A Visit to the Temple

I will continue my look at Luke 2 today, by talking about the visit to the temple, where Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus encounter Simeon, a righteous man of God that had been waiting to see God's salvation. 

According to Darrell Bock, this visit to the temple is forty days after Jesus' birth.  (Bock, 234) He explains that according to Leviticus a mother was unclean for seven days and then was confined for an additional thirty-three days for a time of purification.  (Leviticus 12:2-6).  After the time of purification was complete, then the mother would go to the priest to present an offering. The offering was to be a lamb for the burnt offering and a dove or pigeon for the sin offering. But the law allowed for the poor to offer two birds, rather than a lamb and a bird.  Luke 2:24 indicates that Joseph and Mary made the poor offering of two birds. 

Jesus was their first-born, (but also the first-born of creation. (Col 1:15)) Now, according to Exodus 13:2, 12, every first-born male, whether human or animal, was to be consecrated to the Lord, and Jesus fulfills this idea of firstborn in more than one way.  This presentation at the temple, after the time of purification was completed, shows that Joseph and Mary were pious, law-abiding Jews. 

Joseph and Mary are met in the temple by Simeon.  Simeon is described by Luke as devout and righteous, and Luke also says that he had been promised that he would not die until he saw the Messiah.  So he has been led by the Spirit to the temple on the day that Jesus is brought there to be presented to the Lord. Simeon takes Jesus into his arms and praises God. Simeon now, in seeing Jesus, is seeing God’s salvation.  These two things can’t be separated.  But now Simeon can die in peace knowing that God has kept his promise.Simeon seems to recognize that this salvation is for Israel, but not just for Israel.  In his song of praise he says this salvation is in the ‘sight of all nations,’ and is "a light for revelation to the Gentiles." (Luke 2:31-32)

Simeon uses the word ἡτοίμασας (aytoimasas) in regard to this salvation.  He is speaking to God in praise.  It is 2nd person singular aorist active indicative meaning "You have prepared."  Simeon is saying that God has made salvation through Jesus. In his praise of God we see light (to the Gentiles) and glory (to Israel) come together.  (Compare with Isa. 60:1-3)  Jesus is bringing light and the glory of God into the world.  In Jesus, this iinfant that Simeon is holding, God is acting on behalf of his people. 

Then Simeon speaks specifically to Mary. He tells her things about Jesus. First, that Jesus would cause many to rise and others to fall in  Israel.  Which he does.  For example, simple fishermen rise to become powerful religious leaders.  Simeon also tells Mary that Jesus would someday lead to her own heartbreak somewhere along the way.  A sword would pierce her own soul. (Not soemthing that you would really want to hear, never-the-less, it was true.)  Finally, Simeon tells Mary that Jesus would reveal the thoughts of many hearts.  This is also true.  Jesus and his word reveal people’s hearts. Jesus revealed hearts then and His Word reveals hearts now.  Next post will look at the rest of the visit to the temple. 

Tom