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Text: Luke 2: 21-24

ANCIENT RITES HONOURED

1. It was God who gave the sign of Circumcision to Abraham (Genesis 17)

a. Abraham himself was circumcised.

b. Isaac was circumcised when he was 8 days old.

c. This was a sign that identified Israel as God’s people.

d. This was the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant.

2. The Lord Jesus Christ

a. He was circumcised too (Luke 2:21a).

b. He was also given the name “Jesus” (Luke 2:21b).

i. There was a name-giving ceremony.

ii. The name “Jesus” was given by the angel Gabriel.

iii. They fulfilled this word given by Gabriel (Luke 1:31).

c. The circumcision is done at home.

3. Rites of Purification after childbirth

a. This was written in Leviticus 12:1-8.

i. The mother must observe 7 days (she is called “Unclean”).

ii. The male child is circumcised on the 8th day.

iii. The mother must observe another 33 days (“Unclean” stage).

iv. The mother would not be allowed into the Temple because she is considered “unclean”.

v. These ancient rites were carefully observed.

b. After 40 days

i. The parents brought Baby Jesus to be presented to God (Luke 2:22).

ii. The Lord Jesus was the firstborn and was called “holy” (set apart).

iii. The word “holy” means “set apart” (Exodus 13:11-13).

iv. All male firstborn were set apart to God in a special way.

c. Purification offerings

i. If the family can afford it, they must present a lamb of the first year, and a young pigeon or a turtle dove as a sin offering (Leviticus 12:6).

ii. If the family is poor, the offering may be two turtle doves, or two young pigeons (Leviticus 12:8).

iii. The priest would make an atonement for her. She would then be considered “clean” (Leviticus 12:8d).

iv. There was no mention of a lamb.
Mary offered the second option for an atonement offering (Luke 2:24).

经文：路加福音 2:21-24

遵从自古的仪式

1. 上帝给予亚伯拉罕割礼的象征《创世记 17》

a. 亚伯拉罕受了割礼

b. 以撒也在生下来第八日受了割礼

c. 这是以色列为上帝的子民的象征

d. 这是上帝与亚伯拉罕所立的约的象征

2. 主耶稣基督

a. 祂也受了割礼 《路加福音 2:21a》

b. 祂也被赐名为“耶稣” 《路加福音 2:21b》

i. 这是赐名仪式

ii. “耶稣”是由天使加百列所起的名

iii. 他们应验了加百列的话语 《路加福音 1:31》

c. 他们在家中完成割礼

3. 产后的洁净仪式

a. 这仪式记载在《利未记 12:1-8》

i. 母亲必须实行这七天的仪式 （她被视为“不洁净”）

ii. 男婴孩在诞生的第八天受割礼

iii. 母亲必须再实行三十三天的仪式 （“不洁净”的阶段）

iv. 由于母亲还“不洁净”，所以她无法进入圣所

v. 这些自古的仪式必须谨慎地实行

b. 四十天之后

i. 父母带着圣婴耶稣呈现给上帝 《路加福音 2:22》

ii. 主耶稣是长子，也被视为“神圣” （被分别）

iii. “神圣”其中的意思是“被分别归属上帝” 《出埃及记 13:11-13》

iv. 所有长子都特别地呈现给上帝

c. 洁净的奉献

i. 若在家庭的能力范围内，他们必须献上一岁的羊羔为燔祭，一只雏鸽或是一只斑鸠为赎罪祭《利未记 12:6》

ii. 至于一个贫穷的家庭，他们可以献上两只斑鸠或是两只雏鸽 《利未记 12:8》

iii. 祭司会为她赎罪。她就“洁净”了《利未记 12:8d》

iv. 经文并没有提到羊羔

马利亚奉献两只斑鸠或是两只雏鸽来赎罪《路加福音 2:24》