Church Fathers Commentary Luke 2:15-20

"And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them." — Luke 2:15-20 (ASV)

Greek Expositors: The shepherds were filled with astonishment at the things they saw and heard, and so they left their sheepfolds and set out by night for Bethlehem, seeking the light of the Savior. Therefore, it is said, They spoke one to another, etc.

The Venerable Bede: As men who were truly watching, they did not say, “Let us see the child,” but rather, the word which has come to pass. That is, let us see how the Word, which was from the beginning, has been made flesh for us, since this very Word is the Lord. For it follows, Which the Lord has made, and has shown to us; that is, let us see how the Lord has made Himself and has shown His flesh to us.

St. Ambrose of Milan: How remarkably Scripture weighs the importance of each word. For when we behold the flesh of the Lord, we behold the Word, which is the Son. Do not let this seem to you a slight example of faith because of the humble character of the shepherds, for simplicity is sought, not pride. It follows, And they came in haste. For no one seeks Christ slothfully.

Origen of Alexandria: But because they came in haste, and not with loitering steps, it follows, They found Mary (that is, she who had brought Jesus into the world), and Joseph (that is, the guardian of our Lord’s birth), and the babe lying in the manger (that is, the Savior Himself).

The Venerable Bede: It seems to follow in due order that after rightly celebrating the incarnation of the Word, we should finally come to behold the actual glory of that Word. Hence it follows: But when they saw it, they made known the word which had been spoken to them.

Greek Expositors: Beholding with hidden faith the happy events that had been told to them, they were not content merely with marveling at the reality of those things they first saw and embraced when the Angel spoke. They began to relate them not only to Mary and Joseph but to others as well, impressing them on their minds, as it follows: And all who heard it marveled.

For how could it be otherwise, at the sight of one of the heavenly host on earth, and earth at peace, reconciled to heaven? That ineffable Child was binding all things into one: heavenly things by His divinity, and earthly things by His humanity. By this conjunction of Himself, He was effecting a wonderful union!

Glossa Ordinaria: They marvel not only at the mystery of the incarnation but also at such a wonderful testimony from the shepherds—men who could not have invented these unheard-of things, but were proclaiming the truth with simple eloquence.

St. Ambrose of Milan: Do not consider the words of the shepherds to be lowly or despicable, for from the shepherds Mary increases her faith, as it follows: Mary kept all these sayings, and pondered them in her heart.

Let us learn the chastity of the sacred Virgin in all things. She, who was no less chaste in her words than in her body, gathered up in her heart the materials of faith.

The Venerable Bede: For, keeping the laws of virgin modesty, she who had known the secrets of Christ would divulge them to no one. Instead, comparing what she had read in prophecy with what she now acknowledged had taken place, she did not utter them with her mouth but preserved them sealed in her heart.

Greek Expositors: Whatever the Angel had said to her, whatever she had heard from Zacharias, Elizabeth, and the shepherds, she collected it all in her mind. Comparing them, she perceived one harmony in it all. Truly, He who was born of her was God.

St. Athanasius of Alexandria: But everyone rejoiced in the nativity of Christ, not with human feelings, as people are accustomed to rejoice when a son is born, but at the presence of Christ and the radiance of the Divine light. As it follows: And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for every thing they had heard, etc.

The Venerable Bede: That is to say, they praised God for what they had heard from the Angels and for what they had seen in Bethlehem, just as it was told to them. They glorified God because when they came, they found everything just as it had been told. For the Angels had instructed them to do this, not by a direct command, but by setting before them an example of devotion when they sang, Glory to God in the highest.

To speak mystically, let the shepherds of spiritual flocks—indeed, all the faithful—follow the example of these shepherds. Let us go in thought to Bethlehem and celebrate the incarnation of Christ with due honor. Let us go, casting aside all fleshly lusts, with the whole desire of our minds to the heavenly Bethlehem (that is, the house of the living bread), so that we may be worthy to see Him, who was seen crying in the manger, reigning on His Father's throne.

Such bliss is not to be sought with sloth and idleness; rather, we must eagerly follow the footsteps of Christ. When they saw Him, they knew Him. Let us also hasten to embrace with the fullness of our love those things that were spoken of our Savior, so that when the time comes for us to see with perfect knowledge, we may be able to comprehend them.

Again, the shepherds of the Lord’s flock, by contemplating the life of the fathers who went before them (which preserved the bread of life), enter, as it were, the gates of Bethlehem. There they find none other than the virgin beauty of the Church (that is, Mary), the manly company of spiritual doctors (that is, Joseph), and the lowly coming of Christ contained in the pages of Holy Scripture (that is, the infant Christ, laid in the manger).

Origen of Alexandria: That was the manger which Israel did not know, according to those words of Isaiah: The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master’s crib.

The Venerable Bede: The shepherds did not hide in silence what they knew, because the Shepherds of the Church have been ordained for this purpose: that they might explain to their hearers what they have learned in the Scriptures.

The masters of the spiritual flocks also, while others sleep, at one time enter the heavenly places through contemplation; at another time, they seek out the examples of the faithful; and at another time, they return to the public duties of the pastoral office through teaching.

Every one of us, even the one who is supposed to live as a private person, exercises the office of a shepherd if, by keeping together a multitude of good actions and pure thoughts, he strives to rule them with due moderation, feed them with the food of the Scriptures, and preserve them from the snares of the devil.