Luke 2:25 - Meaning and Application

Even in Christ’s lowliness, God gave him honor to answer the offense people might take at it. Angels honored him at his birth, so no one should be stumbled by how humble that birth was. Now, when he is presented in the temple like any other child born in sin, with no special ceremony and quietly among the crowd, Simeon and Anna honor him, moved by the Holy Spirit.

Simeon gives a very honorable witness to Christ. This was a credit to the child, an encouragement to Mary and Joseph, and it could have introduced the priests to the Savior if those watchmen had not been blind. We are told about Simeon, also called Simon, that he lived in Jerusalem and was known for his godly life and close walk with God. Some learned men think he may have been the well-known Simeon, son of Hillel, who was given the high title of Rabban and succeeded his father as head of the school and the great council.

The Jews say this Simeon had a prophet’s spirit and was removed from his place because he spoke against their common idea that the Messiah would set up only an earthly kingdom. They also point out that he is not mentioned in their Mishnah, the book of traditions, which they take as a sign that he did not support their empty customs. Still, some object that Hillel was alive at this time, and that this Simeon lived many years after, so he may not be the same man. Another objection is that his son was Gamaliel, a Pharisee and later an enemy of Christianity. But a faithful follower of Christ can have a son who is deeply opposed to him.

What is clearly said of Simeon is enough for us. He was just and devout, fair toward people and devoted to God. Those two things should always go together. One cannot make up for the lack of the other. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, meaning the coming of the Messiah, in whom alone Israel, now suffering and crushed, would find comfort. Christ is not only the giver of his people’s comfort, but the very source of it, the consolation of Israel. Simeon had also received the Holy Spirit, not only as the Spirit of holiness, but as the Spirit of prophecy. He was given a gracious promise that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah, the Lord’s Anointed (Luke 2:26).

He had been studying what the Spirit of Christ meant through the Old Testament prophets, and whether the time was now near. Then he received this promise, this oracle, that he would not see death before seeing the Messiah. Those, and only those, can face death with courage who have first seen Christ by faith. Then, at just the right time, Simeon came into the temple while Joseph and Mary brought in the child, as if registering him among the firstborn (Luke 2:27). The same Spirit who had supported his hope now guided his joy. It was as if he heard, “Go to the temple now, and you will see what you have long wanted to see.”

If we want to see Christ, we must go to his temple, because there the Lord, whom we seek, will suddenly come to meet us. There we must be ready to meet him. Simeon’s joy was full when he saw the child. He took Jesus up in his arms and held him close to his heart (Luke 2:28). Some think he did this to present him to the Lord, perhaps acting as a parent or even as a priest, and some ancient writers say he was a priest himself. When we receive the gospel’s report about Christ with living faith, and when we welcome Christ with love and surrender, then we also take Christ in our arms.

The promise had been that Simeon would see Christ. But God gave him even more than that, he held Christ in his arms. Then Simeon blessed God and said, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace” (Luke 2:29-32). He looked at his own life with joy, and he had risen above love of life and fear of death. He was even ready to leave this world, because he had seen the salvation he was promised before he died. God had kept his word fully, and not one part of his good promise had failed, as Solomon also said (1 Kings 8:56). No one who hopes in God’s word is ever put to shame.

Simeon thanked God that he had seen in his arms what many prophets and kings had longed to see and were not allowed to see. He also confessed his faith: the child in his arms was the Savior, the salvation itself, God’s own salvation, the salvation God had prepared with great wisdom and care. Though it had taken so long to come, it had still been in the making all that time. And now he was ready to say farewell to this world: “Now let your servant depart. My eyes have been blessed with this sight, let them close, and see no more in this world.” The eye is not satisfied with seeing (Ecclesiastes 1:8) until it has seen Christ, and then it is satisfied.

What a poor thing this world seems to one who has Christ in his arms and salvation in his sight. Then it is time to say goodbye to friends, family, pleasures, work, and even the temple itself. Death becomes a welcome release: “Now let your servant depart.” Death is a leaving, the soul leaving the body, passing from the world we can see to the world of spirits. We must not leave until God gives us leave, because we are his servants and must stay in his service until our work is done.

Moses was promised that he would see Canaan and then die, but he asked that this word be changed (Deuteronomy 3:24-25). Simeon is promised that he would not die until he had seen Christ, and he takes that promise as a hint that, once he has seen Christ, he may die. In effect he says, “Lord, let it be so. Now let me depart.” Here we see how calm the death of a good person can be. He leaves as God’s servant, moving from labor to rest. He goes in peace, peace with God, peace with his own conscience, and peace with death itself, because he has made peace with it.

