Luke's sensus plenior

It is interesting to note that when they debated the existence of sensus plenior last century, they didn't invite anyone who could read it. They limited their discussion to a collection of verses that they could not strong-arm into a literal interpretation.

Rather than talk about sensus plenior, let me share some observations:

In Acts 12, Luke demonstrates his knowledge of the Hebrew concept of the secret layer of scripture anciently called 'sod' (pronouned with a long 'o'), but more commonly called sensus plenior. The reason it is here is to make a demonstration to the Greeks HOW the Hebrews see Christ in the Old Testament scriptures. The gospels reveal the sod of the Old Testament, and Luke writes a sod from the gospels. The sod always speaks of Christ [1], and even the Rabbis say that the Messiah is, or reveals, the sod. [2]

Here is a brief overview of the secret concerning Jesus that Luke tells. There are many more details to be enjoyed:



Christ Peter
Herod has vexed Christ. [3] [4]
Herod vexed the body of Christ [5]

Jesus was arrested the week before passover. [6]
Peter was arrested the week before passover [7]

Jesus was set between two (thieves):[8]
Peter was set between two guards [9]

A light shown (in the tomb):[10]
A light shown in the cell [11]

Jesus was poked in the side: [12]
Peter was poked on the side [13]

Three barriers to escape (two days in death and the stone which was opened on the third day):[14]
Three barriers to escape (two sets of guards and a gate) [15]

The stone opened itself:[16]
The gate open by itself [17]

The first person Jesus saw was Mary:[18]
Peter went to Mary's house [20]

Mary ran to tell the disciples [21]
The woman ran to tell the disciples [22]

The woman was told she was crazy:[23]
She was told she was mad [24]

When Jesus finished visiting with his disciple he went to another place:[25]
When Peter was finished visiting his disciples he went to another place [26]


References

1. Ps 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me,
2. "Mashiach is the personification of secrecy (sod, which also means the hidden, inner dimension of the Torah and the mysteries of prophecy) - Breslov Center: Breslov Teachings About Mashiach (for example)"
3. Mt 2:13 ¶ And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
4. Lu 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked [him], and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
5. Ac 12:1 ¶ Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth [his] hands to vex certain of the church.
6. Mt 26:2 Ye know that after two days is [the feast of] the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
7. Ac 12:3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
8. Mt 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
9. Ac 12:6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
10. Mt 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
11. Ac 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon [him], and a light shined in the prison: ...
12. Joh 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
13. Ac 12:7...and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from [his] hands.
14. Mt 17:23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
15. Ac 12:10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; ...
16. Lu 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
17. Ac 12:10...which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
18. Mt 28:1 ¶ In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
19. Mt 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
20. Ac 12:12 And when he had considered [the thing], he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
21. Mt 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
22. Ac 12:14 And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
23. Lu 24:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
24. Ac 12:15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
25. Lu 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
26. Ac 12:17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

Luke wrote Acts 12 in the genre of sensus plenior to show how to discern the mystery which was hidden from the beginning [1]. This will be useful when we look at other scriptures.

In the book bearing his name, he tells his purpose: others have given an orderly teaching of the things which are the strong teachings of the disciples, and which are largely believed by the church. [2] "Others" refers to Mark and Mathew, who were eyewitnesses to the events and teachers. [3]

Some have the belief that Luke and the other authors had magic ears to hear the word of God and write it into a book. Luke is not of that opinion. Luke says that 'it seemed good' to him for him to write the book [4]. This in no way diminishes the authority of his writing nor of the supernatural inspiration of the Spirit.

In Acts 12 Luke demonstrated that he knows how the invisible God, who no one has seen nor heard, makes himself known. He works behind the scenes to accomplish his will. Though it seems good to him to write.. he can write in full confidence that God has been guiding him in subtle ways such that when he writes 'as seems good', that God's purposes will be accomplished in it. [4]

Luke was in contact, if not with the apostles themselves, at least with their writings. Being the third author of the New Testament, he drew upon the teaching of the others as well as teaching which developed since Matthew wrote. The differences between Mark and Matthew, and Matthew and Luke document the growth in understanding of the mystery that was revealed at the cross over time. Each is a time-based snapshot of the growing body of teaching of the apostles concerning the Old Testament as it applied to Jesus fulfilling the hidden mysteries.

