These FACTS Will Change How You See the CHRISTMAS Story
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
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These 8 facts will change how you see the Christmas Story!
So often, the images we have of Christmas come from nativity scenes and storybooks. But what if I told you that most of these images aren’t accurate, that the picture we get from the Bible is actually much different?
…that Mary’s life was at risk
…that there was no “inn”
…and that the shepherds who visited Mary and Joseph looked MUCH different than you imagine?
Well, if you’re interested in finding out the answers to these questions, and much more, then join me for this episode of Misreading Scripture.
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Misreading Scripture is a series that takes common scriptures and helps you to see them with a new set of eyes. Many of these are scriptures we have been innocently misinterpreting. And once we gain insight into the culture and context of the passage, all of a sudden it becomes clear in an entirely new way.
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@TheChosen @The Chosen
Yes, many stories in the Bible are " up side down" stories........ God is so much greater than we ever can recognize. He meets us, where we would not believe.
Don’t forget that Mary would have been considered unclean after her delivery, possibly making the upper room unclean. And the manger is/was a hand hewn stone trough like basin. Stone is pure and clean. Beautiful story❤
Upper room? Sorry I am not following you here. Post partum a woman is considered unclean with prescribed days until she can do her purification ceremony.
@@autumninvirginia1229 that would be the upstairs part. The living quarters. Bedroom.
I needed this! Please pray for me and my children that’s ALL I NEED AND WANT. I get harassed for sharing my testimony and for asking for prayers. I want to give up on my life. But God won’t let me. As a single mother I’m so overwhelmed at times because both of my children are autistic. I’m desperately struggling trying to support them and myself my husband passed years ago I lost my job as a social worker at Forsyth hospital because I declined the vaccine. I declined because of my pre existing health condition lupus and heart disease. I was denied my medical/religious exemption. I wish I could go back to the hospital but the mandate is still in place for hospitals that participate in Medicare and Medicaid all employees must be vaccinated against covid 19. I’m waitressing and I’m so 🙏🏾THANKFUL to be working again, but I’m not making nearly enough to make ends meet. But even as I struggle every month, and even though I’m ashamed because of my situation and ashamed from all the harassment. Compassion is Jesus’s way. I have faith that God will provide. Please pray for me and my children. THATS ALL I want. GOD BLESS!😊
Tiff your babies need you, and you need to get help. Can you approach your church pastor and ask if he knows a good Christian counsellor? Tell him how desperate you are, you need your church family around you. I have two autistic teens and I know that it’s hard. Especially after the pandemic and attending church with two autistic children is not easy. How old are your babies?
Do your children attend school? They would benefit from a church led ministry, if your church can find volunteers who can help support your children. Do you have ear defenders and fidget toys to help your children cope during the service? I’ve read your posts and prayed for you several times Tiff, but I’m just a stranger on the internet - you need real brothers and sisters in Christ around you!
Prayer is so important, so is fellowship - God does lots of miracles through the hands of His people!
Thank you,once again for your help.
Where’s the link for the download of “words”? Great video on the context of the nativity story
Here is the link: www.brandonrobbinsministry.com/10words
Praying for you and yours and sending you all of the love that I have in my heart from Cherokee Village Arkansas
Brandon, tears streak down my face when you told how the Shepard heard about he baby on swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. They knew what this was, a sacrifice for the temple of Adonai. 250,000 lambs to be sacrificed and they went to witness the new born babe, the ultimate sacrifice of God. So beautiful, thank you brother!
Thanks for your thoughtful efforts to bless the church. I would like to add a possible different view of the shepherds. Temple worship was an integral part of Bethlehem society. Aaronic/Levitical priests were central to Bethlehem because of the sacrificial lambs. Twice a day they were offered. Bethlehem was the place for temple flocks. Levitical priests were the ordained officials who "certified" the lambs were without blemish. Levitical "shepherds were the perfect people to announce the birth of the Lamb of God!
Another thing that supports what you are saying is the fact that Herod in Matthew 2:16 had inquired diligently from the wise men as to when they saw the star. he then had the baby boys killed who were two years of age and under… This strongly supports the idea that they did not arrive at or near the time of birth.
And when pastors start teaching this expository/historical way instead of their three-point sermons hen-pecking through Scripture fragments to tie it all into a motivational speech, the church will start learning the actual Bible and lives will be changed. Thanks for sharing the work you've done here.
I recently came across an interesting observation: One might also wonder why wise men (astronomers/astrologers) from the area of Babylon would know of (or care about) any signs related to a new Jewish king. But if we drop back to Daniel 2:48, we see that after Daniel successfully interprets the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar promoted Daniel to be the _"chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon"._ Prophet Daniel. Top guy in the group of Wise men. Babylon.
