Luke 2:14 - Glory to God and Peace to His Children.
Luke 2:14 (NLT) Glory to God in highest
heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is
pleased.
Luke 2:14 (CWR) Glory to God in the
highest! Peace on earth to those who love God and
with whom He is pleased.
INTRODUCTION
This one-verse hymn has been titled the
Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Latin for "glory to God in
the highest"). [Believers SB]
This brief hymn is called the Gloria in
Excelsis Deo, from the first words of the Latin
Vulgate translation (meaning "Glory to God in the
Highest"). The angels recognized the glory and majesty
of God by giving praise to him. [NIV SB]
The story of Jesus' birth resounds with
music that has inspired composers for 2,000 years.
The angels' song is an all-time favorite. Often
called the 'Gloria' after its first word in the
Latin translation, it is the basis of modern
choral works, traditional Christmas carols, and
ancient liturgical chants. [Life Application SB]
Peace is not assured to all, but only to
those pleasing to God--the objects of his good
pleasure (see Luke's use of the words "pleased" and
"pleasure" elsewhere: 3:22; 10:21; 12:32). The Roman
world was experiencing the ("Roman
Peace"), marked by external tranquility. But the
angels proclaimed a deeper, more lasting peace than
that--a peace of mind and soul made possible by the
Savior (v. 11). Peace with God is received by faith
in Christ (Ro 5:1), and it is on believers that
"his favor rests." The Davidic Messiah was called
"Prince of Peace" (Isa 9:6), and Christ promised
peace to his disciples (Jn 14:27). But Christ also
brought conflict (the "sword"; see Mt 10:34-36; cf.
Lk 12:49), for peace with God involves
opposition to Satan and his work (Jas 4:4). [NIV SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Wheres the Peace?
The message of the angels to the
shepherds was, Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, goodwill toward men! (Luke 2:14
NKJV). Peace on earth. When we look at all the wars
and conflicts in the world today, we wonder
where the peace is.
But a better translation of the angels
statement would be, Glory to God in the highest,
and peace on earth among men with whom God is
well pleased. When our lives are well-pleasing
to God, well have peace. But before we can
have the peace of God, we must have peace with
God.
If we dont believe in Jesus, then we
are, effectively, enemies of God. Were at war
with God. That comes as a shock to some people.
They might say, I believe in the man upstairs,
in the good Lord. But theyre still at war
with God because their sin separates them from
Him.
I remember when I first heard Jesuss
words, He who is not with Me is against Me
(Matthew 12:30 NKJV). As a nonbeliever, I looked
around at the Christians in the meeting I was
attending on my high school campus and thought,
Well, Im not one of them. Does that mean Im
against Him?
I didnt want to be at war with God.
That was the day I believed in Jesus. I
remember feeling like a huge weight had been lifted
off my shoulders. And for the first time in my
life, I found the peace that God promises for each
of us.
Jesus came to give us life in all its
fullness. He said, I have come that they may have
life, and that they may have it more abundantly
(John 10:10 NKJV). He has the meaning of life. You
can live life to its fullest in a relationship
with Jesus Christ. [Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
COMMENTARY
God has given us His holy precepts,
because He loves mankind. To shield us from the
results of transgression, He reveals the principles
of righteousness. The law is an expression of
the thought of God; when received in Christ, it
becomes our thought. It lifts us above the power of
natural desires and tendencies, above temptations
that lead to sin. God desires us to be happy, and
He gave us the precepts of the law that in
obeying them we might have joy. When at Jesus
birth the angels sang,
Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, good will toward
men (Luke 2:14),
they were declaring the principles of the
law which He had come to magnify and make
honorable.
When the law was proclaimed from Sinai,
God made known to men the holiness of His
character, that by contrast they might see the
sinfulness of their own. The law was given to convict
them of sin, and reveal their need of a Saviour.
It would do this as its principles were applied
to the heart by the Holy Spirit. This work it
is still to do. In the life of Christ the
principles of the law are made plain; and as the Holy
Spirit of God touches the heart, as the light of
Christ reveals to men their need of His cleansing
blood and His justifying righteousness, the law is
still an agent in bringing us to Christ, that we
may be justified by faith. The law of the
Lord is perfect, converting the soul. Psalm
19:7. DA308
The announcement of the Kingdom is good
news. The King's advent into this world may be
traumatic - it certainly requires a response - but
it's the best thing that could possibly happen
for the human race. And when heavenly messengers
declared it, they gave Him glory and declared peace
for His people. It was more than the
embellishment of praise; it was a blessing for us to
accept, agree with, and live in.
Peace. Shalom. That fullness of life
we've been longing for. The abundance of
overflowing goodness. The wholeness and healing and
restoration we need. That sense that everything in my
corner of the world is okay, all is well, life is
as it should be. We crave that state of being
constantly, and even experience it in brief moments. But
the angels said it's ours. It's a gift for those
on whom His favor rests, for those with whom He
is pleased.
That's what the coming of Jesus means to
us. Later, a voice from heaven would tell us to
listen to Him, but that's a response that comes
after we know who He is. First, the heavenly
message gives us the simplicity of good news. Jesus
did not come with a list of demands. He did not
come with grievances or judgments or more hoops
to jump through. The King did not come in this
world to tell us to do a better job of measuring
up. He came to say this: The shalom you've been
looking for is here.
Do you believe that? Not many people do,
even among 'believers" who claim to believe it.
Christianity has become for many a burden, as if the
Spirit puts more on our shoulders rather than
setting us free. But the Good News of the Kingdom
was heralded among overworked and overlooked
shepherds in the fields as an answer for their
longings. And if we really understand the heart of
God, well receive it in exactly the same way.
What do you long for? Somewhere at the
root of that desire is a true, deep, God-given
question, and the answer is thoroughly given in the
One who came. His favor is here. Your truest
longings can be fulfilled. His peace is given to you.
[The One Year Heaven On Earth Devotional by Chris
Tiegreen]
CLOSING PEARL
During the Christmas season, I usually
hang a simple marquee sign that lights up the
word PEACE across our carport. Until this year.
When I turned it on, it read ACE. I have another
marquee sign for the bookcase next to our fireplace
that reads JOY. It was also losing bulbs. I
thought I could change some out and have either
PEACE or JOY instead of ACE and OY. I switched out
the bulbs, but now, neither of them lights up.
So I decided that I would buy some new marquee
lighting spelling HOPE. The letters arrived
yesterday. No H. Just OPE.
This seems to be a reflection of my life.
Searching for complete peace, joy, and hope, but not
quite there yet. I think that is where Jesus comes
in. Into my brokenness. Our brokenness. With the
brightness of His love. The One Who was born in a
stable, amid the muck and bellow of animal cries, is
used to bringing peace, joy, and hope into our
messy lives. He does it with angel choirs and
brilliant stars and extravagant gifts. Loving us right
where we are. Bringing His glory and holiness when
we have none of our own, so that we can stand
together, loved and restored. Holding out our hands to
the heavens, we can shout, "It's so good that
You came!" and "What in the world would we do
without You?"
It is because of Jesus and His presence
in our lives that, on this cold December
morning, we can have truckloads of OY, an
overwhelming sense of OPE, and an all-encompassing
blanket of ACE on earth, good will toward men. by
Susanna Foth Aughtmon
Faith Step: Step outside into the cold,
raise your hands in the air, and thank Jesus for
the peace, joy, and hope that He has showered
down on your life. [Mornings With Jesus 2019
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
Romans 5:1, 2 - Peace Beyond Human
Understanding.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201201-1130.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