Some try to discern who Theophilus is. The works of Luke are voluminous and carefully written. Luke knew the audience would be larger than one man. He chose the name because it means "God-lover" to address the God-lovers who would read his book through the ages. [4] His use of the personal name to address his larger audience is done with a wink and a nod to the observation that every name in the Old Testament has a meaning which participates in the sensus plenior. [5]

The genre of sensus plenior is foreign to Greek literature. It is not foreign to Hebrew thought. The Hebrew language itself contains sensus plenior. The word for ground is 'adamah' and hidden within is 'Adam' who came from the ground. He is made up of Holy (or Spirit) 'a' and blood 'dam'. The blood is the law 'd' fulfilled by the son 'm'. "Life is in the blood" [6]

It is still unknown how many layers of meaning are found in the sensus plenior but at least eleven have been observed, which are reproducible and verifiable. It is not free-for-all allegory. Consider that each verse of scripture participates in them all, the meaningful content is at least eleven times as voluminous as the literal text, and it all speaks of Christ. John may be hinting at the same idea when he speaks of all that Jesus had done [7]

When copies were made and distributed among the churches, they were carried by teachers. The gospels were outlines of the apostles' teaching which were filled in with references to the well-known Old Testament writings. This practice is recorded when the Bereans received Paul's teaching and checked it against the Old Testament. [8]

We should do the same. The New Testament teaching should be compared to the Old Testament mysteries which speak of Christ. Unfortunately, The Greeks did not know the Old Testament scriptures like the Hebrews did. It did not take long to forget the practice of using the gospels as outlines of Old Testament prophecy. And soon they became 'magic' documents with new teachings, so much so, that today, many wonder if the same God produced both. [9]

References

1. <bible>1Co 2:7</bible>
2. <bible>Lu 1:1</bible>
3. <bible>Lu 1:2</bible>
4. <bible>Lu 1:3</bible>
5. "SP Hints"
   
6. <bible>Le 17:11</bible>
7. <bible>Joh 21:25</bible>
8. <bible>Acts 17:11</bible>
9. is the god of the old testament the same as the one of the new at DuckDuckGo

Luke - Zacharias

The account concerning Zacharias is not in Luke's book because it is an interesting story concerning the time before the birth of Jesus. It is not just setting a historical context. Luke is relating details of how a specific revelation concerning Jesus was being fulfilled. With Luke's notes, the traveling teacher would teach from the Old Testament showing how prophecy was fulfilled. He would explain how a prophecy was repeated in different ways until they are fulfilled in Christ. [1] [2]

The angel points to the original prophecy and retells it leaving out the parts that don't apply to John::

Lu 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

He does not mention "The great and terrible day of the Lord" because the fulfillment is in Christ. John is only a part of the full prophecy. We err if we think that John is the fulfillment. All the scriptures speak of Christ. [3].

No Word until Christ

The prophecy, hidden in the mystery, is that there would be no Word of God until Christ. The world was desolate without the Word, until Christ came. The fulfillment is always in Christ. Until then, the prophecy is repeated. Sometimes one of the recapitulations gets mistaken for the fulfillment of the prophecy because it looks so much like it. This is the case for John. John is one of the recapitulations of the prophecy. We will match prophecy to prophecy before we see Christ.

Water:Word

Water is a symbol for the Word of God. For now, just pencil it in since proofs can be tedious. Every form of water relates to the word. The key to understanding the mystery prophecies of Christ, is being able to exchange ideas, not just words. But we use words to express ideas. Don't get hung up in the words, but try to see the ideas behind them contained in riddles and word-play.

Elijah stopped the rain [4]

Because Israel had turned from God, Elijah brought judgement. The judgement in real life was a hidden prophecy of Christ.

1Ki 17:1 ...there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

God through Elijah, literally stopped the rain.

There will be no word until Elijah speaks.

God did not speak to Israel for 400 years

There were 400 years of silence where God did not speak to Israel through prophet, priest, king or judge. These are his last words before going silent:

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

This passage is tied to 1Ki 17 by mentioning Elijah. The practice of connection scripture based on references is called 'remez' in Hebrew. It melds the context of the widely separated texts together. We have not been taught to do this in churches descended from the Gentile church of the first century.

We observe (and remember for later) the singular use of 'heart': The heart of the fathers (pl) and the heart of the children (pl). This is not reconciling families as some have claimed. If it was speaking of reconciling families it would use the plural 'hearts' with plural 'fathers' and 'children'.

To see the prophetic riddle, we understand that the very lives of the people mentioned, the very historical events are themselves a part of the riddle, not just the words. There was no word from God for 400 years until John (the beloved). When we see 'the beloved' as a reference to Christ, we see there was no word until Christ.

Zacharias could not speak until John

All names in the Bible have meanings which pertain to the mystery of Christ. 'Zacharias' means 'remembered by Jehovah'. God has not spoken to Israel in 400 years. Before he went silent, a book of remembrance was written. [7] His wife is named 'Elizabeth' which is 'oath of God'.