THAT my brother, is EXTREMELY INTERESTING
I used to know some wise guys back in New Jersey.
I heard about this as well. That it was maybe Daniel who had taught them so long ago about the signs of the coming of the Savior.
Matthew chapter 2 never says how many wise men there were. Lie #1. The wise men came into the HOUSE where Jesus and Mary were, not a stable. Lie #2. The wise men first came to Herrod not the manger. Herrod had all the children killed that were two years old and younger, because they had been following the star for 2 years. Jesus was a toddler when the wise men arrived.
@@apostolicengineer8251 - I see no connection between what I said and your reply to what I said. Perhaps you meant it as a reply to some other comment?
I am detail oriented, so I enjoy any teaching that fills in the details. As for recognizing "lowly in stature" I came to Jesus many years ago faced with two serious felony charges that brought shame to the family. God reached down and lifted me up!
Welcome to the family!
Brandon, I am a pastor as well and I have taught the very same things to my congregation. In Luke 1 it says that when Mary was visited by the angel, she immediately went to Elizabeth and stayed with her 6 months. When she returned home, she was very noticeably pregnant. I tend to think that Mary's parents threw her out of the house. That's why it was vitally important that Joseph married her, as she would have no where else to go. When I went to Israel the scene you said about the upper room was shown to us. They had a house where they explained that the animals were in the house to protect them, but also to protect the family, because anyone entering would have to go through the animals to get to the people, and also the animals would provide warmth to the family. Yes, for Mary to give birth in the house was a special place of honor for her instead of the guest room with no privacy. Another thing was the gifts given by the Magi. Early church tradition says that there were about 3,000 and all but 1,000 stayed behind at the Euphrates River. Herod was disturbed at the entourage of Magi coming to Jerusalem. One or two or three would have been no problem for Herod, but 1,000 would have caused him great concern and scripture says all Jerusalem with him. The gift, though, would have provided Joseph with the funds to travel to Egypt and establish his family there. God is awesome in the ways he sees the needs and provides for it even before it happens. Thank you for your teaching. It is a great blessing to me and many others.
Mary was with Elizabeth 3 months not 6 try Luke
@@leannhenry9191 Sorry. I stand corrected.
Where is your church?
@@ridgehilljillie9429 It's in Lorain, Ohio
@@lowellmorton1708 What's the church's name, and is it online?
I knew most of the things you had mentioned except the significance of the swaddle clothe! WOW!! That was amazing!
I definitely always was taught that Epiphany happened almost 2 years after the Nativity...but you're right, most people assume it happened on Christmas, for some reason...but this is the whole reason Herod killed all kids 2 & under, is it not?
Such clarification and cultural transparency lead most soundly to faith in God's Will. He knows, He goes before, He covers and secures.
Brandon, joyonya and your family. Love the word study. Kataluma! One of my new favorites
As to the actual location of Messiah’s birth, the prophet Micah declared in chapter 4:8 that He was to be born at the Tower of Migdal Eder, which had become a nursery for new born lambs. It was located a little to the north of Bethlehem, which was a larger town in the 1st century. Like you said, the lambs were swaddled in cloths to prevent injury. The shepherds were actually Temple shepherds - perhaps a grade higher than regular shepherds. These shepherds were paid to care for the new born lambs, born in the spring, for Temple sacrifice. Because lambs are born only in the spring this is why many scholars believe Jesus, too, was born in the spring and more specifically Nisan 1, which is the actual Jewish new year and the beginning of the Passover week. I believe from my studies in Jewish law, that Mary and Joseph were rejected by family because she was very pregnant and due to give birth shortly after marriage. To have a baby, conceived before the actual marriage ceremony, would make Joseph/Mary unclean. For Mary to give birth in their home would make it unclean! From this fact I believe Mary and Joseph were “homeless,” and were forced to live on the streets of Bethlehem, Joseph still looking for a place. But to their disappointment they could find nothing and decided to go back to Jerusalem in the hopes of finding something there. On their way out of town Mary is in labor and desperately needs a place to lie down. They see the Tower of Migdal, their last option, and go inside. And that is where Jesus is born. Mary wraps Him in swaddling cloths and lays Him in a manger. Meanwhile, the shepherds have heard the angel’s message about the Savior being born in Bethlehem lying in a manger. They ran with haste because they knew exactly where to look. The Tower apparently was the only place that would have stone mangers, designed strictly for the new born lambs. The Bible says after they saw baby Jesus, they went away rejoicing because they knew the Micah prophecy had been fulfilled!
