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brought him up to Jerusalem to present would not see death before he had seen
him to the Lord” (Luk 2:22 ESV). The the Lord’s Christ” (2:25-26). We are not
plural “their” raises an interesting ques- told how long before the Holy Spirit had
tion. Just who needed to be purified? It is revealed this to him, but for days, months,
clear from Leviticus 12 that Mary needed weeks or perhaps even years, Simeon had
purification, but as Joseph may have been keeping a close watch in the temple
helped with the delivery and had contact for any children to be presented to the
with blood, he too would need to be puri- Lord. Each time he heard a baby crying
fied (Lev 15). The ceremony occurred 40 in the temple precincts, he would wonder,
days after birth (since their child was a “Could this be the One?” To the priests
male) and required that the couple bring serving there, Simeon may have appeared
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an offering to the Lord, typically a lamb. to be an old man living under a delu-
But the Law made provision for the poor, sion, believing God had spoken to him,
and so Joseph and Mary brought “a pair promising him immortality until his eyes
of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” beheld their Messiah. Time was running
(Luk 2:25; Lev 12:8), one for a burnt of- out for the divine message to be fulfilled.
fering and the other for a sin offering. As And then everything changed.
Christ was their firstborn, the Law also
required that He be officially presented to Keeping a Promise
the Lord (Exo 13), which Joseph and Mary “And he came by the Spirit into the
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proceeded to do. Interestingly, the Law temple: and when the parents brought
is mentioned five times in these verses in the child Jesus, to do for him after the
(Luk 2:22,23,24,27,39), demonstrating that custom of the law, then took he him up
Joseph and Mary were devout, obedient in his arms, and blessed God” (vv27-28
parents. Indeed, “they had performed all ESV). The phrase “by the Spirit” implies
things according to the law of the Lord” that the Lord revealed to him in that
(v39). No wonder Paul could later write moment just who this Child was. It
that God’s Son was “born of a woman, was clear to Simeon that God had kept
born under the law, to redeem those who His promise to him, and he burst forth
were under the law” (Gal 4:4 ESV). in praise. “Lord, now lettest thou thy
The young family arrived in Jerusalem servant depart in peace, according to
and headed for the temple. Thus, activity thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy
in the temple bookends Luke’s infancy salvation, Which thou hast prepared
narrative (1:9ff.). It was there, perhaps in before the face of all people; A light to
the Court of Women, that they met a very lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy
unusual man. people Israel” (vv29-32). His praise to God

Keeping a Close Watch 3 Though Simeon’s age is not given, the
narrative suggests that he, like Anna, was
“And, behold, there was a man in Jeru- advanced in years, since he was willing to now
salem, whose name was Simeon; and the “depart in peace” (v29).
same man was just and devout, waiting 4 This is the third reference to the Holy Spirit
for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy in relation to Simeon (vv25,26,27), and he is
the fifth person in Luke upon whom the Spirit
Spirit was upon him. And it had been comes or fills (1:15 – John; 1:35 – Mary; 1:41 –
revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he Elisabeth; 1:67 – Zacharias; 2:25 – Simeon).
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