Presentation of Jesus, Luke 2:22-35

Presentation of Jesus

Luke 2:22-35

Luke wrote his Gospel to a Greek-speaking friend named Theophilus—translated into English as lover of God. Luke explains a number of Jewish traditions and concepts so that his friend would understand what happened. One of these areas in need of some explanation for a Greek speaker unfamiliar with Jewish customs was the dedication of a child after its birth. What a Jew would have known from experience of generations within his or her family, would have been foreign to the goyim, or non-Jewish folk, especially those living outside of Israel or where there was no synagogue. In Luke 2:22-35 we meet a devout Jew named Simeon. This short interaction is important as a foundation for Theophilus to understand how the birth and life of Jesus fulfilled prophecy and how his earthly parents were concerned to obey all that God had commanded—even to the smallest of details.

 

Mary and Joseph did this out of obedience to God’s Law that all righteousness would be fulfilled since Jesus was born under the Law (Gal 4:4).

 

Let’s read the text to set its context and content in our minds and then go back and look at some important items in the text.

 

Just one note—because the Jews dedicated babies under the ceremonial aspects of the Law, it does not follow that we should dedicate babies in this age as part of God’s abiding Moral Law. That is for another message. I just wanted to make that important comment because it comes up very often in discussions about the use of God’s Law today.

 

The Text

Luke 2:22-35

Jesus Presented at the Temple

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 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”) 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.” 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.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. 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, ²⁸ he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

²⁹ “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation
³¹     that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

³³ And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 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 ³⁵ (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

The Details

Luke 2:22-35

Jesus Presented at the Temple

²² And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem 

Jesus was born in Bethlehem because it was the city of David and Joseph and Mary went there to be counted in the census since Joseph was a descendent of King David. Joseph lived in Nazareth. Here we find them in Jerusalem where they had traveled in order to fulfill the custom of purification after the birth of their firstborn.

Joseph and Mary lived in accord with the outward appearances of their relationship—one of being betrothed.

This couple knew their recent history and the challenge that would be a part of their life explaining their experiences to others. At least we can agree it was unusual and extraordinary as it was supernatural and providential.

They traveled to the holy City, the capital of the nation Israel, where the temple of the Lord had been rebuilt. This is where the Lord had promised to place his special presence. The temple was to be the Lord’s footstool (Isa 66:1 and others).

22b to present him to the Lord 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” [Lev 12:1-8, esp. 4 & 6])

Leviticus 12:4English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed.

Leviticus 12:6English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶ “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,

Joseph and Mary were not legalists, they were trying to be good, faithful, Jews.

 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.”

The Law allowed for a lamb or two turtledoves or pigeons. That they chose the birds shows how poor they were. It should be of great comfort to us that Jesus’s human family was from the poorer class in Israel—this made him able to identify with each and everyone from the lowliest and poor to the well-to-do like Joseph of Arimethea, the Rich Young ruler and Nicodemus. Jesus was able to touch all kinds of people. And, we see that throughout his ministry.

Then the focus narrows to a particular man….

 ²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon,

There is a lot of speculation about the identity of this particular Simeon. Simeon and Simon were popular names in Israel. In the historical records, there are a lot of different Simeons that could be this man. We can’t be too dogmatic, but the evidence points to a man who was the father of Gameliel, the teacher of the Apostle Paul.

 and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel,

He was an extremely patient man. He did not take the traditions of the Jews on  face value, but instead sought to know and follow the scriptures that the Spirit had breathed out.

If we understand this chronology of the life of Jesus, we see that Simeon was one of the first in Israel to make a profession of belief in Jesus—an extraordinary act of great faith—standing against all, or at least most of the Jewish multitude of that day.

This Simeon was an old man and ready to depart: as also, that he was a prince among Israelites, or president of the Sanhedrim.

and the same man was just and devout;
he was a holy good man in his life and conversation; he was one that feared God, and avoided evil; he was righteous before men, and devout towards God, and exercised a conscience void, of offence to both:

waiting for the consolation of Israel;
that is, the Messiah; for this was one of his names with the Jews, who sometimes style him, (Mxnm) , "the  ": The one, who like the Spirit in the New, draws near to His own in order to deliver them and to keep them safe by delivering them in this life or bringing them to heaven.

Now they might easily glean this name of the Messiah, from several passages of Scripture, which speak of God's comforting his people, at the time of redemption by the Messiah; and particularly, from its being part of his work and office, to comfort them that mourn, for which he was anointed by the Spirit of the Lord, ( Isaiah 61:1-3 says the Spirit will be upon him because he has been anointed to preach ) . And when he is called here, "the consolation of Israel", it is not to be understood of the whole Jewish nation; for he was so far from being a comfort to them all at any time, as such, that through their corruption and wickedness, he came not to send peace, but a sword at times; and to set at variance the nearest relations and friends among themselves; and through their unbelief and rejection of him, wrath came upon them to the uttermost, even as we read by the hand of a hired razor: but of the true and spiritual Israel of God, whom he has chosen, redeemed, and calls, whether of Jews or Gentiles; his own special and peculiar people, the heirs of promise; and who are often mourners in Zion, and being frequently disconsolate on account of sin, the temptations of Satan, and the hidings of God's face, stand in need of consolation from him: and in him there is what is always matter and ground of consolation; as in his person, he being the mighty God, and so able to save to the uttermost; in his blood, which speaks peace and pardon, and cleanses from all sin; in his righteousness, which is pure and perfect, and saves  from all iniquity, in his sacrifice, which removes all the transgressions of his people; in his fullness, which is sufficient to supply all their wants; and in his power, by which he is able to keep them from falling, and to present them faultless before God. And he does often comfort them by his Spirit, by his word, and ordinances, by the promises of his Gospel, by the discoveries of pardoning grace, through his blood, and by his gracious presence: nor are his consolations small, but large and abundant, strong, solid, and everlasting. Now for the Messiah under this character, Simeon was waiting, hoping in a little time to see him; since he knew, both by the prophecies of the Old Testament by divine revelation, that the time was just at hand for his coming; He may have known through exegesis of OT texts.