With Zacharias and Elizabeth, God is remembering his oath. Elizabeth, the bride (as a picture of the church) was barren, desolate (without the word). [8]

The angel promised a son to them by a miracle, and Zacharias for a sign so that he might know the promise was true. This is where it gets scary. How many times have you heard that God punished Zacharias by making him dumb? He asked for a sign and was given a sign. The sign is the same prophecy we have been speaking about. There would be no word until John. [5] We have a loving God who 'upbraideth not'. [9] God say we can know, and then believe and understand. Zacharias wanted to know. And God answered him with the same sign.

John preceded Jesus in birth

John now precedes the birth of Christ; who is the Word incarnate. There is no Word until John.

John is also the last of the prophets of the Old Testament [10] during the silence before prophecy was restored.

John preceded Jesus in teaching

We must reconcile several statements in scripture because people get confused:
John says he is not Elias:

Joh 1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

Jesus says John is Elias:

Mt 17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

Mt 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Jesus say that THIS is Elias:

Mt 11:14 And if ye will receive [it], this is Elias, which was for to come.

These are easily reconciled when we consider the nature of recapitulating prophecy.

John says he is not literally Elias... He is John and is not looking for people to follow him by making the prophecy into a myth. He wants no one to get the idea that he is the reincarnation of Elias.

Jesus says that John fulfills the prophecy of Elias. He specifically says that they did not know him, because John had denied being the reincarnation.

Jesus also says THIS...This before you is Elias. This is a different statement than before. Jesus did not specifically point to John as Elias, but his disciples understood that is who he was speaking about.

Now by saying THIS is Elias, he is referring to John and Jesus together as a picture of Elijah and Elisha. Elisha was an extension of Elijah. They shared the same ministry of preaching repentance together for a time.[11] [12] They shared the same spirit. [13] They shared the cloak (representing works). [14]

The parting of the waters when Israel left Egypt is a well-known symbol for baptism which is a symbol for a death and resurrection. It is the same with Elijah and Elisha. Elisha parted the stream and they crossed together. Elisha parted the stream when he came back alone. His ministry took a new direction. In his 'resurrection' he now was a minister of grace. the signs he performed all reflect that.

John and Jesus both preached repentance. [15] but after his resurrection, Jesus provided grace.

THIS, this picture of John and Jesus together, this is the picture of Elijah and Elisha together, and John represents Elijah.

Jesus the lamb of God

One Hebrew word for 'word' is 'amar' אמר. If you read this word in the ancient text, before people started adding decorations for pronunciation, it is identical to 'amar' for 'lamb'.

When John declared "Behold the Lamb of God..." Undoubtedly some heard his say, "Behold the Word of God".

There was no declaration of Jesus as the Word of God until John.

1. <bible>De 17:6</bible>
2. <bible>De 19:15</bible>
3. <bible>Lu 24:27</bible>
4. <bible>1Ki 17:1</bible>
5. <bible>Lu 1:20</bible>
6. <bible></bible>
7. <bible>Mal 3:16</bible>
8. <bible>Lu 1:7</bible>
9. <bible>Jas 1:5</bible>
10. <bible>Mt 11:13</bible>
11. <bible>2Ki 2:2 </bible>
12. <bible>2Ki 2:4</bible>
13. <bible>2Ki 2:9 </bible>
14. <bible>1Ki 19:19</bible>
15. <bible>Mr 2:17</bible>

Luke - Elizabeth barren

Elizabeth had been barren [1], unable to conceive. By the word of the Lord, she became pregnant [2].

This account is not simply an interesting tidbit about things that happened around the birth of Jesus. It is an outline note, so that the one delivering the document would preach from the Old Testament concerning the fulfillment of the hidden prophecy.

Elizabeth declared that the Lord has taken away her reproach. [3] Applying 'remez' we find the prophecy of Isaiah:

Isa 4:1 ¶ And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

The seven desolate women prior to Isaiah are prophecies of the bride of Christ who was desolate until Christ, but made fruitful by the word of God. Paul tells us that when he speaks of marriage, he is not speaking of marriage but of Christ and the church. [4] He is sharing this hermeneutic hint that all the women of the Old Testament represent the church in the mystery of Christ.