He also departs according to God’s word, as Moses did at the Lord’s command (Deuteronomy 34:5). There is the word of command, “Go up and die,” and there is the word of promise, “I will come again and receive you to myself.” The comfort rests here: “For my eyes have seen your salvation.” This means more than simply enjoying a lovely sight, like Jacob saying, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face” (Genesis 46:30). It means a believing hope of a blessed life after death, through this salvation he now sees. That sight not only removes death’s terror, it makes death gain (Philippians 1:21). Those who have welcomed Christ may also welcome death.

Simeon then looks forward with joy to the world and to the church. This salvation is prepared before all people. It is not hidden away in a corner, but meant to be made known. It will be a light to the Gentiles, who now sit in darkness. They will come to know him, and through him they will know God and the life to come. This points back to the promise in Isaiah 49:6, where the Messiah is given as a light to the nations. Christ came as the light of the world, not just a lamp for the Jewish people, but the Sun of righteousness.

It will also be the glory of your people Israel. It was an honor to the Jewish nation that the Messiah came from one of their tribes, and was born, lived, and died among them. And for those who are true Israelites in the spiritual sense, he is their glory, and will be forever (Isaiah 60:19). They will boast in him. “In the Lord all the descendants of Israel will be justified and glory” (Isaiah 45:25). When Christ sent his apostles to preach the gospel to all nations, he made himself a light to the Gentiles. When he said that this message should begin at Jerusalem, he made himself the glory of his people Israel.

Then Simeon gives the prediction about this child to Joseph and Mary. They were amazed at what was being said more and more clearly about him (Luke 2:33). Since these words strengthened their faith and moved them deeply, more is now said to them. Simeon first shows them why they should rejoice. He blesses them, meaning he calls them blessed because they have the honor of being related to this child and trusted with raising him. He prays for God’s blessing on them and wants others to do the same. They had reason to rejoice, because this child would be not only a comfort and honor to them, but also a public blessing. He is appointed for the rising again of many in Israel, meaning the conversion of many to God who were dead in sin, and the comfort of many who were buried in sorrow and despair.

The same people for whom he is the fall may also be the people for whom he is the rising again. He is appointed for their fall and rising, to humble them, bring them low, and turn them away from all trust in themselves, so that they may be lifted up by trusting in Christ. He wounds, and then he heals. Paul fell, and then rose again.

Simeon also shows them why they should rejoice with fear, as Psalm 2:11 had counseled in view of the Messiah’s kingdom. To keep Joseph, and especially Mary, from becoming too lifted up by these revelations, there is also a burden in the words, something that tempers their joy and that we sometimes need as well. It is true that Christ will be a blessing to Israel, but there are some in Israel for whom he will be the fall. Their sinful hearts will be stirred up, they will take offense at him, and their guilt and ruin will grow worse because of Jesus Christ. Many will draw poison for themselves out of the balm of Gilead, and will break themselves on the Rock of salvation. The precious cornerstone will become, for them, a stone that causes stumbling.

This matches the prophecy in Isaiah 8:14-15. He will be a sanctuary to some, but a trap to others (1 Peter 2:7-8). It is good to think how many find Christ and his gospel to be the path to life, but it is sad to think how many find them to be the path to death. He is appointed as a sign, admired by some and spoken against by others. Many eyes watched him during his public ministry, for he was indeed a sign, but many tongues were against him. He was constantly opposed, mocked, and abused. As a result, the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed (Luke 2:35). In other words, people will show what they really are and make themselves known by how they respond to Christ.

The hidden goodness in some people will be shown when they embrace Christ and cling to him. The hidden corruption in others, which might never have appeared so clearly otherwise, will be shown in their hatred of Christ and their rage against him. People will be judged by the thoughts of their hearts, especially their thoughts about Christ. Are they for him, or against him? The word of God searches the thoughts and intentions of the heart, and through it we are shown to ourselves and will be judged in the future.

Finally, Christ will be a comfort to his mother, but she must not become proud because of that. A sword will pierce her own soul too. He will be a suffering Jesus. First, she will suffer with him in sympathy more than any other of his friends, because she is so closely tied to him and loves him so deeply. When he was insulted, it was like a sword in her bones.

When Mary stood by the cross and saw her son dying, we can fairly think her grief was so deep that it felt like a sword had pierced her soul. It cut her to the heart. Some also take this as a prediction that she would suffer martyrdom, and some of the early church writers say that was its fulfillment. The lesson is clear: even at the height of our joy and success in this world, we should remember that trouble and suffering still await us.

Jesus is also noticed by Anna, a prophetess, so that a witness from each sex could testify to him, the one in whom both men and women are invited to believe and be saved. Here is the account of Anna. She was a prophetess. The gift of prophecy, which had been silent in Israel for more than three hundred years, now began to rise again. Perhaps this means simply that she had a better understanding of Scripture than other women and made it her work to teach younger women the things of God. Even in a very corrupt time for the church, God did not leave himself without witness.

