What does Luke 2:24 mean?
Israel was given a series of laws related to ceremonial purity. These were not necessarily matters of morality—meaning sins—but rather symbols of the holiness which God expects of His people. One of those laws involved childbirth and required purification rites (Leviticus 12:2). As faithful Israelites, Joseph and Mary follow these instructions after the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1–7). In this case, that means going to the temple in Jerusalem to present their sacrifice (Luke 2:22).Mosaic law presented two options for this purification. The ideal sacrifice was a lamb, but the Law made exceptions for those unable to afford that (Leviticus 12:8). According to this verse, Jesus' family offers the two birds allowed for those too poor to offer a lamb. This corresponds to the humble nature of Jesus' earthly life, and His lack of both wealth and property (Luke 9:58).