Seven barren women

Sarai, Abram's wife, was barren [5] and bore Isaac by the word of the Lord. [6][7]

Rebekah, Issac's wife, was barren and conceived by the Lord [8]

Rachel, Jacob's wife, was barren [9] and God took away her reproach with Joseph. [10]

Monah's wife was barren [11], but conceived at he word of the Lord and bore Samson. [12]

Hannah, Elkanah's wife, was barren [13], but conceived at the word of the Lord. [14]

Michal and Uriah's wife were both barren. They are each wrapped up in in the Prostitute-Virgin prophecy of the church and because of this, the two women represent one. Michal remained desolate [15] [16] While Bathsheba is with David before her reproach is removed; before the son of the adultery died, she is called 'wife of Uriah'. When David comforts her, she is called 'his wife Bathsheba' and she conceives Solomon.

The Shunammite Woman was barren [17] and she conceived by the word of the Lord [18]. She was made desolate a second time by the death of the son [19] but he was resurrected in a foretelling of the cross. The world was desolate without Christ,and was made desolate a second time by the cross.

The number seven represents completeness or wholeness or totality. All the prophecies of the barren women wrap up into the prophecy hidden in Elizabeth through remez. They point to the birth of Christ in the desolate world.


References

1. <bible>Lu 1:7</bible>
2. <bible>Lu 1:13</bible>
3. <bible>Lu 1:25</bible>
4. <bible>Eph 5:32</bible>
5. <bible>Ge 16:1</bible>
6. <bible>Ge 17:19</bible>
7. <bible>Ge 21:3</bible>
8. <bible>Gen 25:21</bible>
9. <bible>Ge 30:1</bible>
10. <bible>Ge 30:22-24</bible>
11. <bible>Jud 13:1</bible>
12. <bible>Jud 13:3</bible>
13. <bible>1Sa 1:1-2</bible>
14. <bible>1Sa 1:17</bible>
15. <bible>2Sa 6:23 </bible>
16. We see similar patterns of two being treated as one in prophecy with Cain and Abel, Isaac and the ram, Rachel and Leah, etc.
17. <bible>2Ki 4:14</bible>
18. <bible>2Ki 416-17</bible>
19. <bible>2Ki 4:32</bible>

Luke - Joseph

Lu 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name [was] Mary.

There is not much said about the part the Joseph played in the early life of Jesus. But what is said, are outline notes to the prophecies fulfilled.

The Q document

Modern theologians invent a hypothetical document called Q which they say is the source for shared material between Mark, Matthew and Luke. If there were such a document, it was more authoritative than the gospels, being a primary source, but since it does not exist, it has many jots and tittle which disappeared, and so it cannot be considered scripture under the protective hand of God. [1]

The common source for the Gospels is the teaching of the apostles. The authors were aware of what the apostles taught. It should not be presumed that they wrote in isolation. Matthew was aware of Mark. Luke was aware of Matthew and Mark. This is why they have shared material. The differences can be attributed to gaining proficiency in handling the mystery. Matthew understood more than Mark, and Luke understood more than Matthew.

It is foolish to presume that over time they did not learn anything new or that their new understanding was a taste of omniscience where it came without study. [2]

Matthew improved the teaching of Mark by pushing the start of the story from the preaching of John [3] to Abraham. [4] Luke demonstrates a better understanding by pushing the beginning of the story to Adam. [5] Luke has an understanding of the mystery from Adam to Abraham that Mark and Matthew did not have and he demonstrates it by adding the material required to see the fulfillment of the mystery hidden in Ge 38.

Er, Onan and Shelah

Judah, praised represents God throughout Ge 38.

God had three sons: Er, Onan and Shelah. They represent Adam, Israel, and Joseph, the husband of Mary.

Er means 'awake'. Play the riddle game. 'Asleep' also means 'dead'. [6] 'Dead' 'implies in the dust'. [7] So the opposite; 'called awake' rather than 'asleep' would be, "Called alive from the dust". Adam was called alive from the dust. [8] This is a nice clue, but when coupled with the next, we have a confirmation that this is intended. Er was killed because of sin [9], just like Adam. [10] Er represents Adam in the prophetic riddle.

He was given Tamar as a bride. Notice the similarity between TaMAR and MIRiam (or MARY). Myrrh means 'discontented', Miriam means 'rebellious'.

Er was named by his father. [11] But Onan was named by his mother. She called him Onan [12]. The name was a mistake because the woman was deceived. [13] Onan means 'vigorous' or full of life. Judah had given Tamar to Er, but there is no mention of relations. By interpretation of the riddle, she remained a virgin.

She was given to Onan to give a child on behalf of Er. [14]. This is parallel to God choosing Israel to be his son, in order to have living, spiritual children on behalf of Adam. [15] But both Onan and Israel 'spilled their seed in the earth'. Onan refused to do his duty [16], and the nation of Israel was an earthly people who refused to worship God.

