Luke 2:8 - Meaning and Application

The lowest parts of Christ’s humiliation were always matched with signs of his glory. God did this to soften the offense of his low birth and to give hints of his future exaltation. When we see him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, we may be tempted to say, “Surely this cannot be the Son of God.” But when we also see his birth attended by a choir of angels, we must say, “Surely this can be no one but the Son of God,” the one of whom it was said, when he was brought into the world, “Let all God’s angels worship him” (Hebrews 1:6).

In Matthew, we read that the news of this heavenly ambassador, this prince from heaven, was first given to the wise men, who were Gentiles, by a star. Here, the news is given to the shepherds, who were Jews, by an angel. God chose a message each group could understand most easily. The shepherds were staying out in the fields near Bethlehem, guarding their flocks at night (Luke 2:8). The angel was not sent to the chief priests or the elders, who were not ready for this news, but to poor shepherds, plain men like Jacob, not like Esau, the crafty hunter.

The patriarchs were shepherds. Moses and David were both called from tending sheep to lead God’s people. In this way, God showed that he still favored that honest work. Moses first heard news of Israel’s rescue from Egypt while he was keeping sheep, and these shepherds, who likely were devout and godly men, heard news of a greater rescue. They were not asleep in bed when the message came, though many receive welcome messages from heaven in sleep. They were out in the fields and awake. Those who want to hear from God must rouse themselves. Because they were fully awake, they could not be mistaken about what they saw and heard, as half-asleep people might be.

They were also busy in the work of their calling, not in a religious exercise at that moment. They were watching over their flock to protect it from thieves and wild animals. This was likely in summer, when people kept cattle out all night instead of housing them. We are not outside the reach of God’s visits when we are honestly doing the work of our calling and walking with God in it.

Then came the angel’s sudden appearance. The angel of the Lord came upon them at once, standing over them, most likely in the air above their heads, as one coming straight from heaven (Luke 2:9). The wording suggests they did not expect it at all. God’s gracious visits often come before we are aware of them. To show them this was truly an angel from heaven, the glory of the Lord shone around them. It made the night bright as day, with the kind of heavenly splendor that often accompanied God’s presence. Its brilliance startled them with great fear. When we know how guilty we are, we can easily fear that any message from heaven may bring wrath.

The angel’s message first calmed their fear. “Do not be afraid,” he said, because there was nothing in his news meant to terrify them. They did not need to fear enemies, and they should not fear a messenger from God. Then he gave them rich reason for joy: “I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people. Today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. He is the Lord, ruler over all, and even more, he is God, since “Lord” in the Old Testament often answers to “Jehovah.” He is a Savior, and he will save only those who receive him as Lord.

The Savior is born, and he is born this very day. Since this is news of great joy to all people, it is not meant to stay hidden. It can be told freely to anyone. He was born in the place foretold long before, the city of David. He was born “to you,” first to you Jews, and also to you shepherds, though you are poor and lowly in the world. This fulfills the promise, “To us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6). He came for human beings, not for angels, for he did not take on the nature of angels. This truly is great joy for all people. What was long expected has finally come. Let heaven and earth rejoice before this Lord, for he is coming.

The angel also gave them a sign to strengthen their faith. They would find the child in Bethlehem, which was crowded with descendants of David. But how would they know which baby was the one? The sign was this: they would find him lying in a manger, a place where no newborn baby had likely ever been laid before. They may have expected to hear that the child was wrapped in rich clothing and lying in the best house in town, with many attendants around him. Instead, they were told he would be wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger. While Christ was on earth, nothing made him stand out more than the ways he lowered himself.

Then came the angels’ praise to God and their greeting to humanity at this great moment (Luke 2:13-14). As soon as the first angel had delivered the message, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with him. They surely made a chorus that the shepherds could hear as they praised God. Their song was not like the song in (Revelation 14:3), which no one could learn, because this one was meant to be learned by all of us. God must have the honor for this work: “Glory to God in the highest.” God’s goodwill toward people, shown in sending the Messiah, brings great praise to him. Even the angels in the highest heaven, though they do not share directly in this rescue, will celebrate it to his honor (Revelation 5:11-12).

Glory to God, whose kindness and love planned this blessing, and whose wisdom arranged it so that no one divine quality would be honored at the cost of another, but that the honor of all would be secured and advanced. Other works of God are for his glory, but the redemption of the world is for his glory in the highest.

2. Let people have the joy of it: “On earth peace, good will toward men.” God’s good will in sending the Messiah brought peace into this lower world. It destroyed the hostility that sin had created between God and man, and restored peaceful fellowship. If God is at peace with us, every kind of peace flows from that, peace of conscience, peace with angels, and peace between Jew and Gentile.

