NickHolt Posted December 25, 2021 Report Share Posted December 25, 2021 Although we usually think of the Christmas shepherds as poor, bottom-of-the-social-ladder folks, the shepherds in Luke's account were probably Jewish Temple Priests caring for special, perfect sheep destined as sacrifices in the Temple in Jerusalem. A careful study reveals that ordinary flocks of sheep were kept in the wilderness far from Jerusalem and Bethlehem, while the flocks of perfect, sacrificial sheep were tended by priests in towns near the Temple in Jerusalem, such as Bethlehem. Once the priests identified a perfect lamb for sacrifice, they would swaddle that sheep to keep it from becoming blemished and place it in a manger, ready for the Temple sacrifice. Thus, the angels' announcement that they would find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloth and lying in a manger must have meant to them that the Christ, the perfect sacrifice, was born, especially when they heard, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). It’s no wonder these priest-shepherds “let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:19-20, The Message). Merry Christmas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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