Judah was supposed to give Tamar to Shelah to bear a son instead of Er and Onan. But he was afraid to lose his last son. So Shelah, like Joseph, never had the opportunity to bear the child of promise.

This type of interpretation is foreign to us. But as we examine what Luke adds to the records of Mark and Matthew concerning Tamar, the method and the prophecy will be confirmed in great detail.

References

1. <bible>Mt 5:18</bible>
2. <bible>2Ti 2:15</bible>
3. <bible>Mr 1:4</bible>
4. <bible>Mt 1:1</bible>
5. <bible>Lu 3:38</bible>
6. <bible>Ps 13:3</bible>
7. <bible>Ge 3:19</bible>
8. <bible>Ge 2:7</bible>
9. <bible>Ge 38:7</bible>
10. <bible>Ro 5:12</bible>
11. <bible>Ge 38:3</bible>
12. <bible>Ge 38:4</bible>
13. <bible>1Ti 2:14</bible>
14. <bible>Ge 38:8</bible>
15. <bible>Ex 4:23</bible>
16. <bible>Ge 38:9</bible>

Luke - Mary and Tamar

Luke continues to notice things that happened in the lives of the people around Jesus in order to help us understand the hidden prophecy of Ge 38, when added to what Matthew remembered. We will use some of Paul's observations to help fill in the gaps as well.

Tamar met Judah before Timnath (the appointment) [1]
Mary met God before the appointed time of Christ. “It is appointed unto man once to die…” [2]


Tamar was offered a goat by Judah. [3]
Mary was offered THE scapegoat, since the angel told her “He will save his people from their sins.” [4] The scapegoat would carry away the sins of the people. [5]


Judah told Tamar he would send a goat. The word he used for 'send' also means ‘sow’. [6](
God told Mary she would conceive miraculously by the Holy Ghost. God would 'sow' the goat. [7]


Tamar wanted an assurance that she would receive the goat,[8]
Mary asked for an assuring word of explanation [9]


They each got three things:

Tamar was given the staff or rod which represents the power of God in discipline. [10] [11] [12] [13]
Mary was told the power of the Highest would overshadow her. [14]


Tamar was given the signet ring. [15] A signet ring declares the wearer to be a son.
Mary was told that he would be called the Son of God. [16]


Tamar was given bracelets. [17] In a very literal sense, bracelets were given to signify a marriage, much like we now give rings. But the real clue to the hidden meaning comes from the law of cleanliness: Nu 19:15 And every open vessel, which hath no covering [bracelets] bound upon it, is unclean. Tamar was not unclean.
Mary was told that she was not unclean because although she was with child, it was by the Holy Ghost. [18]


Tamar, when discovered to be with child was threatened. [19]
Mary was discovered with child and was going to be put away. [20]


When the father was discovered, Tamar was honored [21]
Then the Father was discovered, mary was honored. [22]


Tamar bore twins [23]
Mary bore the dual-natured God-man [24]


The names of the twins mean 'breaking forth' and 'rising sun'
Jesus was called Dayspring. [25]


The image of Tamar’s twin sons would be incomplete if the second son did not get the inheritance, and sure enough, they wrestle in the womb, and the second son emerges first and receives pre-eminence. [26]
In the flesh Jesus died desolate. As God’s only begotten son, he did not succeed in being fruitful and multiplying. Only in his resurrection, as the mystery second son, did he receive the full blessing and inheritance given to Abraham. [27] The teaching that Jesus is the second Adam is one of the recapitulations of the prophecy. [28]


There are many more details concerning Christ is Ge 38 which can be observed because of the details that Matthew, Luke and Paul recorded for us about Jesus. Genesis 38 has been called the worst chapter of the Bible, but only by those who cannot see the mystery hidden within.


References

1. <bible>Ge 38:14</bible>
2. <bible>Heb 9:27</bible>
3. <bible>Ge 38:17</bible>
4. <bible>Mt 1:21</bible>
5. <bible>Le 16</bible>
6. <bible>Ge 38:17</bible>
7. <bible>Lk 1:35</bible>
8. <bible>Ge 38:17</bible>
9. <bible>Lk 1:34</bible>
10. <bible>Ge 38:18</bible>
11. <bible>Pr 22:15</bible>
12. <bible>Pr 23:13</bible>
13. <bible>Pr 29:15</bible>
14. <bible>Lk 1:35</bible>
15. <bible>Ge 38:18</bible>
16. <bible>Lk 1:35</bible>
17. <bible>Ge 38:18</bible>
18. <bible>Lk 1:35</bible>
19. <bible>Ge 38:24</bible>
20. <bible>Mt 1:18-19</bible>
21. <bible>Ge 38:26</bible>
22. <bible>Lk 1:42</bible>
23. <bible>Ge 38:27 </bible>
24. <bible>Col 2:9</bible>
25. <bible>Lu 1:78</bible>
26. <bible>Ge 38:28-29</bible>
27. <bible>Ge 12:2</bible>
28. <bible>1Co 15:47 </bible>

Luke - The enrollment

The details of the enrollment are used to begin the story of the great battle between heaven and earth.

