The Angels Appear to the Shepherds

Since the birth of Jesus was the birth of a great king—indeed the birth of the greatest King, the promised Son of David to rule over the nations (Luke 1:31–33; see Ps. 2)—one might expect that the first to hear of His arrival would have been nobles and other members of the ruling class. In keeping with the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:1–7), however, the first to be told about our Lord’s advent was another group of lowly people—namely, shepherds watching over their flocks in the fields near Bethlehem. Luke tells us about these shepherds in today’s passages.

Often when the Christmas story from Luke’s gospel is preached, it is stated that shepherds were among the more despised groups of people in first-century Jewish culture. That may not have been the case; evidence that shepherds were not favored comes from Jewish sources that date to long after the first century. Moreover, the shepherd metaphor in Scripture is almost always positive, with figures such as David and even the Lord Himself serving as shepherds (see 1 Sam. 16; Ps. 23). It is certainly true, however, that shepherds were generally average, even humble folk in the first century. God’s sending angels to them to announce the birth of Jesus is thus in keeping with our Creator’s tendency to rescue those of low estate (Ps. 136:23–24).

While the shepherds were tending their flocks, an angel appeared, proclaiming that he had “good news” for them (Luke 2:8–10). The Greek term translated “good news” is also rendered “gospel,” and in secular literature it was often used when making an announcement that a new emperor had been born or had just ascended the throne. The application of the same term to the birth of Jesus is even more fitting, since the good news being announced is the advent of the Savior of mankind (v. 11). Thus, the good news is for all people, not just the shepherds (v. 10), for the Lord wills to save anyone who repents and trusts in Jesus alone for salvation. John Calvin comments, “God invites all indiscriminately to salvation through the Gospel.”

The angel told the shepherds where to find Jesus, and then a “host” of angels joined him, praising God (vv. 12–13). This was the Lord’s angelic army, for “host” is used in Scripture for God’s angel warriors. Our Creator is the “Lord of hosts”—that is, the “Lord of armies” (Ps. 24:10). The angels sang a war song, proclaiming that God’s victory was at hand and offering peace to all those who follow the God of Israel through His Messiah, Jesus Christ (Luke 2:14).