And, adding some specificity about this one to make him unique among men--

25b and the Holy Spirit was upon him

This Spirit gave Simeon some special insight or knowledge. 

.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.

No wonder Simeon was a patient man of great age. Patient, longing to see the promise fulfilled, he stayed active looking for this deliverer. As he drew weaker as naturally happens, he may have grown in anticipation that he would see the consolation of Israel with his own physical eyes. There is no hint that Simeon sought to spiritualize this promise as so many others did with prophecies about the coming of the Christ. Simeon did not expect a messianic age or a time of political deliverance or dominance—he expected to see the Messiah, God’s appointed, the Christ Himself.

 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, ²⁸ he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

²⁹ “Lord, now you are letting your servant^[a] depart in peace,
    according to your word;
³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation
³¹     that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

The One to bring salvation to all sorts of people—to God’s chosen, Israel and to the Gentiles. All of this has been brought together before all, presumably for all who had traveled to Israel to hear God’s Word—now being spoken again by less than a handful or prophets like Simeon.

³³ And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 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 ³⁵ (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

What amazing words.

We are not waiting as Simeon waited for the deliverance of Israel and some Gentiles. These words are about that first coming prophesied long before these events came to pass,  they were revealed in scripture approximately 750 BC or so.

But, they teach us about the need of patience in a larger scale. The wait is now for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to usher in the consummation of all things and the final salvation of all God’s people. We await the final deliverance of our bodies and souls.

Do you ever long for the final return of Jesus? I do, all the time. Sometimes I can get impatient waiting for it. Of course, that is selfish as I long for the deliverance of my body. But, it will be far greater to be in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ who will make me to be like Him. I John 3 tells us of the blessed hope—that we will be like Him for we shall see him as he is.

That is far greater than any other thing—greater than seeing our friends and family who have already departed will be nothing compared to seeing Jesus and resting in his presence, forever.

I believe in our renewed bodies, with glorified minds and concerns, we will not be as self-centered as we are in this life. We will be Christ-centered to a degree we cannot yet understand. It will be glorious.

Even now, those in heaven would tell us, if they could, of the glories that are waiting for believers. But, they would not want to feed our self-centeredness by entertaining our indulgences because they are given over to glorious spiritual matters already. They are already much more like Christ than the most spiritual among us. Make that, among all who believe on the planet. The weakest of believers who lived and died among believers on this planet is already more sanctified by the holiest of the saints who remain and long for the presence of Christ in his heaven.

We will not want to indulge ourselves with all sorts of earthly and worldly matters. The best we can do to explain these blessings is to stammer and stutter and speak of glorious things in baby talk.

This was not some sort of child dedication. It was ceremonial law to bring the child that opened the womb to be presented to the LORD. It was not a baptism or anything that could be construed as one. It was something from Jewish culture that has no correspondence to any ritual or sacrament under the New Covenant.

That is not to say that God does not care for children. He does. Children born into believing homes have a tremendous blessing over the children who grow up in unbelieving, Pagan, homes. They hear godly prayers, they are corrected with the Word of God, they attend church in order to grow in their understanding, they watch their parents to see how what is heard translates into living according to those principles and other enormous spiritual blessings that are likely to be used to bring them to faith in Jesus. Yet, in the homes where what is heard is not carefully followed, but hypocrisy rules, the children are more likely than not to become cynics. I have witnessed this in a number of places and in a number of ways.

If we are going to dedicate our children to the Lord in any way whether publicly or privately, for the good of their sinful souls, we had better follow Jesus as faithfully as possible.

Pray for your children and those of others connected to you, especially in the church. If God should save them, they are our next generation. That is, if the Lord keeps us faithful as a ministry and as a body of believers. Churches are fragile. A little scandal or slanderous gossip can do deadly damage. This would grieve the Lord Jesus. He takes very seriously what people do and say to hurt his church considered corporately in their collected testimony, and locally as they are a light to the people around them. To injure the church is to act hateful towards the Lord of the Churches, the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember what Jesus said to Paul on the Damascus Road? Paul had been snuffing out the way in Jerusalem and even to foreign cities. Jesus didn’t ask about the Christians in Jerusalem or believers in Judea, He asked, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?

If we treat our children in the church in any way that is opposed to God’s order, we might provoke his grief and his displeasure.

I know to some degree it has happened here among some spiritual troublemakers. Please, for the testimony of Christ’s Church, stop the silliness and sin, if it in your mind to act contrary to the peace and unity of this body.

May the Lord deliver us from even the seeds of such sins.

The bottom line: There is no doctrine under the New Covenant for the public dedication of babies with the expectation God will trat them in a special way. To gainsay our practice is to cause schism in the body. Don’t speak of these things and don’t listen to be confused by others. Also remember, that God protects his worship more than anything else. To engage in these paractices or to insist on them is destructive. Does it not show hearts not in submission to the Word or to the Elders God has placed over you? I have talked to those who brought this up. They confessed to have discussed this with many people in order to put pressure on me to cave into their request. They have apologized to me. Those who know who I speak about, pray for them, for me and for our peace and spiritual prosperity as a church. Amen!