John Calvin Commentary Luke 2:10

"And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:" — Luke 2:10 (ASV)

Fear not. The design of this exhortation is to alleviate their fear. For, though it is profitable for people's minds to be struck with awe, so that they may learn to give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name (Psalms 29:2), yet they also need consolation, so that they may not be completely overwhelmed. The majesty of God would inevitably swallow up the whole world if there were not some gentleness to mitigate the terror it brings.

And so the reprobate fall down lifeless at the sight of God, because he appears to them in no other character than that of a judge. But to revive the minds of the shepherds, the angel declares that he was sent to them for a different purpose: to announce to them the mercy of God. When people hear this single message—that God is reconciled to them—it not only raises up those who have fallen, but restores those who were ruined, and recalls them from death to life.

The angel opens his discourse by saying that he announces great joy, and next assigns the basis of joy: that a Savior is born. These words show us, first, that until people have peace with God, and are reconciled to him through the grace of Christ, all the joy that they experience is deceitful and of short duration.¹⁴⁷ Ungodly people frequently indulge in frantic and intoxicating mirth; but if there is no one to make peace between them and God, the hidden stings of conscience must produce fearful torment. Besides, to whatever extent they may flatter themselves in luxurious indulgence, their own lusts are so many tormentors.

The beginning of solid joy is to perceive the fatherly love of God toward us, which alone gives tranquility to our minds. And this joy, in which, Paul tells us, the kingdom of God consists, is in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). By calling it great joy, the angel shows us not only that we ought to rejoice above all things in the salvation brought to us by Christ, but also that this blessing is so great and boundless as to fully compensate for all the pains, distresses, and anxieties of the present life. Let us learn to be so delighted with Christ alone that the perception of his grace may overcome, and eventually remove from us, all the distresses of the flesh.¹⁴⁸

Which shall be to all the people. Though the angel addresses the shepherds alone, yet he plainly states that the message of salvation which he brings is of wider extent, so that not only they, in their private capacity, may hear it, but that others may also hear. Now let it be understood that this joy was common to all people because it was indiscriminately offered to all. For God had promised Christ, not to one person or to another, but to the whole seed of Abraham. If the Jews were deprived, for the most part, of the joy that was offered to them, it arose from their unbelief; just as, today, God invites all indiscriminately to salvation through the Gospel, but the ingratitude of the world is the reason why this grace, which is equally offered to all, is enjoyed by few.

Although this joy is confined to a few people, yet, with respect to God, it is said to be common. When the angel says that this joy shall be to all the people, he speaks of the chosen people only; but now that the middle wall of partition (Ephesians 2:14) has been thrown down, the same message has reference to the whole human race.¹⁴⁹ For Christ proclaims peace not only to them that are nigh, but to them that are far off (Ephesians 2:17), to strangers (Ephesians 2:12) equally with citizens. But as the peculiar covenant with the Jews lasted until the resurrection of Christ, so the angel separates them from the rest of the nations.

¹⁴⁷ “Ce n'est que fumee;” — “it is only smoke.”;” — “it is only smoke.”

¹⁴⁸ “Parquoy apprenons de prendre tellement notre contentement en Christ seul, que le sentiment de sa grace nous face surmonter toutes choses qui sont dures a la chair, et finalement en oste toute l'amertume.”— “Wherefore, let us learn to take our satisfaction, in such a manner, in Christ alone, that the feeling of his grace may make us rise above all things that are unpleasant to the flesh, and finally may take away all their bitterness.”.”— “Wherefore, let us learn to take our satisfaction, in such a manner, in Christ alone, that the feeling of his grace may make us rise above all things that are unpleasant to the flesh, and finally may take away all their bitterness.”

¹⁴⁹ “Au reste, il est bien vray que l'ange parle seulement du peuple esleu, assavoir des Juifs; mais pourceque maintenant la paroy qui faisoit separation est rompue, la mesme ambassade s'addresse aujourdhui a tout le genre humain.” — “Besides, it is very true that the angel speaks only of the elect people, namely, the Jews; but because now the wall of partition which made a separation is broken down, the same message is addressed, at the present day, to all the human race.”.” — “Besides, it is very true that the angel speaks only of the elect people, namely, the Jews; but because now the wall of partition which made a separation is broken down, the same message is addressed, at the present day, to all the human race.”