The Gospel of Luke Chapter 2:1-20

The Presentation of Christ 2:21 At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the

angel before he was conceived in the womb.

In obedience to the Law of Moses the child was circumcised when he was eight days old—a tradition

which went back to Abraham (Genesis 17:12)—and the family follows what may have been the

custom in those days to name the child at his circumcision. One again Luke is careful to emphasise

Jesus’ status within the Jewish faith—before adding that he had in fact been given the name Jesus by

the angel Gabriel before He was conceived.

It was unusual for children to be named by God before conception, and so a certain meaning must

be attached to each occasion. The only occasion in the Old Testament was the naming of Ishmael

and Isaac (Genesis 16:11; 17:19); names which express God’s covenant faithfulness for his people–

He had both made Sarah laugh and also heard Hagar’s cry. Jesus provides an even greater expression

of God’s covenant love, being sent to ‘save his people from their sins’ (Matt. 1:21).1

In the New Testament only John the Baptist was named in a way similar to Jesus in Luke 1:13; and

perhaps this was to confirm his status as the forerunner of Christ. It is possible that Luke wants to

underscore his earlier point that although Jesus became a Jew like any other, he was more than that

– he was the son of God (Luke 1:31-32).

2:22-23 Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and

Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the

Lord, "Every firstborn male will be set apart to the Lord." )

Still in keeping with Jewish custom, after Mary’s days of purification was completed according to the

Law of Moses (Leviticus 12:2-6) they brought Jesus up to the Temple in Jerusalem to present Him to

1 It is not clear in 1 Chronicles 22:9 if Solomon was named before birth, but by comparison with 2 Samuel

12:24-25 it appears to have been named after birth, as were Gomer’s children in Hosea 1:4-9. On other occasions, God is seen to be ‘foretelling’ names rather than bestowing them, as in Isaiah 45:1.

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the Lord (Exodus 13:2; 12-15). The redemption of the firstborn reminded Israel of the death of the

firstborn in Egypt and how they had been saved through the blood of the Passover lamb to become

God’s own people. It is appropriate that Jesus, being the firstborn of Mary, should be associated

with these historic events as he was the one who would become the Passover sacrifice to redeem us

from sin and death (1 Cor. 5:7). Notice too how the Jews of this period viewed the Temple as the

house of God, the place in which God would meet with them (see 2 Chronicles 7:16); a fact which

becomes important in Luke’s narration of the time when Jesus visited the Temple again aged twelve

(Luke 2:42-52).

2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or

two young pigeons.

They offered a sacrifice to the Lord of a pair of turtle doves or pigeons, one for a burnt offering the

other for a sin offering; this verse more than any other reveals that Mary and Joseph were poor

(Leviticus 12:6-8).

Simeon’s Prophecy 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for

the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

At that time an old man named Simeon living in Jerusalem; he was both righteous and devoutly

religious and the Holy Spirit was upon him (in other words he was regarded as a prophet). There is a

thought that among the Jews of this second Temple period, although they had returned from exile

centuries earlier, they were still felt themselves to be in exile. The glory and blessing of a bygone age

had not been restored to them. They were suffering under Roman occupation. Over time, the hope

of the restoration of the blessings and purpose of God became linked with the prophecies

concerning God’s coming servant, the Messiah. This explains why Simeon, in waiting for the

restoration of Israel, was expecting a person--the Messiah—since the ideas were (quite rightly)

linked.

2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the

Lord's Christ.

The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Anointed One of

God, the Messiah.

2:27-28 So Simeon, directed by the Spirit, came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought

in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, Simeon took him in his

arms and blessed God, saying,

On the day that Jesus was brought by his parents to be presented to God in the Temple, the Holy

Spirit moved Simeon to go there also. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that the child Jesus was the

Messiah, and so taking Jesus up into his arms he praised God and prophesied.

2:29-32 "Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace. For

my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: a light, for

revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.

Simeon was now ready to die, as his words indicate: ‘now let your servant depart in peace’. This may

indicate that he saw the coming of Jesus as God’s keeping of his covenant promise and sufficient

grounds for him to enter eternal blessing (an idea which, in keeping with Jewish thought of the time,

was probably linked with future resurrection). He held in his arms the saviour of the world; the one

to bring the salvation which God had promised to all people (Isa. 52:10); to the Gentile nations to

whom he would bring the knowledge of God (light and revelation) as well as being the glory (boast)

of the Jews, the fulfilment of God’s promise to them (see Isa. 42:6 and Isa. 49:6).

2:33 So the child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.