Thank you for a detailed and succinct description of a very likely scenario.
I'm quite sure that BBCs QI program mentioned that the name Jesus came about due to a mistranslation of scripture. The name of God's son is actually Joshua. If this is true, think about those years of Christians calling him by the wrong name? 😲
@@LoriCiani "The name of God's son is actually Joshua."
It is sometimes spelled or pronounced Yeshua.
"think about those years of Christians calling him by the wrong name?"
I thought about it for a couple of seconds. Came to no conclusion.
@@thomasmaughan4798 Thank you for your earlier comment, Thomas. Actually Yeshua’s Hebrew name would have been pronounced “Yehoshua,” surprisingly a very common name in those days. And given by the parents to indicate what their son would become. Certainly Yeshua lived up to HIS name…SAVIOR, DELIVERER! Joseph was told by the angel to take Mary as his wife since her son was to save His people from their sins. Little did they think He would die horrifically on a Roman cross. Farthest thing from their minds until Simeon prophesied His death 8 days after His birth.
Thank You for adding the fact that they were considered married already. I was researching for my livestream and I found out that when they were betrothed it meant they were actually considered married. The arrangement amd agreements and gifts were given and they were together.💯👍🏽
I have shared several of these facts with my small group over the years, and it is always fun to see people start to grasp things that they never knew, and let go of things that they had taken for granted. I had never heard/thought about female shepherds, and I'm not sure I am with you on that one. But all the rest help the story make so much more sense as history, and less like myth.
Thank you, Pastor Brandon! You give me inspiration to read the Bible and to lean how to pray.
I would relish a sermon on what constitutes marriage following the ideas set forth here. This agrees with points, about what a Biblical marriage is, that I've been trying to help people understand for years. I was even black listed out of a couple of Bible study groups by one guy because of it. Thanks for another homerun of a video.
My husband and I have been married 41 years. We have a loving, supportive family and have been blessed with grandchildren. We are both Christians. I am so glad that women of our culture are not considered property with no rights. Women in our society have value even if they can’t have children. We are able to use our God given talents to have careers, and further the kingdom. Blessings to you and your family.
I had thought it was the first time a couple had sex but someone said it was when the couple entered a room for the purposes of having sex.
Assuming two virgins.
No outside men needed for ceremonial reasons in any case.
Thank you Brandon for explaining more about Hebrew life and language so we can understand better.
I really enjoy studying the Bible with you. I look forward to all of the videos I can find. Thank you for making history of the Bible come to life. May God continue to bless you and your family. Merry Christmas!
The historic speculation is nice, but God has revealed the actual birth story through revelations centuries ago.
I cried after hearing the last one😭. God called me and I wasn't sure if I can do it but this ministered to me
What did it (god) call you?
Hallelujah thanks God bless you more and more in Jesus name amen
I appreciate this. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya in the late '80's. I taught in a secondary school in a Maasai area. They are keepers of cattle, goats, and sheep. The herders would usually be little kids too young to attend primary school, so under 5's or 6's. Or someone who was considered to be "of no account" or not very useful. However, those little kids were able to hit a running predator between the eyes with a rungu (a short, hardened stick with a knot on one end) and take it out. My CRE class did not need any explanation of "your rod and staff comfort me".🙂
Brandon, THANK YOU for this teaching. I’ve not heard this true account of our Lord’s birth since 1982, when I first learned. I’m blessed & humbled 40 yrs later to witness biblical truths being made available through your uTube ministry. God bless & keep you & yours.
I think you spoke if this subject last year. I purchased “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes” Wonderful book for understanding the culture. Brings new insight to reading the Bible. there is a whole study of the parables in the book.
I bought that book for a gift but never read it. I need to get a copy for myself. Thx for the reminder.
I was a prodigal son. In a desperate search to find God in my troubles I read the Bible at home. The change in my heart took place there. I decided to follow Christ. My life style changed as I continued to read the Bible at home. Later when I began attending public church services it became clear to me that most people did not know the scriptures. I'm not saying they were not saved but had they been given a test like in school I think most would have failed. To this day this really concerns me. It seems most know more about their favorite sports team than they do about the Bible. The attitude seems to be that it is the job of the minister or Bible teacher to study the Bible and not themselves. So sad.
That first year I went to church they had a Christmas play. You guessed it. They asked me to play a 'wise man' and bring my gift to the baby in the manger. Forty years later at a different church the same request. Have the people learned nothing ?
