12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
2:12
And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
The angel gave the shepherds an identifying sign of a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
2:13
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
Suddenly, a great company of angels praised God among the shepherds.
2:14
“Glory to God in the highest,
This verse conveys the angels’ two perspectives: (1) God, who is the highest, will receive “glory.” The praise of glory to God in the highest is the climax of the announcement by the angels.
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
(2) People on earth will one day experience “peace” because of the Messiah setting up His kingdom. God does not give His peace to those of goodwill but to the recipients of His good will. These are people upon whom God’s favor rests.
PRINCIPLE:
Peace comes through Jesus.
APPLICATION:
God’s peace comes upon people because of what Christ did on their behalf. This peace is what Jesus won for the whole earth. We ascribe glory to God because He won this peace for us. This peace will especially come when Jesus sets up His kingdom during the Millennium.