Mary and Joseph were devout but simple people. Although they knew that Jesus was the ‘son of

God’, his mission had not been fully explained to them; and so they were amazed at the fresh

revelation in what Simeon had said.

2:34-35 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "Listen carefully: This child is

destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be

rejected. Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed — and a sword will

pierce your own soul as well!

Simeon then blessed the family, and addressing Mary said that her child was destined to be a rock of

offence, a stumbling stone to cause many in Israel to fall by their rejection of him as the Christ (see

Rom. 9:32-33; 1 Peter 2:8), revealing where they truly stand with God (the thoughts of their hearts).

On the other hand those who receive him will be raised up to become the sons of God (John 1:12-

13). Finally, Simeon forewarns Mary of the heartbreak Jesus would cause her through his sufferings

and death.

Anna Witnessing 2:36-37 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was

very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. She had lived as a

widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer

night and day.

While Simeon was still talking to them, a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the

tribe of Asher, came up to them. She was eighty-four years of age and had become a widow only

seven years after her marriage. It is unlikely that she lived in the temple but she was always there

given herself to fasting, praying and worshipping God.

2:38 At that moment, she came up to them and began to give thanks to God and to speak about the

child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Whether she heard Simeon’s prophecy or not we do not know, but she came and continued the

prophecy, praising God and witnessing to those in the Temple who were also awaiting expectantly

for the Messiah.

Jesus on His Father’s Business 2:39 So when Joseph and Mary had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they

returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

The verse seems to suggest that after Mary and Joseph and completed all that needed to be done in

accordance to the Law they immediately returned to Nazareth. However, Matthew recounts that

they stayed on in Bethlehem until the visit of the Magi, after which they fled for a short time to

Egypt from the edict of Herod. Only then could they safely return to Nazareth. See footnote.2

2:40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.

It was as a child growing up in Nazareth that Jesus became healthy in body and strong in spirit. The

grace (abundant favour and spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him.

2:41-42 Now Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover. When he was

twelve years old, they went up according to custom.

Every year Joseph and Mary went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover (Exod.

23:14-17). When Jesus was twelve years old they took Him with them up as usual to Jerusalem. Note

that there was no requirement for boys to attend at age twelve; Luke is simply relating that he was

twelve at the time of this particular incident. The rabbis encouraged whole family attendance at

Passover whenever possible as per Exodus 12:26-27.3

2:43-45 But when the feast was over, as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in

Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but (because they assumed that he was in their group of

travelers) they went a day's journey. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and

acquaintances. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

After the Passover was over Joseph and Mary began their journey home but unbeknown to them

Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. They thought that He was somewhere in the returning

company with their relatives so they were not concerned for Him until the end of the day when he

should have returned to them for the night. When they searched for him but could not find Him they

returned to Jerusalem.

2:46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to

them and asking them questions.

After three days of anxious searching they found Jesus in the court of the temple sitting among the

teachers of God’s law, listening to them and asking them questions.

2:47 And all who heard Jesus were astonished at his understanding and his answers.

2 Does Luke gloss over the material used by Matthew as unimportant to his narrative, deliberately avoid it for

diplomatic reasons (see the witness given to Herod in Acts 26), does he regard it as spurious or was he simply unaware of it? In any case, it is not entirely implausible to reconcile both accounts as I have briefly done. It is remarkable that Joel B. Green makes no mention of this anomaly in his comment on 2:39, The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), p. 152 3 Green, p. 155

Perhaps it was not so much to discover answers as the desire to discuss the works of God that led

Jesus to ask questions. Certainly, all those who heard Him were amazed at His understanding of the

law and the scriptures and the way that He answered the rabbis.

2:48 When his parents saw him, they were overwhelmed. His mother said to him, "Child, why have

you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously."

When Joseph and Mary finally found him their anxious emotions came to the fore, and his mother

blamed him for causing them great apprehension.

2:49-50 But he replied, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's

house?" Yet his parents did not understand the remark he made to them.

When we consider Jesus’s answer to Mary we must remember that she and Joseph knew who Jesus

was, the Son of God. That is why he asked them ‘why did you seek for me? Didn’t you know that I

must be in my father’s house (or some translations “doing my Father’s work?”)’ But they were not

able to understand the significance of what He said to them. He may have come down to earth from

heaven, but his fellowship was still with the Father as it always had been, both in terms of seeking

his presence and doing his work.

2:51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. But his

mother kept all these things in her heart.

So Jesus returned with them to Nazareth and behaved as an obedient son. Mary kept all these things

in her heart.

2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.

Jesus continued to increase in wisdom and understanding; as well as in age and size; and in favour

with God and people.

© Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett 2013 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any

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