Luke 2:23 - (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), Exodus 13:2,12

Generated Verse: Luke 2:23

What does "Luke 2:23" mean?


This verse in Luke 2:23 connects the presentation of Jesus at the temple to the requirements outlined in the Law of Moses, specifically referencing Exodus 13:2 and 13:12. Let's break down what it means:

"as it is written in the law of the Lord": This phrase emphasizes that the actions of Mary and Joseph, in taking Jesus to the temple, were not arbitrary but were in obedience to God's commandments.
"Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord": This quotes from Exodus 13:2 and 13:12. In the context of Exodus, this commandment is a remembrance of God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt during the Passover. God struck down the firstborn of the Egyptians but spared the firstborn of Israel. Therefore, the firstborn son was considered consecrated or "holy" to the Lord.
Exodus 13:2: "Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.”
Exodus 13:12: "you must set apart for the Lord every firstborn male. All firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord."

What it Means in Luke 2:23

Obedience to the Law: Mary and Joseph, being devout Jews, were fulfilling the requirements of the Law. Presenting Jesus at the temple and offering a sacrifice (mentioned in Luke 2:24) demonstrated their faithfulness to God's commandments.
Jesus' Status as Firstborn: By fulfilling this law, Luke highlights that Jesus was indeed Mary's firstborn son. This further establishes Jesus' humanity and his place within the Jewish tradition.
Fulfillment of Prophecy and Law: By presenting Jesus at the temple, they were not only obeying the Law but also setting the stage for the events that would later fulfill the Law. Jesus, as the "holy" firstborn son of God, would ultimately redeem humanity.
Connection to Redemption: The original commandment in Exodus was tied to the redemption from slavery in Egypt. Similarly, Jesus, as the ultimate firstborn, would bring redemption from sin and spiritual slavery.

In Summary:

Luke 2:23 emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's Law, highlights Jesus' status as the firstborn son, and hints at his role as the ultimate Redeemer, mirroring the redemption signified in the original commandment in Exodus. It shows that Jesus was born and lived under the Law and would eventually fulfill it completely.