Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS… Circumcision was the seal of the gospel covenant made by God with Abraham (Genesis 17:2, 4, 9); which the law, added — as the apostle teaches (Galatians 3:17) — four hundred and thirty years after, could not disannul. This was a covenant of faith, quite distinct from the covenant of works (Exodus 24:8) made through Moses; it was an evangelical, not a legal, covenant. And it foreshadowed what was to be in the latter days, though the people knew it not, would not know it. They relied on being naturally descended from Abraham, and gave no heed to our Saviour's declaration that, if they were indeed Abraham's children, they would do the works of Abraham (John 8:39); in other words, that God's promise to the patriarch's seed was a spiritual promise, fulfilled to as many as showed the like faith with himself (Galatians 3:7, 29). While, therefore, our Saviour's submission to be circumcised — whereby, in one respect, He fulfilled all righteousness — conveys an obvious lesson of obedience, and conformity to the laws of the Church, to which we belong; the gospel fulfilment which Christ gave to that sacred rite, and to the covenant with Abraham of which it was the seal and pledge, brings to mind the high spiritual teaching of all His other ancient laws, the design of which was to guide man's heart to the future Messiah. God's ancient law was spiritual throughout; no dead letter, but a living reality, trying the very heart and reins. (Dean Burgon.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. |
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