Eschatological prophecies of the Old Testament tell of all the nations being gathered. The Hebrew word for 'gathered' can mean 'brought together in one place', or 'called out from many places'. Caesar Augustus was the ruler of the earth, and he caused an enrollment to happen. All people were called out of all the places they had migrated and were called to their ancestral homes. [1] The foundation of the word for 'gathered' means 'the measure before the cross' or 'judgement of those without the word'. [2]


'Quirin'i-us of Syria' means 'horn of the exalted' or 'the announcement of the exalted' in Hebrew. Each went to his own city. The Hebrew word for 'city is also 'donkey' (which is a symbol of prophecy) and a pun, to 'light' (a symbol for holiness) but using a letter representing the flesh. This is interpreted as 'self-holiness, or self-righteousness'. All these symbols surrounding judgement are coming together in one place, even Caesar means 'cut off' or 'separated'. From the account of Tamar, we know that God was coming to 'shear' or 'cut off' his sheep. It was a time of judgement for mankind.

Joseph; meaning 'God's threshold' or 'God's bowl' is the beginning of the lineup on God's side. Galilee is the 'rod of the door' like a hinge. Nazareth, from the Hebrew 'nazir', means 'consecrated' but 'naked'. This is the same imagery of the hair of the Nazarite, which is called his righteousness, but which nature says is a shame. He went to Judea, meaning 'God's clear commandment', to the city (prophecy) of David, the 'beloved'. David also means 'discerning the letter from the spirit of the law'. [3]

He came to Bethlehem. It is well known that Bethlehem means 'house of bread', but 'lechem' also means 'war'. Bethlehem is also the house of war. It is the first salvo in the war between heaven and earth. With Joseph, the line was drawn as he turned from naked shame to consecrated and toward God's clear commandment. God had become man and the nations had been gathered.

When you eat the bread of communion, you are remembering the war against sin and death waged on the cross.


References

1. <bible>Lu 2:1</bible>
2. gathered - קבץ = the measure קב before the cross ץ. Notice that John uses the tsadik ץ as the 'blood' in 1Jo 5:8.
3. <bible>Lu 2:4</bible>

Luke - Birth

Both Matthew and Luke note that that Jesus was born of a virgin. [1] [2] They did not record the event because it was magic. Nor was it recorded because it fulfilled scripture. The true fulfillment speaks of the cross where Jesus is the firstfruits [3] of the dead in the spirit. This is the birth apart from the flesh. We also are born of the Spirit [4]; we are virgin born of the Spirit, and Christ was the firstfruit, his physical virgin birth was still part of the prophecy, not the fulfillment.

Luke records that he was wrapped in swaddling clothes, as a reminder of the prophecies of his death. Some of the prophecies are well hidden, like the one concerning the sword that slew Goliath.

Follow the riddle of prophetic prophecy:


Jesus also tells that the events of his birth foretold the events of his death. In the parable of the mustard seed:


Jesus, as the seed of the woman was placed in the feeding trough as the baby bread; a symbol promising his death on the cross. ... and we are his cattle.

Luke recorded that there was no place in the inn to remind his readers that the prophecy says the Messiah would be a sojourner, even from his birth. [17]

References

1. <bible>Mt 1:23</bible>
2. <bible>Lu 1:27 </bible>
3. <bible>1Co 15:20 </bible>
4. <bible>Joh 3:8</bible>
5. <bible>Jo 1:1</bible>
6. <bible>Heb 4:12</bible>
7. <bible>1Sa 21:9</bible>
8. <bible>Lu 2.7</bible>
9. <bible>Mr 15:46</bible>
10. <bible>Lu 23:53</bible>
11. <bible>Mt 13:31</bible>
12. <bible>Ge 3:15 </bible>
13. <bible>Mt 18:4 </bible>
14. <bible>Ps 104:14</bible>
15. <bible></bible>
16. <bible>Lu 22:19 </bible>
17. <bible>Ps 39:12 </bible>

Shepherds
Luke 2:8-20

In sensus plenior, or prophetic riddle, sometimes the riddle is easy to see in any language because the ideas are 'above' the language. But some times the riddle is deeply embedded in the language. Many of the New Testament riddles are solved by translating the New Testament words into Hebrew. The implications of this are huge. It suggests that the New Testament authors captured the Hebrew teaching of Jesus and the apostles, and translated them into Greek for the new Gentile church.

