Luke 2:14 (KJV)

What does this mean?

The angels have just announced Jesus' birth to shepherds on a hillside at night, and suddenly the sky fills with a great company of them, all praising God. Their song gives glory to God in the highest heaven, and then announces peace on earth, and 'good will toward men,' which means God's kindness and favor toward people. Christians read that last line in slightly different ways, as God's goodwill shown to all people or as peace for those he favors, but the heart of it is the same: God's glory above, and his peace and goodwill below.

What does this teach us?

God's glory and our peace belong together. The angels do not sing about peace as a human achievement; they sing it as God's gift, announced from heaven on the night his Son was born.

How can we apply this?

If peace feels far away this Christmas, listen again to the angels' song: glory to God, peace on earth. Let the song do its work today — praise God for who he is, and then carry one small piece of his peace into a tense room, a hard conversation, or a worried heart.

Related KJV passages

• “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

  Luke 2:10-11

• “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

  Isaiah 9:6

• “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

  John 14:27