Luke 2:21-38
Luke 2:21
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
before he was conceived
The name was told to Mary prior to conception; when Joseph was told the name, Jesus had already been conceived. This fulfills the pattern set by Zechariah and Elizabeth with John, as well as that set by Manoah and his wife, the parents of Samson: in all three cases, vital information is given to the mother first, exalting the humble.
Luke 1:59-63
And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John." And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.
Judges 13:13
And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, "Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful...."
Luke 2:22
And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
Luke 2:23
(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
it is written
Exodus 13:1-2
The LORD said to Moses, "Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine."
Exodus 13:14-15
And when in time to come your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' you shall say to him, 'By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.'
Luke 2:24
and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons
Leviticus 12:2, 6–8
Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days....
And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, and he shall offer it before the LORD and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean."
Luke 2:25
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Luke 2:26
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
revealed
The Greek here indicates he had been asking (ἦν αὐτῷ κεχρηματισμένον). This same word is used when the wise men are warned not to return to Herod (Matthew 2:12), when Joseph was warned to flee Herod (Matthew 2:22), and when Cornelius was directed to send for Peter (Acts 10:22).
Luke 2:27
And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
Luke 2:28
he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
Luke 2:29
"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart
in peace, according to your word;
Luke 2:30
for my eyes have seen your salvation
Luke 2:31
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
Luke 2:32
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel."
Isaiah 49:1, 5-6
Listen to me, O coastlands,
and give attention, you peoples from afar.
The LORD called me from the womb,
from the body of my mother he named my name.
...
And now the LORD says,
he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him;
and that Israel might be gathered to him--
for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD,
and my God has become my strength--
he says:
"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to bring back the preserved of Israel;
I will make you as a light for the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Isaiah 9:1–2, 6–7
...In the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
...
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Luke 2:33
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
Luke 2:34
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
"Behold, this child is appointed
for the fall and rising
of many in Israel,
and for a sign that is opposed
rising
The Greek for "rising" (ἀνάστασις) is the same as for "resurrection." Luke 20:27 is an example (cited below).
opposed
Literally, contradicted (ἀντιλέγω). Compare:
-
Luke 20:27, There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection....
-
Acts 28:22, "But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against."
-
Titus 1:9, He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Luke 2:35
(and a sword will pierce through
your own soul also),
so that thoughts from many hearts
may be revealed."
sword
Revelation 1:16
In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Hebrews 4:11-13
Let us strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
your own soul
That is, Mary's (σοῦ δὲ αὐτῆς τὴν ψυχὴν).
Luke 2:36
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,
Luke 2:37
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
1 Timothy 5:5-6, 11-15
She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.
...But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan.
Luke 2:38
And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
redemption
A redemption (λύτρωσις) is paying to get someone or something released, whether from prison, slavery, or a lien. At its root, this word in Greek comes from the word for untying or releasing (λύω).
Luke 1:68
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people....
Luke 24:19-21
And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel...."
Matthew 20:26-28
...Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Hebrews 9:12
He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
Titus 2:11-14
The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions....
Jesus Christ...gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.