Thanks for helping us to understand Jesus" birth not knowing Jewish Traditions at that time many of us did not have a complete understanding of the events surrounding Jesus' birth.💖💞💖💯
kataluma= caravansary.. still in existence today..also can be used in reference to a guest chamber or lodging room in a private home. Locals hold that Jesus was born in the tower of the flock Migdal Eber on the ancestral lands of David where the temple sacrificial lambs were born and raised. Baby King Jesus wrapped in their swaddling cloths.. Beautiful!
Very believable and reasonable explanation. The Lord was born as a common man. So humble.
About those swaddling cloths- a new born lamb MUST be cleaned of it's afterbirth by it's mother, or she will reject it and refuse to let it nurse. Once it has bonded with the mother, it still needs to be able to get up and feed comfortably. I can see them being partially wrapped to protect them, after they had been inspected and confirmed as flawless though. I only know this from watching so many lambs being born over on Sheepishly Yours, a channel about a wonderful Canadian shepherdess!
Hello JoAnn, Merry Christmas I hope you're safe over there and I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity and love to you as well. I would love to be a friend, where are you from?
Brandon, the reason I love listening to you is because you make the Bible real. You give me an explanation of what the words actually meant which makes the pieces fall into place when you think about how people really lived at that time. Thank you for giving me a better understanding of the Christmas story and all the other facts that you've provided over time. You are truly a blessing.
Merry Christmas! 🙏❤️
Probably a lot of Bible not perfectly translations or stories remembered incorrectly.
Hi Brandon,
I really enjoy your videos. They go to a deeper level of understanding, which I very much appreciate.
If you are interested, there is a free app available called the blue letter Bible. If you look up Luke chapter 2, verse 7 then touch The number seven on that verse, some options will come up. The first one is the interlinear concordance - when you scroll down to the end of the verse it gives the Greek word for inn. If you then push the audio symbol to the right, it will pronounce it for you. The pronunciation that they give is ka-ta-li-ma
(All of them have a short vowel sound). I know that you know a lLOT more Greek than I do, but I thought you might be interested in that…
WHOA! This episode really really REALLY impressed me.
I will never ever view the Nativity story the same way again!
Thank you! (all the way from Brazil)
Thank you, Brandon. I often forget.. regardless of my past, I am worthy of God's love, because He says so.. When bad things happen I feel like it's because of my past, I deserved for it to happen. I've been diagnosed with HPV. That's my fault. Even though It's been 20 years since I was "that" person, it showing up now is still my fault, and I can't blame God for it, or expect Him to take care of it. That doesn't mean he doesn't love me, though. He loves me regardless of it happening. (I'm not sure any of that made sense.. hehe) But all of that just to say.. Thank you, Brandon!!! For the reminder. I am still worthy of His love.
I remember a book that was given to me when I was about 6 of the Nativity story. In it, the Magi were called Wise Men and the picture showed them visiting Jesus in a house when he was about 2yrs old.
I so enjoyed your video! I had never heard about Girls being shepherds or the significance of the swaddling cloths! Thank you for this ❤
Edit - typo oops lol
Thank you so much for this video. About 1/3 - 1/2 of what you shared, I had heard before but was so delighted to learn the rest.
Hello Sue, Merry Christmas I hope you're safe over there and I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity and love to you as well. I would love to be a friend, where are you from?
Mary would not have been in danger. First, Mary was not "deceiving" Joseph. She would have told him very early on that she was pregnant. She would not have been "showing" at that time. Secondly, Joseph did not go around shouting that his betrothed wife had been unfaithful. He thought about putting her away "privately". It would be logical that just after Joseph was brought "on board" by the Angel that he would do as the Angel said and "take" Mary as his wife. This all could have happened within days or perhaps a week. In essence, no one but Mary and Joseph knew about her pregnancy and hurrying up the time of marriage would not have been against the law. Mary would have gone to visit with Elizabeth after she was married with Joseph and returned home to Joseph after 3 months time. Her "showing" at 3 months would not have been seen as unusual. God protects His own.
Thank you again for this clarification and really important insight which glorifies our wonderful Saviour and filled my heart with gratitude. I will share this (in spanish) during our celebration this year.
Hello Sheila, Merry Christmas I hope you're safe over there and I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity and love to you as well. I would love to be a friend, where are you from?
There is so much more to biblical text than our Western minds understand. Thank you for opening the window a little bit.
God bless you all❤️🙏🏽❤️ May your prayers be answered.
Thank you.
May God bless you indeed.