The Hebrew word for 'shepherd' also means 'friend' and 'broken'. The field is always the field of harvest. The word for 'watching' also means 'the reputation of the revelation'. Night is a symbol of grace.

The broken friends were watching the reputation of the revelation over the chosen of Christ in grace. [1]

Now consider the story of the good shepherd in the context of the Christmas shepherds.

Lu 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
The number 100 is the number of the church.

The world is desolate because it is without the Word of God (Christ). In riddle, we can say that Christ is missing or lost. The shepherds left those belonging to God to go and find Jesus.

Many try to reconcile how the shepherds could be doing a good thing by shirking their responsibility, yet they have no problem with Jesus leaving the flock to find the lost sheep.

The whole church is lost until Jesus is found. There are multiple (at least 4) applications which are legitimate. Ultimately Jesus IS the good shepherd, and the other shepherds are his 'broken friends'. Luke previously has shown that the world was desolate until the Word came. This is just a twist on the same story. The sheep are in the field of harvest. They have not yet been harvested. They are desolate waiting for the Son of David, the Shepherd king.

The angels announce the Gospel, or good news: The Messiah was born in the city of David! And they gave the sign of the Gospel, a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes would be found in the manger. The small facts are not just incidentals. They are the sign, as spoken of previously.

The seed or baby bread would be found wrapped as a dead body in the feeding trough of the cattle/sheep, as a promise of the cross, which we would remember , after the fact, by eating the bread. He would be found in the House of bread, and the house of war. If you think this is being over-emphasized. How much time does a new mother spend apart from her baby in a cradle? Not very much! The angels pronounced that they would arrive at the rare time when the baby would be separated from his mother, and lying in a make-shift cradle. The odds are you would find him in his mother's arms. This is the sign, not just heart-warming incidentals.

1. <bible>Lu 2:8</bible>

Luke - His name was Jesus

Lu 2:21 ¶ 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.

Matthew and Luke give different insights into the naming of Jesus. Matthew declares that he was named Yeshuah because it was prophesied he would be called 'Emmanuel'. Matthew was solving one riddle. It is a riddle because Yeshuah does not mean 'God with us' It means 'God's salvation'. Matthew is teaching us to read a riddle in the formation of the word. Yeshuah sounds like Yaweh with a 'sh' in the middle. "God with a marriage in his heart". This is how Yeshuah means 'God with us'.

Luke solves the other riddle of his name. Yeshuah sounds like, or is a pun to Yah-shuach, which means "God humbled". Luke specifically says that Jesus was 'concieved in the womb'. He is reminding us that Mary was a virgin when she conceived and after she conceived. [1] This special conception was nothing less than the incarnation of God, God becoming man. This second riddle also declares that 'God is with us'.

References
1. <bible>Lu 1:27</bible>

Luke - Simeon

Luke included the testimony of Simeon. Rather than attribute this addition to a mysterious Q document, we will find the source of the original prophecy in the Old Testament.

Lu 2:25 ¶ 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.
His name was Simeon "heard" or "harkening" from the Hebrew name 'Shim'own' שׁמעון. Shem means 'name' or 'reputation'. Shema means to 'listen or obey'. In the name 'Simeon', the thing being listened for is the 'death of the son of man' ו. He was waiting for the 'consolation of Israel'. This was a common term used by the people of the time for the Messiah. The word is similar to that used of the Holy Ghost as a comforter. Indeed, in the book of Jonah there is a hidden picture of the Son comforting the Holy Spirit after his tribulation, which is why the Spirit is called 'Another Comforter'. The Son is the first Comforter.

Job is the Christ character in the prophetic riddle of the book. He says Job 21:2 "Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations". The speech, or word of the Son is the consolation. This prophecy builds on that previously of John/Elijah where there would be no Word until John. Simon is waiting for the 'Consolation' or Word.

It was further revealed to him that he would not see death until he had seen the Consolation; the Word. [1]

Simeon took the child in his arms to become acquainted with him. He then declared he could depart in peace.
Job 22:21 ¶ Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
He had seen 'Gods Salvation' which is the literal meaning of the name of Yeshuah (Jesus). Lu 2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

1. <bible>Lu 2:26</bible>

Luke - Anna
Lu 2:36 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;
Anna or Hannah means 'grace'. It is also the name of the mother of Samuel. Both women were desolate or barren. [1]

Phanuel, by formation of the letters means "the mystery פ of the Son of Man נ clarified ן by God אל"

Aser or Asher means, "man אש of revelation ר."

