To circumcise the child - That He might visibly be made under the law by a sacred rite, which obliged Him to keep the whole law; as also that He might be owned to be the seed of Abraham, and might put an honor on the solemn dedication of children to God.
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord;
When eight days were accomplished - The law had appointed that every male should be circumcised at eight days old, or on the eighth day after its birth, Gen 17:12;
23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
As it is written in the law of the Lord,.... In Exodus 13:2.
every male that openeth the womb, shall be called holy to the Lord; that is, devoted and consecrated to Him, and so to be redeemed.
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace - Now thou dismissest, απολυεις, loosest him from life; having lived long enough to have the grand end of life accomplished.
30 For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation - The Messiah, who is often so called.
31 Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
Which Thou hast prepared - In His eternal purposes and decrees.
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.
A light to lighten the Gentiles - Φως εις αποκαλυψιν εθνων - A light of the Gentiles, for revelation.
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord;
When eight days were accomplished - The law had appointed that every male should be circumcised at eight days old, or on the eighth day after its birth, Gen 17:12;
23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
As it is written in the law of the Lord,.... In Exodus 13:2.
every male that openeth the womb, shall be called holy to the Lord; that is, devoted and consecrated to Him, and so to be redeemed.
The reason of this law was this, when God smote all the firstborn of Egypt, He saved the firstborn of Israel; and therefore claimed a right to them, and obliged their parents, excepting the Levites, to redeem them at the price of five shekels, which were about twelve shillings and six pence of our money, and which was given to the Levites: And this law our Lord came under as Mary s firstborn, and as one holy to the Lord; and such a sum of money was now paid for his redemption, who was the great Redeemer of his people: he being made under the law, and in all things subject to it, that He might redeem them from the bondage, curse, and condemnation of it.
*Now as the tribe of Levi was excepted from this law, it is a clear case, that Mary, though allied to Elisabeth, was not of the tribe of Levi, otherwise her firstborn would not have been subject to it.
24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons - This offering sufficed for the poor. Leviticus 12:8.
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
The consolation of Israel - A common phrase for the Messiah, who was to be the everlasting consolation of the Israel of God.
24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons - This offering sufficed for the poor. Leviticus 12:8.
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
The consolation of Israel - A common phrase for the Messiah, who was to be the everlasting consolation of the Israel of God.
The Holy Ghost was upon him - That is, he was a prophet.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
It was revealed unto him - He was divinely informed, κεχρηματισμενον - he had an express communication from God concerning the subject.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law,
And he came by the Spirit into the temple - By the same Spirit of God, that revealed the above to him.
28 Then took He Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Then took He Him up in his arms - That same Spirit that had revealed unto him that he should not die till he saw the Messiah with his bodily eyes; and who by a secret impulse had moved him to go to the temple just at this time made known unto him that that child which Joseph and Mary then brought into the temple to present to the Lord, was the Messiah; wherefore, in a rapture of joy,
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
It was revealed unto him - He was divinely informed, κεχρηματισμενον - he had an express communication from God concerning the subject.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law,
And he came by the Spirit into the temple - By the same Spirit of God, that revealed the above to him.
28 Then took He Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Then took He Him up in his arms - That same Spirit that had revealed unto him that he should not die till he saw the Messiah with his bodily eyes; and who by a secret impulse had moved him to go to the temple just at this time made known unto him that that child which Joseph and Mary then brought into the temple to present to the Lord, was the Messiah; wherefore, in a rapture of joy,
he took Him out of their arms into his own, embracing Him with all affection and respect imaginable:
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace - Now thou dismissest, απολυεις, loosest him from life; having lived long enough to have the grand end of life accomplished.
30 For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation - The Messiah, who is often so called.
31 Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
Which Thou hast prepared - In His eternal purposes and decrees.
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.
A light to lighten the Gentiles - Φως εις αποκαλυψιν εθνων - A light of the Gentiles, for revelation.
---By Moses and the prophets, a light of revelation was given to the Jews, in the blessedness of which the Gentiles did not partake.
---By Christ and His apostles, a luminous revelation is about to be given unto the Gentiles.
33 And Joseph and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him.
Joseph and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken - For they did not thoroughly understand them.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
This child is set for the fall and rising again of many - That is, He will be a savor of death to some, to unbelievers: a savor of life to others, to believers: and for a sign which shall be spoken against.
35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed; that is, all this offence was to be taken at Christ, and He to be spoken against; and all these afflictions, reproaches, and persecutions, He and His were to endure for this end; that the secret thoughts of men might be discovered, and they be known to be what they were,
33 And Joseph and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him.
Joseph and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken - For they did not thoroughly understand them.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
This child is set for the fall and rising again of many - That is, He will be a savor of death to some, to unbelievers: a savor of life to others, to believers: and for a sign which shall be spoken against.
35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed; that is, all this offence was to be taken at Christ, and He to be spoken against; and all these afflictions, reproaches, and persecutions, He and His were to endure for this end; that the secret thoughts of men might be discovered, and they be known to be what they were,
---whether hypocrites, or good men,
---foes or friends of Christ:
36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
And there was one Anna,.... The name is the same with Hannah: so Hannah, the mother of Samuel, is by the Septuagint called Anna.... and it signifies "grace"; or "gracious": and as was her name, so was she, a gracious woman; One that had the grace of God herself, and was a publisher of the glad tidings of grace and redemption by Christ, to others;
37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
Departed not from the temple - Attended constantly at the hours of prayer, which were nine in the morning and three in the afternoon.
38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
And she coming in that instant -That the parents of Christ brought Him into the temple; just as Simeon was embracing Him in his arms, and blessing God for Him; and who also came at that juncture, as he did, under the impulse, and by the direction of the Spirit of God.36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
And there was one Anna,.... The name is the same with Hannah: so Hannah, the mother of Samuel, is by the Septuagint called Anna.... and it signifies "grace"; or "gracious": and as was her name, so was she, a gracious woman; One that had the grace of God herself, and was a publisher of the glad tidings of grace and redemption by Christ, to others;
37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
Departed not from the temple - Attended constantly at the hours of prayer, which were nine in the morning and three in the afternoon.
38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
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