She was the daughter of Phanuel. Grotius says her father’s name is mentioned to remind us of Jacob’s Phanuel, also called Penuel (Genesis 32:30), where Jacob said he had seen God face to face and lived. In Christ, that mystery is made clear, and we truly come to know God. Her name also means gracious. She was from the tribe of Asher, in Galilee. Some think this is mentioned to answer those who said no prophet came from Galilee, because as soon as prophecy began to appear again, it appeared from there.

Anna was very old, a widow about eighty-four years old. Some think she had been a widow for eighty-four years, which would have made her over a hundred. Others think she was eighty-four years old in all, and had been a widow for a long time. Though she had been married only seven years, she never married again, but remained a widow to the end of her life, which is spoken of as a credit to her.

She stayed at the temple, or at least was always there. Some think she had a room in the temple courts, supported by the temple’s charity, or perhaps lodged there because, as a prophetess, she was a person others could consult for God’s mind. Others think “did not depart from the temple” simply means she was there constantly for public worship. Whenever there was any good work to do, she was ready to join it. Most likely, she had her own place in the temple buildings and, besides regular worship, spent herself in private devotion, serving God with fasting and prayer night and day.

Since she had no worldly business, or was past such labor, she gave herself fully to devotion. She not only fasted twice a week, but lived a life of self-denial. She spent in prayer the time others spent in eating, drinking, and sleeping. She did not only pray at set hours, but lived in a praying spirit. She prayed often, prayed long, and prayed with care for many needs. And in all this, she served God. That is what gave her fasting and prayers their worth. The Pharisees also fasted and made long prayers, but they served their own pride and greed. This good woman did what was right from a good heart and for God’s honor.

We should learn from this that devotion is something we must keep up steadily. Other duties come and go, but we must pray always. It is a lovely thing to see older Christians full of devotion, not tired of doing good, not thinking these exercises are beneath them or behind them, but finding more joy and need in them as they grow older, until they come to heaven. And those who are faithful with the light and help they already have will receive more light. Anna was at last richly rewarded for all those years of waiting in the temple.

She also bore witness to our Lord Jesus (Luke 2:38). She came in at that very moment, when the child was being presented and Simeon was speaking about him. Since she was so faithful in coming to the temple, she did not miss the opportunity. She gave thanks to the Lord, much as Simeon had done, perhaps wishing now to depart in peace. Those who know Christ have every reason to thank God for so great a gift. We should be stirred up to thank God by hearing others praise him. Why should we not give thanks as they did? Anna joined in with Simeon and helped the praise rise in harmony. The words can also mean that she openly confessed her faith in this child.

As a prophetess, she also spoke about him to all who were looking for the Messiah and waiting for redemption in Jerusalem. Redemption was the thing they wanted, waited for, and longed for. It was redemption in Jerusalem, because from there the word of the Lord was to go out (Isaiah 2:3). There were some in Jerusalem who looked for redemption, though only a few. Anna seems to have known all the fellow waiters for the Messiah, or they knew where to find her, and she told them the good news that she had seen the Lord. That was great news then, just as his resurrection was later. Those who know Christ themselves should do all they can to bring others to know him.

A brief account follows of the infancy and childhood of our Lord Jesus. When the ceremony of presenting the child and purifying the mother was finished, they returned to Galilee (Luke 2:39). Luke says no more about them until they were back in Galilee, but Matthew’s Gospel shows that from Jerusalem they first returned to Bethlehem, where the wise men from the east found them, and where they stayed until they were told to flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s hatred and rage. After Herod died, they were told to go back to Nazareth, their old home, where they had probably lived for some years before. It is called their own city because they had lived there a long time, and their relatives were there. He was ordered farther away from Jerusalem, because his kingdom and priesthood were never meant to be tied to the present government of the Jewish church or nation.

He was sent into a place of obscurity and shame, because in this, as in everything else, he had to humble himself and make himself of no reputation. In all things it was fitting that he be made like his brothers and sisters, so he passed through infancy and childhood like other children, yet without sin. Even so, there were clear signs of his divine nature.

Like other children, he grew in body and also in understanding in his human soul, so that his physical growth pictured the growth of his mystical body, the church. Though the church is guided by a perfect Spirit, it still grows toward full maturity until it reaches the perfect man (Ephesians 4:13, 16). But there were important differences. Unlike other children, who are weak in understanding and resolve, he was strong in spirit. The Spirit of God gave his human soul unusual strength, and every part of his mind worked in a remarkable way. He reasoned well, and his judgment was sharp.

Unlike other children, in whom foolishness is bound up in the heart and shows itself in speech and actions, he was filled with wisdom, not because of special teaching or schooling, but by the work of the Holy Spirit. Everything he said and did showed wisdom beyond his years. And unlike other children, whose sinful nature soon becomes visible, he showed that only the grace of God was upon him, like wheat growing without weeds. Other children are by nature children of wrath, but he was greatly loved and highly favored by God. God loved him, cherished him, and watched over him with special care.