Merry Christmas from Johannesburg, South Africa
In my really old 1611 Bible, The 3 men from the east are called Wise Men, who obviously studied the significance of astronomy. For it was because of the Star they saw meant something very significant. Because they carried valuable gifts, they were assumed to have been men of great wealth. Which is how they were compared to Kings. Not that they were Kings. People just used the symbology of the wealth as such.
I thoroughly enjoyed your lecture on Christ's Birth - great food for thought! Perhaps a few more thoughts to munch on. It concerns the time of year Jesus was Born. Who were the "shepherds"? As you say, shepherds were the lowliest of the low in Israeli society, yet they were believed in astonishment when they told their story of the birth (Luke 2; Vs.17,18 NIV)! As the lowliest of the low, who would believe them?
At that time, an unblemished lamb had to be inspected by a Rabbi before going to the Temple. A lamb would be inspected, swaddled and sent. It was at this time The Angels of The Lord appeared. The Rabbis/shepherds then went to Bethlehem, found the baby SWADDLED and knowing the Torah backwards and forwards, they understood the significance of the manger! Rabbis telling the story would be believed!
I suggest this also brings up the time of Jesus' Birth. The Rabbis inspecting the newborn lambs suggests Pesach (Passover) with the lambs saved for Seder Meals. If Jesus died on the Friday before Pesach, is it possible He could have been Born on the Friday before as well? I would love to hear your thoughts on this!
John Shaw
Calgary Ab. Can.
I love this sweet story. I'm sure parts of it, over time, have been altered to make the tale more compelling; something not unusual when writing long after the fact. Memories fade over time. Translations can alter definitions. The crowded home of a relative becomes an inn and a lower floor stable becomes an isolated cave in a hillside. The truth is still there about that precious child and his Mother and Father. No matter where they stayed or how they traveled or who they met, these people were brave as can be and I cannot help but love them for it. I love their beautiful son, and HE loves me. Thank you Brother Brandon. I really really do LOVE this sweet story. Merry Christmas one and all!
You are truly an amazing dedicated teacher that is blessing us with such rich details about biblical times. I am so thankful for your ministry! Thank you so much for helping us to see these historical stories in their true context. May God continue to bless you as you disciple us through this channel and your website!
Thank you, Brandon! I am so appreciative of your knowledge, insight, and willingness to share that with the world. When hearing this and taking it in, I truly wonder (and not for the first time) what other significant truths of God's Word have we gotten wrong...missed...thus possibly missing His true blessing and salvation. Praying that our ears, eyes, and hearts be opened to understanding that is God's and God's alone! Be blessed!
Could you do a video of when he was approximately born? I hear so many different “dates”.
Thank you for the extra information..i've come across these bits of Gems along the way." .Mary delivered Jesus, and he delivered me !!" AMEN.
I have heard that the shepherds were in charge of the flocks for the Jerusalem Temple.
Beautiful wisdom
This is a profound and interesting teaching from a perspective I hadn't heard before, tho have often wondered about it. I really love going deep into the Word of God seeking deeper revelation and knowing it from Jewish tradition means a lot to me as it gives a deeper understanding of the Word.
Interesting. Maybe some of the shepherds were young girls, but don't forget this was nighttime. There were surely a few fathers or big brothers if there were young girls out at night.
Yes. There’s no way a bunch of women would have been left alone at night. If you cared about them (or your flock at the very least) then men would have been keeping watch to fend off against larger threats: animal and people threats: that young women would not have been be able to fight off.
Thank you for telling the true story 🥰
Either the word 'engaged' or the word 'husband' had a different meaning than what we have today, because if Mary was simply engaged then Joseph, cannot be her husband yet. But in the scripture narrative (at least in the translation) these two words exist almost juxtaposed to describe Joseph's relationship to Mary.
I always have that thinking that, of all the different translations, there were a lot of words or sentences that weren't translated properly. Whenever there's a translation to another language they put the sentences in a way to make better explanations. But, to me, there are things that were removed & other things that were added. Maybe I'm wrong, but, that's the impression I have whenever I look in different bibles for the same verse. HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody. Be prepared, watch out for the happenings that are coming in 2023 & stay safe. Most importantly, we must LOVE, HELP, & PROTECT one another in JESUS' name. Thank you.
Alex Wilson pointed out how Christ was in a food trough "to be fed to animals" just as he was consumed by humanity
I am in tears at the beauty of the truth of our Jesus' birth. I am so grateful to God for His love and His gift, His son, Jesus. All the more is the knowledge of Mary & Joseph's courage and Joseph's family who assisted Mary in her delivery. Praise God!! Thank you for teaching the truth IN the Word and OF the Word. I was just recently given a link to your channel by someone who loves the Word & truth. I look forward to learning more.
