Luke 2:21-52 Presentation of Jesus at the Temple

Introduction

Luke 2:21-24 The Circumcision and Presentation of Jesus

Luke 2:21–24 KJV

21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

In the whole passage, Luke is showing us the faithfulness and devotion Joseph and Mary have to the Law of God

purification of joseph and Mary: Leviticus 12:1–4 “1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. 3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.”

Leviticus 12:6–8 “6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: 7 Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. 8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

presentation of Jesus to the Lord: Numbers 18:15–16 “15 Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem. 16 And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.”

(Hannah) dedication of Jesus to the Lord’s service: 1 Samuel 1:27–28 “27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.”

Joseph and Mary are going above what the law required!

Luke 2:25-35 “Nunc Dimittis” or “Simeon’s Song”

Luke 2:25–35 KJV

25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

4th major “song”: Magnificat, Benedictus, Gloria in Excelsis Deo, and “Nunc Dimittis” or “Simeon’s Song” (Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine = "Now dismiss your servant, O Lord")

25 just and devout: Luke shows us Simeon's devotion to the law and the Lord

“consolation of Israel”: this is the Messiah; Isaiah 25:9 “9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

29 Simeon came to the temple by the leading of the Spirit and now is prophesying by the Spirit. He says: “thank you God, I’ve seen the Messiah you promised I’d see, and now can die in peace”

31-32 prepared before the face: not just the Jew; Revelation 7:9 “9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”

33 Joseph and Mary marvelled: not just surprised, but like when the sun rises or sets over the mountain in just the right way or standing at the beach looking out over the ocean. We marvel at the thought “there’s more to this deal than just what we see”

34 fall and rising: but I would say it’s not all sunshine and rainbows but it kind of is; it’s the glory of the messiah but also the judgement of those that reject Him

35 sword shall pierce: and not only that; Mary, this baby’s going to result in a pain for you unlike you know now; but remember this moment, He’s the salvation of all Israel, the nations, and the world who believe on Him for forgiveness. Luke’s reminding us that the pain the cross brings was part of the story of redemption from before time began

Luke 2:36-39 Anna sees Jesus

Luke 2:36–39 KJV

36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

Simeon and Anna are man and woman; we see that all of humanity should rejoice in the coming of the Messiah even though Luke shows it here, through a Jewish lens.

If you count this, it’s the 5th “song” of praise

36-38 prophetess: teacher of the OT; whether she was married at 14, widowed at 21, and now 105 or just 84 now and widowed after 7 years of marriage somewhere in there; the takeaway is the same: she has lived to an old age only married once and then wholly devoted to God! And then from this moment will tell and teach every person looking for salvation about Jesus, the messiah

39 Luke is continuing to tell us the Law is an expression of Yahweh’s purpose and Jesus will be raised by parents who live it!

Luke 2:39: ALL THINGS according to the law of the Lord

Luke 2:40-52 The Growth of Jesus, Son of God

Luke 2:40–52 KJV

40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 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 to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

40 Jesus grew: we’re about to run into one of the greatest mysteries of the faith there are and I THINK Luke wants to remind us of the humanity of Jesus before we get there

41-45: they are still, after 12 years as devoted as in the beginning. And even with the love they had, Mary thinks he’s with Joseph, and Joseph thinks he’s with Mary and neither have him.

46: A day out of Jerusalem then a day back in and they spend a whole day looking for him, then find him in the temple interacting with the teachers, listening and asking questions.

47-48: but it wasn’t just a q&a. The way Jesus was speaking and the questions he was asking showed he knew far more than “a regular 12 year old”.

and this creates kind of a question you may or may not have wondered about: How did Jesus know so much? A question smarter people than I am have tried to answer for maybe 2k years.

If we say Jesus knew more because he was God, we take away from his humanity. If we don’t then we take away from his deity. It’s a heresy to go all the way to either nature and discount the other.

Council of Chalcedon 451 the church fathers were fighting off both heresies and came out with something close to: In the incarnation of Jesus, he is “vera homo, vera Deus” “truly man and truly God”;

that we must affirm both the true and full humanity of Jesus in the incarnation and affirm His true and full deity.

4 negatives:

Without confusion — the natures aren't mixed or blended into a third thing

Without change — the natures don't transform each other

Without division — they're not separate or split

Without separation — they remain united in one person

So how did he know and why does his nature matter?

few possibilities:

when it comes to wisdom Jesus was made wisdom:

1 Corinthians 1:23–24 “23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:27–30 “27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

Jesus was taught wisdom:

John 7:16 “16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.”

John 8:28 “28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.”

Jesus is perfectly sinless

Matthew 22:37 “37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

1 John 3:5 “5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”

To not have been impacted at all by sin and the fall and to love God with all, heart, soul, AND mind; Jesus would know enough at 12 to shame all phd.’s that ever lived when it comes to the Word of God, the knowledge of God, and the Will of God”

Why does it matter?:

For our salvation the sacrifice had to be human

For our redemption to be real we needed someone that experienced our suffering and temptation and overcame them

For our mediation Jesus had to uniquely stand between God and humanity precisely because He is both.

48: Luke 2:48 “48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.”

behold=LOOK!

49 how could you not know: Jesus knows who he is and his mission to follow completely the will of the Father

Luke 2:50–52 “50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

Conclusion

For men, this teaches that our walk with God isn't built on selective obedience or personal convenience. We honor God by faithfully observing our covenant commitments, whether in our families, churches, or communities.

For men as spiritual leaders and protectors of their families, this passage teaches humility before God's larger purposes. We cannot always protect our loved ones from God's plan, and sometimes our role is to prepare them spiritually for what lies ahead.

For men, this teaches that our ultimate allegiance is to God's kingdom and calling, not merely to family interests or earthly relationships.