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Luke 2:14 - Glory to God and Peace to His Children.

Luke 2:14 (NLT) Glory to God in highest 
heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is 
pleased.  

Luke 2:14 (CWR) Glory to God in the 
highest! Peace on earth to those who love God and 
with whom He is pleased. 

INTRODUCTION

This one-verse hymn has been titled the 
Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Latin for "glory to God in 
the highest"). [Believers SB] 

This brief hymn is called the Gloria in 
Excelsis Deo, from the first words of the Latin 
Vulgate translation (meaning "Glory to God in the 
Highest"). The angels recognized the glory and majesty 
of God by giving praise to him. [NIV SB] 

The story of Jesus' birth resounds with 
music that has inspired composers for 2,000 years. 
The angels' song is an all-time favorite. Often 
called the 'Gloria' after its first word in the 
Latin translation, it is the basis of modern 
choral works, traditional Christmas carols, and 
ancient liturgical chants. [Life Application SB] 

Peace is not assured to all, but only to 
those pleasing to God--the objects of his good 
pleasure (see Luke's use of the words "pleased" and 
"pleasure" elsewhere: 3:22; 10:21; 12:32). The Roman 
world was experiencing the  ("Roman 
Peace"), marked by external tranquility. But the 
angels proclaimed a deeper, more lasting peace than 
that--a peace of mind and soul made possible by the 
Savior (v. 11). Peace with God is received by faith 
in Christ (Ro 5:1), and it is on believers that 
"his favor rests." The Davidic Messiah was called 
"Prince of Peace" (Isa 9:6), and Christ promised 
peace to his disciples (Jn 14:27). But Christ also 
brought conflict (the "sword"; see Mt 10:34-36; cf. 
Lk 12:49), for peace with God involves 
opposition to Satan and his work (Jas 4:4). [NIV SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

Wheres the Peace?
   The message of the angels to the 
shepherds was, Glory to God in the highest, and on 
earth peace, goodwill toward men! (Luke 2:14 
NKJV). Peace on earth. When we look at all the wars 
and conflicts in the world today, we wonder 
where the peace is. 
   But a better translation of the angels 
statement would be, Glory to God in the highest, 
and peace on earth among men with whom God is 
well pleased. When our lives are well-pleasing 
to God, well have peace. But before we can 
have the peace of God, we must have peace with 
God. 
   If we dont believe in Jesus, then we 
are, effectively, enemies of God. Were at war 
with God. That comes as a shock to some people. 
They might say, I believe in the man upstairs, 
in the good Lord. But theyre still at war 
with God because their sin separates them from 
Him. 
   I remember when I first heard Jesuss 
words, He who is not with Me is against Me 
(Matthew 12:30 NKJV). As a nonbeliever, I looked 
around at the Christians in the meeting I was 
attending on my high school campus and thought, 
Well, Im not one of them. Does that mean Im 
against Him? 
   I didnt want to be at war with God.
   That was the day I believed in Jesus. I 
remember feeling like a huge weight had been lifted 
off my shoulders. And for the first time in my 
life, I found the peace that God promises for each 
of us. 
   Jesus came to give us life in all its 
fullness. He said, I have come that they may have 
life, and that they may have it more abundantly 
(John 10:10 NKJV). He has the meaning of life. You 
can live life to its fullest in a relationship 
with Jesus Christ. [Greg Laurie from Harvest 
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

COMMENTARY

   God has given us His holy precepts, 
because He loves mankind. To shield us from the 
results of transgression, He reveals the principles 
of righteousness. The law is an expression of 
the thought of God; when received in Christ, it 
becomes our thought. It lifts us above the power of 
natural desires and tendencies, above temptations 
that lead to sin. God desires us to be happy, and 
He gave us the precepts of the law that in 
obeying them we might have joy. When at Jesus 
birth the angels sang, 
      Glory to God in the highest,
      And on earth peace, good will toward 
men (Luke 2:14), 
they were declaring the principles of the 
law which He had come to magnify and make 
honorable. 
   When the law was proclaimed from Sinai, 
God made known to men the holiness of His 
character, that by contrast they might see the 
sinfulness of their own. The law was given to convict 
them of sin, and reveal their need of a Saviour. 
It would do this as its principles were applied 
to the heart by the Holy Spirit. This work it 
is still to do. In the life of Christ the 
principles of the law are made plain; and as the Holy 
Spirit of God touches the heart, as the light of 
Christ reveals to men their need of His cleansing 
blood and His justifying righteousness, the law is 
still an agent in bringing us to Christ, that we 
may be justified by faith. The law of the 
Lord is perfect, converting the soul. Psalm 
19:7. DA308 