I respectfully just wanted to share some information with you Brandon. I hope you will see it as just sharing knowledge and not me coming across as a know it all, certnainly there are so much that i do not know and yet need to learn too.
1) Mogh, or Moghan in Persian history refers to the religious figures that prayed in the temples of both Mithra and Zoroastrian temples. Both religions are monotheistic( believing in one G-d).
Mogh ( singular), Moghan ( plural). The Moghs knew ancient books and languages and had access to them going back 6000 to 12000 BC. They advance mathemathics, Astronomy, Astrology( back then was considered knowledge along with Astronomy). Prayers and knew some mystries. They were highly respected by kings and royal family members, but were not kings themselves. They also had to be born in certain family, or cast. It does not surprise me that they knew the signs of the coming savior in the sky and followd the stars. That is why the governor of Jerusalem recieved them with respect to inquire about the coming savior. They were not magicians.
Myrr, as you know is offered during prayers in temples. Is pronounced ( Meer) and not ( mer). I am not sure where you got Mer pronounciation from?
They could of thought Mary and Joseph couldn't wait....
At about 4:20 you said the only things preventing a betrothed couple from being considered married were the ceremony and the consummation. That is inaccurate. The only thing (singular) keeping them from being officially married was the consummation. No marriage ceremony is proscribed in the Bible and none has ever been biblically required.
On a side note, even so much as having a marriage license is actually the sin of idolatry. We are commanded to keep Christian issues out of court. (1 Cor 6) When you file a marriage license with the county court clerk, you are effectively giving God's authority over marriage (Mat 19:5-6, Mark 10:9) to something other than God. For that reason "it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another." (1 Cor 6:7 NKJV)
Great discourse. The Christmas story is beautiful for children and very different for adults. You tell it in a very understandable and real way. No misreading for me.
This was very interesting and well written. Thank you for posting such an interesting article.
Wow, first time listener, here, and I'm gobsmacked! Great teaching. I'm subscribing and downloading the book, thanks.
The sacrifice lambs were put in a cradle and inspected to see that they were unblemished. I think that the shepherds came to see that the lamb of God also was unblemished. Maybe God use them as witnesses that it was so.
It makes sense that the shepherds could have been young girls.
God bless you Mr. Robbins! I’m learning so much with your videos! The God message is spreading around the world through your videos! Greetings from Brazil.
Jesus is my lord and savior, and I’ve been walking with him for a while. But, your video brought me to tears. Just stumbled across this.
I knew some of this but your video added a lot to my thoughts on the birth of Christ. So often we read things into Scripture based on our own culture. Also couldnt Mary and Joseph have been traveling with other people? Sometimes i picture them in a huge caravan since others were going to Bethlehem for the census, and probably in that culture they could not have imagined letting a pregnant woman about to deliver travel alone with just her husband!
Hello Eileen, Merry Christmas I hope you're safe over there and I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity and love to you as well. I would love to be a friend, where are you from?
Hello Eileen, how are you doing today?
Brandon, I am a Catholic. What you have described is true and the suggestions you have made are plausible.
I have always maintained that the Bible must be studied against the broader background of contemporary history. Your in-depth examination of the story of the nativity bears this out. It is a well researched and well presented account of the true facts of life in those times. Respect.
This was awesome brother, you are a blessing...TRUTH
Also, the fact that the Magi gave frankincense and myrrh points forward to the suffering of Christ, as these were substances used to treat dead biodiesel and mummies them.
Very well presented, thank you. On Christmas Eve my church's pastor posited the same concept as you did that the "inn" was not a hotel as we know it, but rather, a guest room in someone's house. That my pastor said this shows that clearly, both of you did your homework! As you stated, the guest room would already be full of other family members who had come to Bethlehem for the census, so they took the only place that was left. I had never thought about the shepherds being young girls, but you make a convincing argument. I really liked how you named the Greek words found in the original scripture, and their English equivalents.
Please read Zev Porat's new book & then make another video correcting all of the errors in this one. God bless!
This is a wonderful fascinating insight to the circumstances of Jesus' birth. I'm glad that you shared it with us! I hope you and yours are having a blessed Holy-day season.
interesting thought that Bethlehem shepherds may have been young women about Mary's age. Raising of lambs for Temple sacrifice was no small-time operation that nodoubt had structures that could be described as a stable. wrapping of the infant in cloths otherwise used for lambs delivered for sacrifice is a touching thought.
