The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 56

Vers. 21-38.-The circumcuion and presentation ln the ~pk. I. THE oraou111- CISION. With regard to the ,circumcision, observe : 1. The Son of God is not only "made of a woman," be is "made under the Law." He is entered into all the requirements and circumstances of the covenant "with Abraham and his seed." The apostle tells us why-" to redeem them that were under the Law." Christ took the bond under which Israel was bound, and became Israel's Surety for it. Now it is ended. There is a new form of righteousness in which the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile is removed. The apostle adds (Gal. iv. 6), "To redeem them that were under the Law, that we "--i.e. as many e.s have been baptized into Christ, Jew or Greek, bond or free--" might receive the adoption of sons." This adoption is now the standing through grace. 2. The circumcision he.s its speci,a,1, place in the malting of Jesus by God eo us Wi,dom, Right•ousness, Sanctijication, Redemption. It is an evidence that the Son of God was sent " in the likeness of sinful flesh." Circumcision supposed its subject to be a. sinner. lt supposed that a condemnation rested on him as such. 'l'he Lord Jesus, God's beloved Sun, therefore took the sinner's place, and in the drops of blood shed on the eighth. day after birth served himself, as it were, the heir to the condemna- tion of sin. Of this condemnation be spoke when he bowed his head on the cross and said, " It is finished!" 3. The circumcision bas i:ts special meaning with regard to the spiritual history of t,eUevers. See in this connection Col. ii. 10, "You Chri..stians " - thus we may pnraphrase the sentence--" have, through your union with Christ, the reality of circumcision. When you gave yourselves to Christ, a work was done in you which Wal! equal to the sharp and painful renunciation-the putting off~f the body of flesh, of that mind of the flesh with its affections and lusts which is enmity against Gud. It was through the repentance wrought in you that you became partakers of the remission of sins. When you were buried with Christ in baptism, your old, unbelieving self was circumcised to the Lord. You found the new position, the new life, that is complete in Christ. (For the manifold suggestiveness of the circumcision of the infant Jesus, read Keble's hymn in bis' Christian Year.') II. Tm: PRESENTATION. 'l'he forty days of purification _prescribed by the Law of Moses baving been accomplished, Joseph and Mary bring the Babe to Jerusalem, to present him to the _Lord. A.s Mary's First~rn, he must be formall~ ~eparated. And in the narrative of thrn ~eparatlon we are remmned of the lowly cond1t10n of the parents. :Kot the law band the pigeon, but the two youug pigeons allowed in cases of poverty, constitute the sacrifice, so low bad he stooped whose place is the bosom of the Father. Lr,ok at the welcome prepared for Christ as he is borne in Mary's loving arms into bis Father's temple. L TLiuk first of the man by whom the welcome is ea;pressed. He is ea.lied simply" a man in Jerusalem." Not the priests. In connection with the infaucy we trace three acts of adora.tion-tbat of the shepher<ls, that of Simeon an4 A.one., and that of tL.ci heathen Magi. In all there is no re1,re;;cn;ation of the -.:irclc11 of authority• OB. n. 1-62.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 47