John Calvin Commentary Luke 2:8

"And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock." — Luke 2:8 (ASV)

And there were shepherds. It would have been to no purpose that Christ was born in Bethlehem if it had not been made known to the world.

But the method of doing so, which Luke describes, appears to men very unsuitable. First, Christ is revealed only to a few witnesses, and that amidst the darkness of night. Again, though God had many honorable and distinguished witnesses at His command, He passed by them and chose shepherds, persons of humble rank, and of no account among men.

Here the reason and wisdom of the flesh prove to be foolishness; and we must acknowledge that the foolishness of God (1 Corinthians 1:25) excels all the wisdom that exists, or appears to exist, in the world.

But this also was a part of the emptying of himself (Philippians 2:6)—not that any part of Christ’s glory would be taken away by it, but that it would lie concealed for a time.

Again, as Paul reminds us, the gospel is mean according to the flesh, that our faith should stand in the power of the Spirit, not in the lofty¹⁴² words of human wisdom, or in any worldly splendor¹⁴³ (1 Corinthians 2:4–5). So this inestimable treasure has been deposited by God from the beginning in earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7), so that He might more fully test the obedience of our faith.

If then we desire to come to Christ, let us not be ashamed to follow those whom the Lord, in order to cast down the pride of the world, has taken from among the dung¹⁴⁴ of cattle to be our instructors.

¹⁴² “En paroles magnifiques;” — “in magnificent words.”;” — “in magnificent words.”

¹⁴³ “En quelque lustre et apparence du monde;” — “in any luster and display of the world.”;” — “in any luster and display of the world.”

¹⁴⁴ “Ex pecudum stercore;” — “;” — “sur la fiente des bestes.”.”