They were married they weren't engaged that's why they said he could divorce her he had just not taken her into his home yet it's secret among themselvesI remember she went to visit St Elizabeth right away nobody even knew when Joseph found out he had the dream and took her in so there wouldn't be any scandal immediately it wasn't spread out through the town you make up stuff as you go along
As a father of four and every one I was right there at their birth. One of the first things I learned is you want as few people present as possible. A doctor, one assistant, and everybody else stay away. When expectant Mary and Joseph pulled in to the overly crowded ' transient peoples lodging ' it was no place to be having a baby, probably not in any room.
Another thing I learned over the years was in that region there are supposed to be sheep folds or sheep pens that are primarily a rock walled area with only one door where shepherds can put their flock for the night and sleep in the doorway.
Also a Manger was supposed to be some form of feeding or water trough which may have even been just a hollowed out rock to hold water.
Myself I take the story to go that when they got to Bethlehem in the middle of the census the only good place to be having a baby was out in the field somewhere and while the innkeeper is always portrayed as some kind of mean careless person he probably set them up with a nice secluded sheep fold.
Meanwhile the shepherds may have been in other sheep folds in the area and the angels showed them that the Messiah was being born right in their midst. ( of course they want to find Him )
Nobody is going to say anything to shepherds looking in the sheep folds.
I know it doesn't make for a very good lawn ornament but Messiah may well have been born in an open- air rock wall pen and laid in a hollow rock.
I am surprised that so many people are not aware of most of this!!
Maybe I am 73 so am old school and was taught all this.
Today is Christmas I haven’t partaken in the Christmas festivities in few years , it’s so far away from a Christian celebration of the birth of our savior … I felt I was worn out doing planing ect for all .. the time for prayer or Bible reading ect was put back people get cranky and the money the lonely . I don’t find all of the Christian’s celebrations of Christmas is pleasing to Jesus and it was to much for me, working extra hours for more money and all the extra shopping baking wrapping mailing cards and then to face fake materialist actions on mine and others part. Christmas morn wasn’t much left of me . then learn of the pagan origins . Santa clause or Jesus kiddos ? Lies or truth. I don’t judge others for doing Christmas or not . for me it’s between us and Our Father, maybe different for some than others .
I love the Lord today alone with him, this is his choice for me. His will and all for his glory .
Awesome!!! Thank you!!
Joseph is the unsung hero of the story. If your wife was pregnant by another man you would take back everything you gave her and kick her to the curb. And you would tell everyone why so they would know you actions were just. Before the angle came Joseph decided to divorce her quietly. Mary's reputation would have been protected and she would have kept the dowry. Clearly, Joseph was not wealthy so this would have been a significant loss. A man this humble and generous was the best possible man to raise Jesus.
Also, he obviously was a devout, spiritual man because he immediately recognized a message from God. When he woke up after receiving God's message, he didn't sit with the encounter trying to discern its authenticity, he acted immediately. He was certain that his God was speaking to him. I suspect this wasn't St Joseph's first encounter with God.
@@adamaprimo9023 definitely. He was righteous and humble enough to receive and act upon the vision.
Is there an indication of the words or grammar that might indicate if some or all of the shepherds were female? I just love this new knowledge (to me).
In the original Greek Luke uses the word “poimenes” which is masculine. The language is very precise.
Luke gets his account directly from Mary. We know this because he tells us he got accounts from chief witness and because we have this verse Luke 2:19 . How would Luke know what Mary was thinking unless he asked her himself?
If this content creator were actually right then if Luke asked Mary what happened…she would have used the Greek word for shepherdess…and don’t you think Mary would have said “so my midwives wrapped the baby up in swaddling clothes…”.
Instead Mary wraps the baby herself. And the poimenes (male shepherds) find Mary, Joseph, and the baby…not Mary and a bunch of other women.
The original story is much more impressive than the one this person is trying to spin.
There’s no way midwives and women would have let a bunch of men near the baby…but that is exactly what Mary says happened. So I’m going to believe the one who actually delivered the baby. Mary, Joseph, a baby and a couple of shepherds and angels is all I need.
Thanks for your perspective. Greatly appreciated.
Thank you for the Insight!! Amen 👏😃
I learn so much from you.
On Christmas Eve I went to a service at the church my daughter attends. The pastor told the same old “story” of the nativity and especially that of the “three kings”. This pastor knows who I am and came to greet me afterwards. I did what God said to do....telling a pastor that truth, complete truth must be proclaimed. He agreed. So I asked why he said “three kings” were at the birth? He looked puzzled. Then I said they sought out the young child as Herrod wanted to know his location. These astronomers, wise men, followed the star. This pastor then asked me if I’d like to teach in the children’s classes like my daughter. I politely said no but also added that he needed to spread the truth and not sugarcoat it with the world’s fantasy stories! Don’t sway from the teachings in the Bible!
