one that can give you eternal life.]

12 And this shall be a sign unto [To] you; [A sign to the shepherds] Ye [You] shall find the babe [Baby] wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude [A large number] of the heavenly host [Angel’s] praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

[This peace and good will is given to men and women who believe in, love, and obey Yahveh. [God]

15 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 [Has] made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe [Baby] lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

[In other words they began seed planting. Seed planting is planting the word of Yahveh. They were telling people the saviour is born.]

18 And all they that heard it wondered at [Thought about, and admired] those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [Considered] them in her heart. [Mind]

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

[In other words they listened to what the angel of Yahveh [God] had told them and then they saw what the angel had said was true with their own eyes.]

21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His name was called JESUS, [The word Jesus meanig Yahaveh’s saviour] which was so named of the angel [The angel Gabriel] before He was conceived in the womb.

[Jesus was the name Gabriel had told Mary to name Him.]

22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, [40 days] they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord;

[They presented Him to the Lord at the church.]

23(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth [Opens] the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

[In other words all males firstborn of woman 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.

25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, [He was a man of Yahveh.] waiting for the consolation [Comfort] of Israel: and the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] was upon him.

26 And it was revealed unto [To] him by the Holy Ghost, [Holy Spirit] that he should not see death, [The death of his flesh body] before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27 And he came by the Spirit [The Holy Spirit] into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law,

[As written in Leviticus 12:2 a woman who bares a man child is unclean for seven days. After the seven days he came to do for Jesus Christ as follows.]

28 Then took he Him [Jesus] up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 Lord, now lettest thou thy [Your] servant depart in peace, according to thy [Your] word:

[In other words let your slave go free.]

30 For mine [My] eyes have seen Thy [Your] salvation,

[In other words my eyes have seen the saviour of the world.]

31 Which thou [You] hast [Have] prepared [created] before the face of all people;

[Yahveh [God] created Jesus Christ before the face of all people so that everyone can see Him.]

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy [Your] people Israel.

[Our Lord Jesus Christ is the light of the world, only through and by Him can you be granted eternal life]

[Gentiles are all tribes of the world other then the 12 tribes of Israel.]

33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at [Admired] those things which were spoken of Him.

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto [To] 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;

[In other words this child is going to be a blessing to some and a stumbling block to others.]

35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy [Your] own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts [Minds] may be revealed.

[Mary had much heartache because of Jesus Christ.]

36 And there was one Anna, [The name Anna meaning grace.] a prophetess, [A prophetess is a preacher.] the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: [Asher is one of the 12 tribes of Israel.] she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

[In other words she was married seven years and he died.]

37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, [She was 84 years old] which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

[In other words she was faithful to Yahveh.]

38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto [To] the Lord, and spake [Preached] of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

[In other words she preached to all people who wanted to be pardoned for their sins.]

[Redemption means to be redeemed. The only one that can redeem you is Jesus Christ. He is our kinsman redeemer. He is the only one that can give you eternal life.]

[Jesus Christ would pay the price [ransom] for you by dyeing on the cross for you so you can be forgiven of your sins upon repentance, washed clean, made pure by His blood He shed on the cross for you to give you eternal life IF, IF you obey Him.]

39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, [According to Yahveh’s [God’s] law.] they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

40 And the child [Jesus Christ] grew, and waxed [Grew] strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace [Favour] of God was upon Him.

41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

[The feast of Passover was a celebration of the death angle passing over the Israelite’s when they were in bondage to Egypt. Yahveh [God] through Moses brought plagues upon Egypt, showing His power, causing Pharaoh to free His people the Israelite’s. One of the plagues was that every firstborn child would die if Pharaoh didn’t free Yahveh’s [God’s] chosen people. Because of this plague Yahveh [God] told Moses to tell his people to take the blood of the Passover lamb and take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts of the door and not go out until morning. All the firstborn of Egypt died. By obeying Yahveh [God] the death angle passed over the first born of the Israelite’s. Jesus Christ became our Passover. By obeying him the death angel satan will pass over you.]

42 And when He [Jesus Christ] was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

43 And when they had fulfilled the days, [The days of the feast.] as they returned, [Returned to Nazareth] the child Jesus tarried [Stayed] behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it.

[In other words they didn’t know He had stayed in Jerusalem.]

44 But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, [Caravan] went a day’s journey; and they sought [Looked for] Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

[Mary and Joseph were with large group of people.]

45 And when they found Him not, [When they didn’t find Him] they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

[In other words they were trying to find Him.]

46 And it came to pass, [It happened] that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst [Middle] of the doctors, [Doctors of Law] both hearing them, and asking them questions.

47 And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

[The doctors of law were astonished because He was just 12 years old.]

48 And when they [Joseph and His mother] saw Him, they were amazed: and His mother said unto [To] Him, Son, why hast [Have] thou [You] thus dealt with us? [Why have you done this?] behold, thy [Your] father and I have sought Thee [Looked for you] sorrowing.

[In other words they were very concerned about Him, they were worried.]

49 And He said unto [To] them, How is it that ye [You] sought Me? [Why did you look for Me] wist ye not [Don’t you know] that I must be about My Father’s business?

[The word business is not written in the Greek manuscripts, it was added by man.]

50 And they understood not the saying which He spake [Spoke] unto [To] them.

[In other words they didn’t understand what He was telling them.]

51 And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: [In other words He obeyed them] but His mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

[She was hoping to understand at some later time.]

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, [Age] and in favour with God and man.

[Everybody liked him]