Harmony of the Gospels
-5-4 BC-
Bethlehem
(10) Jesus’ Circumcision
(Leviticus 12:3) Luke 2:21
Circumcision was the sign that God gave to His covenant people, Israel. Every male child was to be circumcised when they were eight days old. “Then God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendents after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendents after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male child among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision and it will be the sign of the covenant before me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised…..” (Genesis 17:9-12)
And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. (Leviticus 12.3)
Jesus did not come to do away with the Law, but to fulfil it. He was born under the Mosaic Law and He followed the Law.
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise Him, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived, (Luke 2:21)
When He was eight days old Mary and Joseph took Him to be circumcised and they called His name Jesus, just as the angel had instructed them.