LUKE LESSON 5

    We will begin this lesson in  Luke 2:21 "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."

    Abraham had promised God that all the male children would be
circumcised on the 8th day after birth. the children were named during
this special ceremony. The angel had told Mary what the babe's name
should be, and she has followed his instructions.

    Luke 2:22 "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;"

    Mary was a woman who pleased God. She lived as close as possible
to the law of Moses. Moses, in the law God had given him, gave a law
of purification after childbirth; and Mary followed this law, This can
be found in Leviticus 12:2-3 the temple was in Jerusalem, so this is
where they brought Jesus for dedication to the Lord. Mary's
purification would have been complete 40 days after Jesus' birth. This
temple dedication was on the 40th day.

    Luke 2:23 "(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male
that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)"  Exodus
34:19 "All that openeth the matrix [is] mine; and every firstling
among thy cattle, [whether] ox or sheep, [that is male]."  Luke 2:24
"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 Leviticus 12:6-8, we see the Levitical law that covers the gift
Mary brought for her atonement, She could not bring a lamb so she
brought the lesser expensive sacrifice.

    Luke 2:25 "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."

    The consolation of Israel was Messiah. This man believed that
during his lifetime Messiah would come. Today in Israel the devout
Jews are again expecting Messiah. He was just and devout and that
brings the Holy Ghost.

    Luke 2:26 "And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he
should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ."

    This devout believer, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit of
God, had been informed by revelation that he would not die before he
saw the Lord (anointed one) Christ. He believed and expected this to
be true.

    Luke 2:27 "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,"  Luke 2:28 "Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed
God, and said,"  Luke 2:29 "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart
in peace, according to thy word:" Luke 2:30 "For mine eyes have seen
thy salvation," Luke 2:31 "Which thou hast prepared before the face of
all people;"

    Simeon was very old, possibly over 100 years. At any rate, so old
that he came by the power of the Spirit of God. This was to dedicate
Jesus. Simeon immediately recognized through the Holy Spirit that this
child is the Saviour of the world; the Messiah. He says, now that I
have seen Him, I am ready to go home to heaven.

    Luke 2:32 "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy
people Israel."

    This type of Light, here, is the Light of the knowledge of God.
The Gentiles have never had an opportunity up until then to know God
and to be children of Light. Jesus is the hope of the Gentile. Israel
knew God. Messiah will come as an Israelite.

    Luke 2:33 "And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things
which were spoken of him."

    Notice that Joseph is not Jesus' father. the Scripture does show
Mary as Jesus' mother. Mary realizes that Jesus is special, but even
now does not know just exactly what He came to do.

    Luke 2:34 "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;"  Luke 2:35
"(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the
thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

    Simeon speaking a blessing is blessing Mary and her husband
Joseph. Notice that this prophecy given by Simeon is given to Mary who
is the mother of Jesus. Simeon doesn't speak to Joseph, because this
is not his child. So many (the supposedly religious people) in Israel
will not accept the Saviour. They will fall. those who receive Jesus
will rise. The disciples are a good example of those who are built up.
This sword which will pierce Mary is the grief she will feel when they
crucify Jesus. Simeon is speaking through the power of the Holy Ghost.

    We are told throughout the Bible that by two witnesses a thing
shall be established. II Corinthians 13:1 is an example of that.
"......In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be
established." We have seen one witness in Simeon and now we need
another witness. Many denominations stop with Simeon and do not
mention the other witness. The other witness is a woman, and it would
blow their theory that women are not to minister in the church.
Nevertheless. Let us look at the Bible account of the second witness
here.

    Luke 2:36 "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;"

    This is a female prophet (just as Isaiah, Daniel, and Malachi were
prophets). She most assuredly was a preacher as we will see in the
next few verses. There were not as many gifted women called to the
ministry as men, because most women were not educated in the holy
Scriptures. Anna, as we will see in the next few verses, never left
the temple; she prayed and fasted. She also told everyone who wanted
salvation about Jesus, which is preaching. She preached in the church,
because the Scripture says she never left the temple. Anna had been a
married woman and was now a widow. Anna was a descendent of Asher.

    Luke 2:37 "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."

    She was eighty-four years old. It seems she was very devoted to
God and His work. Fasting and prayer is possibly the most important
ministry in the church and is greatly neglected today in our churches.

    Luke 2:38 "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."

    This "Anna" quickly realized who Jesus was. She not only
recognized Him and accepted Him for herself, but preached to everyone
in Jerusalem who looked for redemption. She was one of the first to
preach the good news of Jesus Christ as our Redeemer.

    Luke 2:39 "And when they had performed all things according to the
law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city
Nazareth."

    This does not say exactly when they went back to Nazareth except
to say that after they had fulfilled the law given by Moses. We can
assume that the wise men spoken of in Matthew came to see Jesus before
Mary and Joseph's return to Nazareth, and even the stay in Egypt to
avoid Herod Killing Jesus occurred before their return to Nazareth.
















                           Luke 5 Questions

1.  On what day was Jesus circumcised?
2.  What other thing did the family do on this day?
3.  Whose covenant with God did this fulfill?
4.  On what day did Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the temple for
    dedication?
5.  Where can the law of purification be found?
6.  Every male child is __________to God.
7.  What sacrifice did they take?
8.  Who was the elderly man in the temple?
9.  What was this man waiting for?
10. How had it been revealed to him that he would not die before
    seeing the Saviour?
11. How was he able to come into the temple?
12. When Simeon took the baby in his arms. What did he do?
13. What would Jesus be to the Gentiles?
14. What does verse 33 tell us about Joseph?
15. What did Simeon say that this child was set for?
16. What did he tell Mary would happen to her?
17. By how many shall a thing be established?
18. Why do many denominations not tell about Anna in the temple?
19. What was Anna called in verse 36?
20. What tribe was she from?
21. Had she ever been married?
22. What two things did she do continually?
23. How do we know that she preached in the church?
24. How old was Anna?
25. What is greatly neglected in our churches today?
26. What was the message she preached?
27. In verse 39. where did they go back to live?
28. What 2 things (not mentioned in Luke) happened before Mary and
    Joseph went home?