Just as the story of John the Baptist’s birth began in the temple (1:5-25), so the story of Jesus’ birth culminates in the temple. In obedience to the dictates of Jewish law, Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to God (see Exodus 13:2-16) and offered a sacrifice for the ritual purification of Mary (see Leviticus 12:2-6).

In the temple, Simeon approached Jesus and delivered a prophecy, describing Jesus as “the Savior” (2:30 nlt). Anna joined in, praising God for the baby Jesus. Their testimony confirmed at least seven different prophecies surrounding Jesus’ birth (1:17, 31-33, 42-45, 68-76; 2:10-14, 28-32, 38). These prophecies, one after another, proclaim Jesus their Savior, Deliverer, and Lord. Like Anna, believers should join their voices with these witnesses, praising God for providing salvation through his beloved Son, Jesus.

2:21-24 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 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 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.“^NRSV To understand these times and ceremonies, it will help to understand the background. Jewish families went through several ceremonies soon after a baby’s birth:

1. Circumcision. Every Jewish boy was circumcised and named on the eighth day after birth (Leviticus 12:3; Luke 1:59-60). Circumcision symbolized the Jews’ separation from Gentiles and their unique relationship with God (Genesis 17:9-14). So after eight days had passed, Mary and Joseph took the child to be circumcised. They named him Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb (1:31). They did not go to Jerusalem for this ceremony; instead, a local priest most likely performed it.
2. Redemption of the firstborn. A firstborn son was presented to God one month after birth (Exodus 13:2, 11-16; Numbers 18:15-16). The ceremony included buying back—”redeeming”—the child from God through an offering. Through this, the parents would acknowledge that the child belonged to God, who alone has the power to give life. Luke explained for his Gentile audience that this command came from the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord” as taken from Exodus 13:2, 12, 15 and Numbers 18:15. So Mary and Joseph brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
3. Purification of the mother. For forty days after the birth of a son and eighty days after the birth of a daughter, the mother was ceremonially unclean and could not enter the temple. So when the time came for their purification, that is, at the end of Mary’s time of separation, they went to the temple to present Jesus to the Lord (#2 above) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law (as part of #3). Mary and Joseph were to bring an offering—a lamb for a burnt offering and a dove or pigeon for a sin offering. The priest would sacrifice these animals and declare the woman to be clean. If a lamb was too expensive, the parents could bring a second dove or pigeon instead. This is what Mary and Joseph did.

2:25-26 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.^NRSV Luke introduced another person who would be divinely told of the Messiah’s arrival and who would confirm the baby’s identity. His name is Simeon. He was spiritually in tune with God: righteous, devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, with the Holy Spirit resting on him. His occupation is unknown. He had all his life held on to God’s promise of a coming deliverer, so through the Holy Spirit, God promised that Simeon would not die before seeing the Lord’s Messiah. The “consolation of Israel” was another way of describing the Messiah. See Anna’s prophecy in 2:38 where the faithful are called those waiting for “the redemption of Jerusalem.” “Consolation” refers to the restoration of Israel as a nation; the word comes from Isaiah 40:1; 49:13; 51:3; 57:18; 66:10-11. Simeon, a righteous, devout, and Spirit-filled man who hoped in the future God had promised, stands forever in Scripture as a model of devotion and faithfulness to God.

2:27-32 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”^NIV When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to present him to the Lord (2:22), Simeon also went into the temple courts, having been moved by the Spirit to be there on this particular day. God was ordaining this meeting, in keeping with his promise to Simeon (2:26).

Mary and Joseph arrived in the temple to do for [Jesus] what the custom of the Law required. This obedience to the Old Testament law is mentioned several times in Luke. It points out Jesus’ credentials as one who obeyed the law, even from birth, because his parents did exactly as they were commanded. At the temple, Mary and Joseph met an old man who took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God. The Spirit led Simeon to recognize this baby as the “consolation of Israel . . . the Lord’s Messiah” (2:25-26).

Simeon’s song is often called the “Nunc Dimittis,” the first words of its Latin translation. Simeon praised God that he had done what he promised and could dismiss your servant (meaning himself) in peace. In other words, Simeon was now ready to die in peace because he had seen God’s salvation. To see Jesus is to see salvation. This salvation has been prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. Jesus Christ is the fullest manifestation of God’s “glory” that his people had ever seen. Luke, writing to Gentiles, pointed out that from the very beginning God’s plan was to offer salvation to Gentiles as well as to Jews. The mission to the Gentiles is a key theme in Luke and Acts. Even the prophets had predicted this (see, for example, Isaiah 42:6; 49:6; 52:10; 60:1-2). The Jews were well acquainted with the Old Testament prophecies that spoke of the Messiah’s blessings to their nation. They did not always give equal attention to the prophecies saying that he would bring salvation to the entire world, not just the Jews.

2:33-35 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.“^NIV Here Joseph and Mary are called the child’s father and mother, which they were, although Joseph was not technically the father (as the genealogy in chapter 3 will clarify, and as the reader already knows). They marveled (were amazed) that this stranger in the temple recognized their small son and prophesied his coming as a light to all nations, not just the Jews. Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph and then prophesied that Jesus would have a paradoxical effect on Israel. He would bring light and salvation, but his coming could also cause division. Some would “fall” because of him (see Isaiah 8:14-15), while others would “rise” (see Malachi 4:2). There would not be overwhelming acceptance of the promised Messiah—in fact, many would not recognize him and would reject him altogether. With Jesus, there would be no neutral ground: people would either joyfully accept him or totally reject him. He would indeed be a sign, but he would be spoken against by many, thus revealing what was inside many people’s hearts. This would have surprised and saddened Mary. Simeon told Mary that a sword would pierce her soul. As Jesus’ mother, Mary would be grieved by the widespread rejection he would face; she would experience great pain when he died. Although she could not have known it and Simeon had only a hint of it, Mary would be the only person on earth who would witness both his birth and his death. He was God’s Son, but she would always be his mother and she would love him as dearly as any mother loves a son. The sorrow and horror he would face would affect her deeply.

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Source: Bruce B. Barton, Dave Veerman, Linda K. Taylor, Life Application Bible Commentary – Luke, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1997), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 48-36.