   The announcement of the Kingdom is good 
news. The King's advent into this world may be 
traumatic - it certainly requires a response - but 
it's the best thing that could possibly happen 
for the human race. And when heavenly messengers 
declared it, they gave Him glory and declared peace 
for His people. It was more than the 
embellishment of praise; it was a blessing for us to 
accept, agree with, and live in. 
   Peace. Shalom. That fullness of life 
we've been longing for. The abundance of 
overflowing goodness. The wholeness and healing and 
restoration we need. That sense that everything in my 
corner of the world is okay, all is well, life is 
as it should be. We crave that state of being 
constantly, and even experience it in brief moments. But 
the angels said it's ours. It's a gift for those 
on whom His favor rests, for those with whom He 
is pleased. 
   That's what the coming of Jesus means to 
us. Later, a voice from heaven would tell us to 
listen to Him, but that's a response that comes 
after we know who He is. First, the heavenly 
message gives us the simplicity of good news. Jesus 
did not come with a list of demands. He did not 
come with grievances or judgments or more hoops 
to jump through. The King did not come in this 
world to tell us to do a better job of measuring 
up. He came to say this: The shalom you've been 
looking for is here. 
   Do you believe that? Not many people do, 
even among 'believers" who claim to believe it. 
Christianity has become for many a burden, as if the 
Spirit puts more on our shoulders rather than 
setting us free. But the Good News of the Kingdom 
was heralded among overworked and overlooked 
shepherds in the fields as an answer for their 
longings. And if we really understand the heart of 
God, well receive it in exactly the same way. 
   What do you long for? Somewhere at the 
root of that desire is a true, deep, God-given 
question, and the answer is thoroughly given in the 
One who came. His favor is here. Your truest 
longings can be fulfilled. His peace is given to you. 
[The One Year Heaven On Earth Devotional by Chris 
Tiegreen] 

CLOSING PEARL

   During the Christmas season, I usually 
hang a simple marquee sign that lights up the 
word PEACE across our carport. Until this year. 
When I turned it on, it read ACE. I have another 
marquee sign for the bookcase next to our fireplace 
that reads JOY. It was also losing bulbs. I 
thought I could change some out and have either 
PEACE or JOY instead of ACE and OY. I switched out 
the bulbs, but now, neither of them lights up. 
So I decided that I would buy some new marquee 
lighting spelling HOPE. The letters arrived 
yesterday. No H. Just OPE. 
   This seems to be a reflection of my life. 
Searching for complete peace, joy, and hope, but not 
quite there yet. I think that is where Jesus comes 
in. Into my brokenness. Our brokenness. With the 
brightness of His love. The One Who was born in a 
stable, amid the muck and bellow of animal cries, is 
used to bringing peace, joy, and hope into our 
messy lives. He does it with angel choirs and 
brilliant stars and extravagant gifts. Loving us right 
where we are. Bringing His glory and holiness when 
we have none of our own, so that we can stand 
together, loved and restored. Holding out our hands to 
the heavens, we can shout, "It's so good that 
You came!" and "What in the world would we do 
without You?" 
   It is because of Jesus and His presence 
in our lives that, on this cold December 
morning, we can have truckloads of OY, an 
overwhelming sense of OPE, and an all-encompassing 
blanket of ACE on earth, good will toward men. by 
Susanna Foth Aughtmon 
   Faith Step: Step outside into the cold, 
raise your hands in the air, and thank Jesus for 
the peace, joy, and hope that He has showered 
down on your life. [Mornings With Jesus 2019 
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC

Romans 5:1, 2 - Peace Beyond Human 
Understanding. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201201-1130.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study 
Guides: 
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/  

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657  

Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The 
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE