Luke 2:22

Luke 2:22 (ESV)

[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

 

As Jesus parents are bringing him to the temple Simeon recognized who he was and praised God. There is a clue in these verses that makes this an incredible event. If Simeon was looking for the consolation of Israel, as the passage indicates, then he was looking for Messiah. Messiah is the future King of Israel in the line of David. One would expect then that he would be born into a relatively wealthy family. Verse 24 indicates that the offering Joseph and Mary are bringing is in compliance with the Law which requires "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." Leviticus 8 specifies that the correct offering is a lamb, but if the family cannot afford one then the turtledoves or pigeons are acceptable. This seems to indicate that Jesus family is too poor to pay for a lamb.

 

Why would Simeon give this poor family a second look? Verses 25-26 hold the key. They tell us that "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." Here was a man who was used to listening to the leading of the Spirit. It was not external conditions and experiences that he relied on for truth and understanding, but the Spirit. Hebrews 5:14 says that those who are spiritually mature "have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." Maybe part of the reason that we find ourselves lacking discernment and not hearing the promptings of the Holy Spirit is because we are not used to listening.

 

Simeon, a man described as "righteous and devout," had his powers of discernment trained to hear the Holy Spirit and when an infant, the child of a poor Jewish family, was carried into the temple he immediately recognized Messiah. Father, may my powers of discernment be trained to hear you as well.

 

By His grace,

Rick Weinert

Comments