[continued from previous message]   
      
   17 When they had seen Him, they made widely known the word   
   which was told them concerning this Child.   
   18 And all those who heard it marveled at what the shepherds told them.   
   19 (Lk 2:51; Ge 37:11) But Mary kept all these things and pondered them   
   in her heart.   
   20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things   
   they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.   
      
   [8] And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,   
   keeping watch over their flock by night.   
   [9] And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord   
   shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.   
   [10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good   
   tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.   
   [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is   
   Christ the Lord.   
   [12] And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in   
   swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.   
   [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host   
   praising God, and saying,   
   [14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.   
   [15] And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into   
   heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto   
   Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath   
   made known unto us.   
   [16] And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe   
   lying in a manger.   
   [17] And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was   
   told them concerning this child.   
   [18] And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told   
   them by the shepherds.   
   [19] But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.   
   [20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the   
   things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.   
      
   The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple   
      
   21 (Lk 1:31; 1:59) When eight days had passed and the Child was circumcised,   
   He was named ­JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived   
   in the womb.   
   22 When the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses   
   were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord   
   23 (Ex 13:2; Nu 3:13)(as it is written in the law of the Lord,   
   "Every firstborn male shall be called holy to the Lord"   
   Ex 13:2, 12; Nu 3:13; 8:17.)   
   24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord,   
   "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Lev 5:11; 12:8.   
   25 (Lk 1:6; 2:38) Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon,   
   and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel,   
   and the Holy Spirit was upon him.   
   26 (Jn 8:51; Heb 11:5) It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit   
   that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.   
   27 (Lk 2:41; 2:48) Led by the Spirit, he came into the temple. And when   
   the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according   
   to the custom of the law,   
   28 (Lk 1:64) he received Him in his arms and blessed God and said:   
   29 (Ge 15:15; Lk 2:26) "Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace,   
   according to Your word;   
   30 (Lk 3:6; Isa 52:10) for my eyes have seen Your salvation   
   31 which You have prepared in the sight of all people,   
   32 (Isa 49:6; 9:2; 60:19) a light for revelation to the Gentiles,   
   and the glory of Your people Israel."   
   33 Joseph and His mother were amazed at those things which were spoken   
   about Him.   
   34 (1Co 1:23; Mt 21:44; Ac 28:22) Then Simeon blessed them   
   and said to Mary His mother, "Listen, this Child is destined to cause the fall   
   and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign which will be spoken against,   
   35 so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.   
   And a sword will pierce through your own soul also."   
   36 (Ac 21:9; Ex 15:20) And there was Anna a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel,   
   of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age and had lived   
   with her husband seven years from her virginity.   
   37 (1Ti 5:5; Ac 14:23) And she was a widow of about 84 years of age   
   who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fasting   
   and prayer night and day.   
   38 (Lk 2:25; 1:68) Coming at that moment she gave thanks to the Lord   
   and spoke of Him to all those who looked for the redemption of Jerusalem.   
      
   [21] 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.   
   [22] And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses   
   were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the   
   Lord;   
   [23] (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the   
   womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)   
   [24] And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of   
   the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.   
   [25] And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and   
   the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and   
   the Holy Ghost was upon him.   
   [26] And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see   
   death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.   
   [27] And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought   
   in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,   
   [28] Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,   
   [29] Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy   
   word:   
   [30] For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,   
   [31] Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;   
   [32] A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.   
   [33] And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken   
   of him.   
   [34] And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this   
   child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign   
   which shall be spoken against;   
   [35] (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the   
   thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.   
   [36] And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the   
   tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven   
   years from her virginity;   
   [37] And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed   
   not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.   
   [38] And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and   
   spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.   
      
   Matthew 2   
      
   The Visit of the Wise Men   
      
   1 (Lk 2:4-7; Mic 5:2) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea   
   in the days of Herod the king, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem,   
   2 (Nu 24:17; Jer 23:5; Zec 9:9) saying, "Where is He who was born King   
   of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come   
   to worship Him."   
   3 When Herod the king heard these things, he was troubled,   
   and all Jerusalem with him.   
   4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people   
   together, he inquired of them where Christ should be born.   
   5 (Ge 35:19) They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is   
   what the prophet wrote:   
   6 (Mic 5:2; Jn 7:42) 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,   
   are no longer least among the princes of Judah;   
   for out of you shall come a Governor,   
   who will shepherd My people Israel.'[Ps 91:11-12.]"   
   7 Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men,   
   carefully inquired of them what time the star appeared.   
      
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)