A pair of turtle doves
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Luke 2:21-40
Luke 2:21-40
21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
Maybe we have lost more of the Biblical traditions than we realize. Today lets examine scripture in light of what was and what will be!
In Luke’s account of this passage we notice that Jesus is born, but it wasn’t until the eighth day that His official name was given.
In Matthews account Matthew 1:21 we learn that Mary will bring forth a son, and shall call His name Jesus.
What purpose? The Text tells us “For He shall save His people from their sins.”
“21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
The name Jesus, Means “Savior!”
It is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew name Joshua, or Jeshua! Meaning Yahweh saves!
Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Jesus Christ
Or “salvation is from Yahweh” (
Scripture tells us that the name was assigned from God, and later announced by the angels, rejoiced by the shepherds, and blessed by the those dedicated ones of the temple of God that were waiting to see the consolation of Israel.
But why must the Savior of the world go through this formal process, legal process?
Our Savior went through every legal process to obey the law, not because He was a sinner, but to place upon Himself the whole law.
Scripture says this in Philippians 2:4–8
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
To be able to take on the sins of the world, Christ needed to fulfill all righteousness of those that are under the laws restraints.
Galatians 4:4 “4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”
Galatians 4:5 “5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
Galatians 5:3 “3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.”
To be that debtor of the law and to free men of that debt He must be found without sin!
Thus, fulfilling all righteousness was necessary!
After Christ does fulfill all righteousness of the law, and being found without sin, He becomes the standard of sinlessness. He becomes the symbol that all people must follow!
Colossians 2:11 “11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:”
The first step in that process was Christ must be circumcised on the eight day!
Matthew 3:15 “15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”
The Bible is clear that God sent for His Son, made under the law, to redeem fallen man!
So what is the circumcision of Christ mean?
This was a symbolic act of removal of the body of sin, just was John’s baptism in our mind wasn’t necessary yet it was necessary.
Baptism - is symbolic of dying to self, and the death of the old way, and rising out of the water symbolic of conquering sin death and hell for all those that believe on His name!
Literally the resurrection of life from death!
So circumcision, on Christ was a symbolic act of cutting away the flesh of the old way, or the bloody removal of the body of sin.
Circumcision was the symbol of the Abrahamic Covenant in which God was going to fulfill through the nation that God was going to make of the descendance of Abraham.
The Redeemer was going to redeem fallen man by cutting a way of the old flesh, and making a new heart from the heart of stone.
But in doing this great work, it was going to cost a great price! That price was bloody! It cost the Messiah His life’s blood!
This covenant was to be performed on the eighth day! Why the eighth day?
Maybe it was the eighth day in which the fall took place? Sin entered perfection, and it was going to cost the Holy One of God to sanctify fallen man!
Christ fulfilled all righteousness but it started in Jerusalem!
Christ Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day! Luke 2:21–23
21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
This passage is a reminder that Jesus Christ was holy before the Lord God, and was wholly dedicated unto the Lord!
2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
12 That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord’s.
13 Because
the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the Lord.
Now that Jesus was formally dedicated in the eyes of man, and God… He must be about the Father’s business.
Circumcision was the first step, the second step was the offering of the child to God!
2. The Offering to God a sacrifice worthy of the Lamb of God! Luke 2:24
24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
According to scripture this offering was that of a poor woman.
The law’s command was that of a lamb as the sacrifice, but if the woman could not afford the lamb then she could offer two turtledoves or pigeons.
Leviticus 12:8 “8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”
Accordingly the sacrifice that is always worthy of the Messiah would be a willing heart to do whatever is asked of you to do!
Throughout scripture the dove or turtle-dove has been a symbol of peace, innocence, gentleness, love, and dedication!
Harper’s Bible Dictionary Turtledove
Turtledove, a small wild pigeon (Streptopelia turtur). This bird migrates through Israel in the spring on the way from its winter quarters in Africa to its breeding areas in Europe.
Harper’s Bible Dictionary Turtledove
The Hebrew name (tōr) reflects its typical ‘tur-tur-tur’ call.
The turtledove is mentioned in the Bible mainly as a sacrifice (
In scripture the turtle-dove is in need of protection, is innocent, often exposed to enemies but with God’s help protected from harm, and a symbol of the poor and needy!
19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: Forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
Wild pigeons were extremely numerous in Palestine, with multiple turtle-dove species residing in the Jordan Valley.
The common turtle-dove would migrate, leaving in winter and returning in massive numbers in early April.
Doves symbolize the renewal of life, appearing in the flood narrative where the dove signals the receding of waters and the possibility of new life.
8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.
So the dove was sent out three time from the ark. As the scripture notes for us on the second time the dove was sent out the dove returned with an olive-leaf.
From that time on the dove holding an olive-leaf has been a symbol of peace and prosperity for the new year.
When Jesus was baptised the Spirit descended from above looking like a dove!
Matthew 3:16 “16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:”
According authors note,
The Animals Mentioned in the Bible Dove (Heb. יוֹנָה yonah)
No other living thing being so fit an emblem of Christ’s lovingkindness.
When Jesus accomplished all things, He went to heaven to prepare a place for us, “That were I am, there ye maybe also!”
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Later in the chapter of John 14, He tells us that His Spirit brings peace, which is also called the Comforter!
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
This Spirit that is symbolic of peace, comfort, beauty, faithfulness, dedication, and harmlessness!
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Doves are known for their faithfulness to one partner. So much so that they are known as a dove that mourns Isaiah 38:14
14 Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: Mine eyes fail with looking upward: O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me.
Ultimately the pair of turtle-doves were symbolic of the covenant keeping God.
The Animals Mentioned in the Bible Dove (Heb. יוֹנָה yonah)
Like the pigeon, the turtle-dove was a symbol of purity, from its habit of pairing for life, and was ordained as an appropriate sacrifice. The turtle here spoken of as a migrant is the same that visits this country also in the summer.
The Animals Mentioned in the Bible Dove (Heb. יוֹנָה yonah)
Probably the palm turtle and the collared turtle helped to supply the birds requisite for sacrificial purposes. It may be presumed that ‘young pigeons’ were permitted, because it was possible to catch them from their nests amongst the rocks at almost any time of the year.
No wonder after this sacrifice of the turtle-dove, God brings two testimonials to Mary and Joseph.
Simeon and Anna the prophetess!
Both testimonials were necessary!
Luke 2:25 “25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.”
Since the dove represents the Spirit, it is no wonder that the Spirit of God does this next!
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
And the result for Simeon was the Spirit of peace!
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart In peace, according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
During the sacrifice of the turtle-doves also Anna the prophetess came to give a blessing and revealed similarly that God would use Jesus to bring about the redemption of the people of Israel and the Gentile world!
38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
Conclusion: God used this symbol of the turtle-dove to remind the people of Israel that God would bring peace, joy, happiness, through the covenant that God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!
This same God made a New Covenant, but first He must fulfill the Old Covenant.
He fulfilled all things but first that symbolic sword was going to pierce hearts of souls and reveal the hearts of many!
Psalm 42:10 “10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; While they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?”
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
The peace came from His ultimate sacrifice, and the turtle-doves will forever be linked with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