Here “peace” stands for all good, all the blessings that come to us from Christ’s coming in the flesh. All the good we have, or hope for, is owed to God’s good will. If we enjoy the comfort of it, he must receive the glory of it. No peace or good should be expected in a way that goes against God’s glory, so not through sin, and not apart from a Mediator, that is, one who brings God and sinners together.

This peace was proclaimed with great solemnity. Whoever will, may come and receive its benefit. Some manuscripts read, “On earth peace to people of good will,” meaning people who have a good will toward God and are ready to be reconciled, or people whom God has shown favor to, though they are objects of his mercy. See how warmly the angels care for people and for their welfare and happiness. They were delighted in the incarnation of the Son of God, even though he did not take their nature. Should not we be far more moved by it?

This is a trustworthy saying, witnessed by an innumerable company of angels and worthy of full acceptance: God’s good will toward men is glory to God in the highest and peace on earth.

V. The visit the shepherds made to the newborn Savior.

1. They talked it over among themselves, Luke 2:15. While the angels were singing their hymn, they could think only of that. But after the angels had gone into heaven, for angels never stayed long when they appeared, but returned as soon as they had finished their task, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem.” When no more extraordinary messages from heaven are to be expected, we must use the help we already have to strengthen our faith and keep up our fellowship with God in this world. And it is no insult to angelic testimony, or even to a divine testimony, to have it confirmed by what we see and experience.

Notice that the shepherds did not speak doubtfully, as in, “Let us go see whether this is true.” They spoke with confidence: “Let us go see this thing that has happened.” What room was left for doubt when the Lord had made it known to them? The word spoken by angels was firm and certainly true.

2. They went at once, Luke 2:16. They wasted no time, but hurried to the place, which the angel likely described more fully than Luke records. There they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. The poverty and low condition in which they found Christ the Lord did not shake their faith. They themselves knew what it was to enjoy close fellowship with God in very poor and humble circumstances.

We have reason to think the shepherds told Joseph and Mary about the vision of the angels and the angels’ song. That must have encouraged them greatly, more than a visit from the best ladies in town could have done. It is likely that Joseph and Mary also told the shepherds what had been shown to them about the child. By sharing their experiences, they strengthened one another’s faith.

VI. The care the shepherds took to spread the news of this, Luke 2:17.

When they had seen it, they saw nothing in the child that by itself would make them think he was Christ the Lord. Yet the circumstances, humble as they were, matched the sign the angel had given them, and that was enough to satisfy them fully. Like the lepers who said, “This is a day of good news, and we cannot keep silent” (2 Kings 7:9), they made known everywhere the whole account of what had been told them by the angels, and by Joseph and Mary, about this child. They said that he was the Savior, Christ the Lord, that in him there is peace on earth, and that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. They told everyone this, and they agreed in their testimony.

So if the world does not know him when he comes into the world, that is their own fault, because they have been given enough notice. What effect did this report have? “All who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them” (Luke 2:18). The shepherds were plain, honest men, so people could not suspect them of trying to deceive anyone. What they said was therefore likely true, and if true, it was hard not to wonder that the Messiah was born in a stable and not in a palace, and that angels brought the news to poor shepherds instead of to the chief priests.

They wondered, but they did not go any further to ask about the Savior, their duty to him, or the blessings they might receive from him. They let it fade away like a passing curiosity. O the terrible dullness of the people of that generation! Justly were the things that belonged to their peace hidden from their eyes, when they so willingly shut their eyes against them.

VII. The use those who believed these things made of them.

1. The virgin Mary made them the matter of her private meditation. She said little, but kept all these things and thought deeply about them in her heart, Luke 2:19. She gathered the evidence together and kept it ready, to compare with the further light that would come later. As she had quietly left it to God to clear her innocence when she was suspected, so now she quietly leaves it to him to make her honor known when it is hidden. It was enough for her to know that, if no one else noticed the birth of her child, angels did.

The truths of Christ are worth keeping, and the best way to keep them safe is to think on them often. Meditation is the best aid to memory.

2. The shepherds made them the matter of their public praise. Even if others were not moved by these things, they themselves were, Luke 2:20. They returned glorifying and praising God, joining with the holy angels. If others would not listen to the report they gave, God would still accept the thanks they offered him.

They praised God for what they had heard from the angel and for what they had seen, the baby in the manger, and the swaddling clothes, just as it had been told to them. They thanked God that they had seen Christ, even in the lowest stage of his humiliation.

Just as Christ’s cross was later foolishness and a stumbling block to some, so his manger was the same to some people now. But others saw God’s wisdom and power in it, admired it, and praised God for it.