Luke 2:20
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
LUKE 2:20
The shepherds’response in Luke 2:20 closes the Nativity narrative from the vantage point of ordinary people who witness the extraordinary. After the angelic proclamation and the heavenly chorus, the shepherds go to Bethlehem, verify what they’ve heard by what they’ve seen, and then return to their fields praising God. Luke emphasizes eyewitness reliability: they “saw” the baby and “heard” the message, and now their lives are transformed into a living testimony. This scene reflects Luke’s broader theme: the gospel moves from the margins (shepherds, the humblest witnesses) to all, breaking in through God’s initiative rather than human prestige. Culturally, shepherds were considered lower-status and ritually suspect by some, yet Luke elevates their witness, underscoring that God’s good news comes to those who listen with faith, no matter their station. The phrase “for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them” ties the narrative to the announced pattern: God speaks, humans hear, and faithful response yields praise. Theologically, this is a hinge between announcement and worship.
The verse highlights the proper response to divine revelation: worship. The shepherds’ glorifying and praising God is not mere sentiment but a Mountaintop moment that becomes a model for every believer. It affirms the truthfulness of proclamation: what God decrees, He enables witnesses to declare. The scene also foregrounds incarnation as the means by which humanity encounters God’s redemptive plan; praise arises when God’s promises intersect human experience in Jesus. In Luke’s broader theology, joy, proclamation, and obedience are linked. The shepherds’ story foreshadows the universal call to witness: those who encounter Christ are compelled to share, even as they worship. This passage also subtly critiques superficial religiosity by showing genuine response from unlikely people, reinforcing that salvation is by grace received by those who respond in faith.
Like the shepherds, we are invited to verify what we’ve heard with what we’ve seen in Christ—through Scripture, prayer, and community. When you encounter a truth about Jesus, let your response be praise that flows into everyday living: generosity, integrity, and joyful service. Practically, you can adopt a “glory-on-the-go” rhythm—carry a note of praise in your phone or journal, and share a brief encouragement with someone at work or in your family. If you’ve recently witnessed God’s faithfulness—provision, healing, or guidance—record it and retell it as a witness to others. The shepherds’ posture teaches us that worship is not a one-time event but a continual lifestyle: give thanks, recount God’s faithfulness, and let that gratitude shape your decisions, your work, and your relationships. Move from “what happened” to “how I respond”—with praise, faith, and practical generosity.
Cross-References: Luke 1:39–45; Luke 2:8–20; Acts 2:46–47; Psalm 100; Colossians 3:15