Anna was a prophetess.

Both women Anna and Hannah, thanked God in their testimonies of what God had done. The silence of the widow is broken with the child.

1Sa 1:27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: (The song that follows is a song of redemption).
Lu 2:38 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.
This seems like an insignificant detail that Luke has included. However, through Simeon and Anna we get the word of 'peace and grace'. The greeting of "Grace and Peace" became common and is used by Paul in his letters as well as by Peter and John.

We will see many parallels between people with the same name. Like Annah and Hannah, Simeon and Simon Peter both had a special revelation from God to the identity of the Christ. Peter declared "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." matching the testimony of Simeon. Also previously mentioned were TaMAR and MARy.

1. <bible>1Sa 1:5</bible>

Luke - 12 yr old Jesus

The mystery, which has been hidden from the beginning [1] is hidden in prophetic riddle. Riddle is the perfect genre to hide something because the answer to the riddle is not contained in the riddle. You need a key to open it. [2] It is like verbal cryptography.

For example, everyone thinks they know the answer to the old riddle: why did the chicken cross the road. What is particularly intriguing about this riddle is that without the key, the common answer seems to make sense, and people stop looking for the answer. In their minds they have opened the box and it is empty. It is a stupid riddle, they think. But it is one of the best riddles.

The key to the riddle is that "the other side" is a euphemism for dying. So when you see a chicken carcass in the road, you ask the riddle. Most riddles do not lead you to believe you have solved the riddle with a false solution, as this one does.

When Jesus gave the disciples the "keys to the kingdom (teaching)" he explained where the scriptures said he must die.

The cross is the key. If you do not understand the cross, you cannot understand the mystery.

Now a bit on solving riddles: The Hebrew method of interpretation called 'Pardes' is not respected by many Christian theologians, nor should it be, in the way it is practiced by modern Jews. It has been twisted to cause confusion. But we should learn how the Bible authors used it, and limit it's use to that. It is likely that Jesus first taught the proper use of Pardes in the temple when he was twelve. [3] The parable of Pardes as told by Rabbis actually forbids you from seeing Christ in the scriptures, in doing so, they have also told us how to see Christ in the mystery: simply practice what it forbids.

Jesus was asking the teachers questions.[4]. There are a few historical hints which suggest a plausible story. I hesitate to share it because I am critical of the rhetorical invention from pulpits -passed off as exegesis. I will put it between lines to call it out as speculation.

_____
Consider these things: Age 13 is the age a Jewish boy has his Bar Mitvah, and becomes a man. It is the official coming of age. Though there is question if the practice was observed in the time of Jesus, the practice started somewhere and sometime. The events surrounding Jesus suggest that if it was not practiced then, the event in Luke 2 was the source of the practice. The mystery will explain the coming of age of the boy Jesus.

Asking questions is a teaching method. In the Bar Mitvah, the youth asks questions. The youth also ask questions on the evening of Passover. Typically the questions were answered by the Adults who knew the answers. In the case of Jesus, his questions made those in the temple think. This is now how rabbis teach today. They pose riddles which have no answers. This practice began somewhere.

One of the questions suggested by scripture is "what do these stones mean?" [5] Typically, when asked, the answer was "It's means God delivered us by a miracle here, and parted the water as we came into the promised land as a reminder we were born of water in the same way when Moses led us out of Egypt. "

Now that the mystery has been revealed, it is suggested that as Jesus asked about the stones, he did not just ask about the pile of rocks, but also of the stone which was split to produce water, the pile of stones which Jacob laid his head on which had become a single stone when he awoke and about the five smooth stones in David's shepherd's pouch. In asking, he caused the teachers to see pictures of the promised Messiah in them. He was giving hints to the riddles of prophetic prophecy.

These hints are called '[R]emez' from the anagram PaRDeS. The practice of linking scripture together even by a single word is remez. It is not limited to linking by words; words are just metaphor for ideas. It is also linking by idea. The New Testament authors use remez with ideas as well.

These plausible speculations are not required in order to unpack the mystery. Belief in them is not required to continue observing scripture.
_____

Next Luke - 12 yr old Jesus - 2

1. <bible>1Co 2:7</bible>
2. <bible>Mt 16:19</bible>
3. <bible>Lu 2:42</bible>
4. <bible>Lu 246</bible>
5. <bible>Jos 4:21</bible>