#1354 Luke 2 Part 2 Two Pigeons

 

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 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. 27 And he came in 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, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

according to your word;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation

31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. Luke 2: 22-52 ESV

Luke 2: 22-52 Childhood Glimpses

Every male who first opens the womb - The first born, as the blood on the door protected the firstborn of the tribes of Jacob when the Angel of Death came during the first Passover night. Every male was to be circumcised, and the first born ransomed. Jesus is getting circumcised as a part of fulfilling all righteousness, in perfect keeping of the law. The whole tribe of Levi was set apart as a tithe unto the Lord, a ransom for the rest of Israel, as Jesus will be the High Priest for all who are set free from the bonds of sin.

…2“Say to the Israelites, ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be unclean for seven days, as she is during the days of her menstruation. 3And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised. Leviticus 12: 2-3

“Let us now speak first of the purification. Luke makes it apply both to Mary and to Christ: for the pronoun of them, can have no reference whatever to Joseph.” (Calvin)

iii. “For He who knew no sin, and who never was to know sin, was already in His circumcision made sin for us. He was not so much as eight days in this world till he began to be numbered with the transgressors. Mary’s firstborn son was a lamb without blemish and without spot, but before He was a week old, He began to bear the sins of many…And as He began in the temple that day, so He continued every day to lead a life of pain, and shame, and bloodshedding, for us for our children, till He finished on the cross the sin-atoning work His Father had given Him to do. And ever after that first day of His wounding of our transgressions, that Holy Thing bore in His body the marks of our redemption.” (Whyte) - Enduring Word

A pair of turtle doves - This was the offering of the poor. Jesus was not born into a wealthy family.

…7And the priest will present them before the LORD and make atonement for her; and she shall be ceremonially cleansed from her flow of blood. This is the law for a woman giving birth, whether to a male or to a female. 8But if she cannot afford a lamb, she shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’” Leviticus 12: 7-8

Simeon, righteous and devout, waiting on the consolation of Israel - He was familiar with the prophets, so he is waiting on the One Who will bring lasting peace to Israel. It is interesting, the watchmen, the faithful there are not the high priests, the Pharisees (apostate conservatives) and the Sadducees (apostate liberals), but these believers who continue in prayer and hope. There is always but a small remnant, and the Kingdom is so much in reverse to what men would consider influential. Simon's name means "to be heard".

For my eyes have seen Your salvation - Everyone that God has moved to bare testimony to Who Jesus is were devout, humble people, much like His earthly parents. Simeon seas the Messiah and is happy to die blessed for here is Salvation. 

For the fall and rising of many: This would be shown in the way that Peter repented, but Judas despaired; in that one thief blasphemed, the other believed. Jesus is like a magnet that is attractive to some, but others are repelled from Him. - E Word

A light for revelation to the Gentiles - We who were a far off. This was the mission of Israel, and this was unfulfilled and so Christ continues to fulfill all righteousness. He is the light of the world, and His name has spread throughout the earth, revealing to men their falleness and God's holiness. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one will ever be right with God except through Jesus. 

A sword will pierce through your own soul also - Being Christ mother meant being the mother of the Lamb that was intended for slaughter. Regardless of what one does or does not comprehend intellectually, in that we know Christ must die, yet to be so close as to watch your child suffer this, most parents can appreciate it being the sort of thought you keep back from your own mind. 

A prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher - Anna's name means "favor, grace". Asher was one of the 10 northern tribes, and many think from a narrow reading of God's word, not taking the whole of it, that those tribes lost their representation when Assyria took them into captivity. The northern tribes had a long lineage of evil and corrupt kings who didn't want people to go down to Jerusalem to worship. There was a remnant even there, in each of these tribes, that remained loyal to the true God and His word, and so there were many migrations of these dear people into the southern kingdom of Judah and Benjamin. 

Lenski notes that in regard to her gift "she resembled Philip’s daughters (Acts 21:9), and she used her gift in a similarly quiet way. The title does not mean that she constantly foretold the future, or that she put herself forward publicly, but that she knew and interpreted the Word and the will of God for edification as 1 Cor. 14 describes this so valuable charisma." (See context in The Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel)

And what a dramatic contrast godly Anna was with the only other NT use of the word prophetess (prophetis) describing ungodly Jezebeel. John records the words of the risen, glorified Lord Jesus...

‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.(Rev 2:20+) - Precept Austin

…10And the couriers traveled from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun; but the people scorned and mocked them. 11Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12Moreover, the power of God was on the people in Judah to give them one heart to obey the command of the king and his officials according to the word of the LORD.… 2 Chronicles 30: 10-12

…10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal. 12The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates.… Revelation 21: 10-12

Worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day - Hers is the most powerful of ministries, that of a prayer warrior. She knows exactly Who to go to, Who will get it right, Who has the power to bring about change. I have known a couple of women like this in my life, and for them the answer is always Jesus and they don't just fast so as not to eat food, not like a hunger strike, but to search the word and pray. They say in essence, this is more important than food. It is also interesting that she did not remarry and remained at the temple for probably some 60 or more years. She has the gift of celibacy, and I knew a woman like this who was always sincere in her faith, always about the word and prayer. It gave her great wisdom and discernment, which she used to look right through me, and very directly tell me, "you have a lot of the world in you." That stuck with me over the years, and when I finally broke I learned to look for that myself, to set different priorities, to read what God has to say, and profess it to my children. I cannot give them anything better than the knowledge of God, and I cannot teach them better than living this walk before them. 

After three days they found Him in the temple - Luke gives us a wonderful look into Jesus' early years. He is twelve, the time at which young Jewish boys are at a turning point, for at 13 you will enter into the start of manhood, apprenticeships and keeping the law. His parents were traveling back home when they realized they had lost the Son of God.

And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom (ethos) of the Feast The Jewish father was required to acquaint the children with the Law, and when the child turned 13 he was required to fulfill the Law. Jesus’ parents were perhaps getting him accustomed to the Law by taking him at age 12 to the Feast, which refers to the Feast of the Passover. The irony is that one day when He grew up Jesus would again go up to the Feast, but would go to present Himself as the Passover Lamb! (Jn 1:29+, Isa 53:7+)

Robert Stein - At the age of thirteen a Jewish boy became obligated to observe the law (Nid. 5:6; Nazir 29b) and in more recent years has begun to be called a “son of the covenant—Bar-Mitzvah.” (See Luke: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition) - Precept Austin

All who heard Him were amazed at His understanding - The theories put forth by the religious elite, that Jesus was taught by magicians in Egypt, to explain His later miracles, are astounding testaments to Who He really is. It could even be seen in His youth, that and the fact that all of Scripture points to Him. This is God the Son, become man to walk in the Spirit of God, obeying the law and even submitting to earthly parents. He wears humility in a way that baffles us, for we all fall upon some idea of being entitled. He is already teaching here, and this will be a major thrust of His ministry. 

Did you not know that I must be in My Father's house - This house told the redemption story, and it is a house where true worshipers also show up among the ritualist. It was to be a house of prayer, and though He is quite calm here, later He will drive people out of the temple. This is God's house, and He is the Son of God, so a good place to start.

12Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. 13And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” 14The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and He healed them.… Matthew 21: 12-14

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man - He grew up, and He continued to do as we were meant to, glorifying God in the everyday. Let it be that no ill can honestly be said of God's children.