Matthew 2:21-35
15.1 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
15.2 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.
Her "days of purification" would have lasted 33 days after Jesus' circumcision, (which would have been on the eighth day). So it would have been a total of 41 days after Jesus' birth that Mary and Joseph went to the temple. (See Leviticus chapter12)
15.3 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"),
According to the law of Moses every male that was the firstborn child belonged to God. (See Exodus 13:2)
15.4 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord,
"A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." (See Leviticus 12:8)
"A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons" was the offering of a woman who was too poor to buy a lamb. Scholars have used this to say that Mary and Joseph were poor. But Joseph was a carpenter and could make a good living. He and his wife, Mary, were probably only poor at this time because they had been traveling, and Joseph would not have been working.
image copyright, Marjorie Nordwall |
15.5 And behold, there was a man in
Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the
Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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. |
15.6 So he came by 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, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
"Lord, now You are letting
Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."
15.7 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those thing which were spoken of Him.
15.8 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against. (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
With these words Simeon was prophesying of the death of Christ. That was the sword that would pierce through Mary's soul. Also -- Jesus' claim to be the Messiah, the Christ, would cause many in Israel to fall, (because of unbelief), and would cause many others to rise in faith. His life, death, and resurrection would be a sign that would be spoken against, and truly the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed.
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