Thanks for your videos. Love them . Make so much sense. Thanks for clarifying our untrue ideas of Christs birth. Appreciate your teachings.❤
I like the way you brought out the background information about this account. It makes reading this account more clea. Your use of the Greek words is also enlightening.
First point; I loved how in the Nativity Story they illustrated the fact of what could happen to Mary if Joseph exposed her through the dream God sent Joseph. While the movie may have missed many points, it hit a lot on the reality of the environment and atmosphere surrounding the event.
Having looked into the census dates and dates of Herod's rule there was no census at the time of herod, and also a census needed you to be at the place you normally lived and worked not the place you were born so there was no real reason for them to go to Bethlehem, but why are we always given this reason???why??
Important fact: Mary is not said to have given birth as soon as they arrived in Bethlehem, but according to the narrator of the gospel, they spent some days in Bethlehem before the birth began. People usually ignore this small detail in the text, regardless of their worldview and belief.
You missed something: the wise men first went to Herod and asked where the king was. Herod asked when they first saw the star. It ends there, but Herod wanted the children 2 years and younger to be killed in Bethlehem. This tells us they saw the star 2 years ago and it took them 2 years to travel to Jerusalem.
an argument for them being left to "fend for themselves" is the same argument that is behind the reason joseph pondering divorce. if those in the main house reallt=y were his close relatives then they would have known that they were not fully married yet and thus she should not have been pregnant, thats actually a really good reason for the family to shame them. the text is absent either way thous=gh as far as who was there and how they acted, except for the sheperds.
Your argument that the shepherds were women because they wouldn't have been intimidating to Mary is really weak.
The Mishnah (a collection of recorded oral traditions that governed the Jewish nation during the time of the Pharisees) says that one may not raise small domesticated animals, i.e., sheep and goats, in settled areas of Eretz Yisrael, but they may raise them in Syria and in the wilderness of Eretz Yisrael (Bava Kamma 7:7). Later in 80a, we read that exception to this rule was made for the flocks kept for Temple services, which would have been shepherded by those of the Levitical order of priests.
Since the shepherds found in Luke were tending flocks in fields surrounding Bethlehem and not out in the wilderness or in Syria, we ought to conclude that the flocks were for Temple services and, therefore, their tenders would have had to have been in the Levitical priesthood. Thus, from a historical perspective, it's far more reasonable to conclude that the shepherds were all male.
I think it's actually much cooler that the shepherds were probably priests than that they "could have been women" because it was the priest-shepherd's job to prepare the sheep for Passover and other Jewish ceremonies in the animal sacrifice system of the Old Testament. It's pretty neat that among the first to be told the spotless Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world had arrived would likely have been those priests responsible for ensuring the sacrificial lambs were without blemish and remained unharmed before being sacrificed. God told them because it was literally their job to inspect and watch over the Passover lamb.
This is so interesting. I’ve wondered about the shepherds, as a mom, I know I was not ready for visitors right after birth. It makes sense that Mary would have been surrounded by women.
This is great. Valuable information. Thank you!
Bethlehem also means "House of Bread", another important symbol --- the symbol of Jesus later giving Himself to us in the Blessed Eucharist.
Thank you though for opening the eyes of people who were not aware.
In those days people kept there animals in a room attached to the house.
Luke said there was no room at the inn
Hi Brandon. I don't know whether you will be reading this after two months, but feel to share with you. I'm reading many apocryphals and one was the proto evangelicals of James. Mary was 16 years old when Jesus was born. Joseph was "married" to her, but not as in love married couple. He was an old man that was appointed to "take care of her" / married. He had middle aged sons. According to this book, she was very much mistreated by the rabbi's, from which Anas was the main one. He hated Jesus since birth and always referred to him as a out of marriage child. Later in Jesus life, he and Ciaphas were the two main culprits for the crucifixion. The reason Jesus was layed in the manger, was to hide him from the soldiers of Herod when they were searching for boys under 2 years of age. Mary never had kids again. Se turned back to be a virgin again. It actually make sense why Joseph was not further much mentioned after Jesus preached at the age of 12. Joseph wasn't around at His crucifixion..... Ever wondered why? He was most propably dead by then. Normally a man or a father figure is more prominent in the Bible. Why not Joseph? Make you think doesn't it?
I doubt that Joe & Mary lived in Nazareth. At the time people walked EVERYWHERE, so for a pregnant woman to travel alone to see her cousin living in Jerusalem 70 miles from Nazareth would be almost unheard of.