26 And it was revealed unto him | servant depart in peace, according by the Holy Ghost, that he should to thy word:

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 kaw,

28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 Lord, now lettest thou thy

a Ps.89.48. He.11.5. b Ge.46.30. c Is.57.2. Re. 14.13.

30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people:

e

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

33 And Joseph and his mothe marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

d Is.52.10. c.3.6. Ac.4.12. e Is.42.6. 49.6 60.3. Ac.13.47,48.

That is, to make an offering for purification, and to present him to God.

28. Blessed God. Thanked, or prais ed God.

swear, also, by "the consolation of Israel" that is, by the Messiah about to come. See Lightfoot on this place. The Holy Ghost, &c. He was a holy man, and was divinely inspired 29. Now lettest. Now thou dost let, respecting the Messiah about to appear. or permit. This word is in the in26. Was revealed. In what way this dicative nood, and signifies that God was done we are not informed. Some- was permitting him to die in peace, by times a revelation was made by a dream, having relieved his anxieties, allayed at others by a voice, and at others by si- his fears, fulfilled the promises, and lent suggestion. All we know of this is having, by the appearing of the Mesthat it was by the Holy Ghost. ¶ Not see siah, removed every reason why he death. Should not die. To see death, should live any longer, and every wish and to taste of death, was a common way to live. Depart. Die. According among the Hebrews of expressing death to thy word. Thy promise made by itself. Compare Ps. lxxxix. 48. The revelation.-God never disappoints. To Lord's Christ. Rather the Lord's An- many it might have appeared improba ointed. The word Christ means anoint-ble when such a promise was made to ed, and it would have been better to use that word here. To an aged man, who had been long waiting for the Messiah, how grateful must have been this revelation- this solemn assurance that the Messiah was near! But this revelation is now given to every man, that he need not taste of death till, by the eye of faith, he may see the Christ of God. He is offered freely. He has come. He waits to manifest himself to the world. And he is not willing that any should die for ever. To us, also, it will be as great a privilege in our dying hours to have seen Christ by faith, as it was to Simeon. It will be the only thing that can support us then the only thing that will enable us to depart in peace.

27. By the spirit. By the direction of the spirit. Into the temple. Into that part of the temple where the public wership was chiefly performed into the court of the women. See Note on Matt. xxi. 12. The custom of the law.

an old man, that it should be fulfilled. But God fulfils all his word; keeps all his promises, and NEVER disappoints those who trust in him.

30. Thy salvation. Him who is to procure salvation for his people; or, the Saviour.

31. Before the face of all people Whom thou hast provided for all peo ple, or whom thou dost design to reveal to all people.

32. A light to lighten the Gentiles.. This is in accordance with the prophe. cies in the Old Testament. Isa. xlix. ix. 6, 7. Ps. xcviii. 3. Mal. iv. 2. The Gentiles are represented as sitting in darkness, i. e., in ignorance, and sin. Christ is a light to them, as by him they will be made acquainted with the character of the true God, his law, and the plan of redemption. As the darkness rolls away as the sun arises, so ignorance and error flee away when Jesus gives light to the mind. Nations shall come to his light, and kings to the

b

against.

34 And Simeon blessed them, | and for a sign which shall be spoken and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall a and rising again of many in Israel;

a Is.8.14. Ro.9.32,33. 1 Co.1.23,24. 2 Co.2. 16. 1 Pe.2.7,8.

brightness of his rising. Isa. lx. 2, 3. And the glory, &c. The first offer of salvation was made to the Jews. John iv. 22. Luke xxiv. 47. Jesus was born among the Jews; among them had been the prophecies respecting him, and his first ministry was among them. Hence he was their glory, their honor, their light. To us it is a subject of special gratitude that the Saviour was given for the Gentiles. For, 1. We are Gentiles, and if he had not come we should have been shut out from the blessings of redemption. 2. It is he only that now

can make our dying bed
Feel soft as downy pillows are,
While on his breast we lean our head
And breathe our life out sweetly there."

35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that " b Ac.28.22. c Jno.19.25. d Ju.5,15,16 Co.11.19.

and fell unto destruction. Many that were proud, were brought low by his preaching. They fell from the vain and giddy height of their own self-righteous. ness, and were humbled before God, and then through him rose again to a better righteousness and to better hopes. The nation also rejected him, and put him to death, and as a judgment, fell into the hands of the Romans. Thousands were led into captivity, and thousands perished. The nation rushed into ruin, the temple was destroyed, and the people were scattered into all the nations. See Rom. ix. 32, 33. 1 Pet. ii. 8. 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. And rising again. The word "again" is not expressed in the Greek. It seems to suppose in our translation that the same persons would fall and rise again. But this is not its meaning. It denotes, that many would be ruined by his coming; and many others be made happy, or be saved. Many of the poor and humble, that were willing to receive him, would obtain pardon of sin and peace should rise from their sins and sorrows here, and finally ascend to eternal life. And for a sign, &c. The word sign here denotes a conspicuous or distinguished object; and the Lord Jesus was such an object of contempt and rejection by all the people. He was despised, and his religion has been the common mark or sign for all the wicked, the profligate and the profane, to curse, and ridicule, and oppose. Compare Isa. viii. 18, and Acts xxviii. 22.-Never was a prophecy 34. Simeon blessed them. Joseph and more exactly fulfilled than this. Thou Mary. On them he sought the bless-sands have rejected the gospel and fallen ing of God. Is set. Is appointed, or into ruin, thousands are still falling constituted for that, or such will be the of those who are ashamed of Jesus effect of his coming. The fall. The thousands blaspheme him, deny him word fall here seems to denote mis-speak all manner of evil against him, ery, suffering, disappointment, or ruin. and would crucify him again if he were There is a plain reference here to the in their hands. But thousands also by passage where it is said that he should him are renewed, justified, and raised be a stone of stumbling, and a rock of up to life and peace. offence. Isa. viii. 14, 15. Many expected a temporal prince, and in this they were disappointed. They loved darkness rather than light, and rejecte 1 him,

Thus our departure may be like that of Simeon. Thus we may die in peace. Thus it will be a blessing to die. But, 3. In order to do this, our life must be like that of Simeon. We must wait for the consolation of Israel. We must look for his coming. We must be holy, harmless, undefiled, loving the Saviour. Then death to us, like death to Simeon, will have no terror,-we shall depart in peace, and in heaven, see the salvation of God. 2 Peter iii. 11, 12. But 4. Children, as well as hoary-haired Simeon, may look for the coming of Christ. They too must die; and their death will be happy only as they depend on the Lord Jesus, and are prepared to meet him.

35. Yea, a sword, &c. The sufferings and death of thy Son shall deeply afflict thy soul. And if Mary had not been this forewarned and sustained by

the thoughts of many hearts may | stant, gave thanks likewise unto the be revealed. Lord, and spake of him to all them 36 And there was one Anna, a that looked for redemption in 1 Je prophetess, the daughter of Pha-rusalem. nuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

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

ners. vor.

a Ex.23.15. De.16.1.

Here it means no more than faGod showed him favor, or was pleased with him and blessed him.

It is remarkable that this is all that is recorded of the infancy of Jesus. And this, with the short account that follows of his going to Jerusalem, is all that we know of him for thirty years of his ife. The design of the Evangelists was to give an account of his public ministry, and not his private life. Hence they say little of him in regard to his first years. What they do say, however, corresponds entirely with what we might expect. He was wise, pure, pleasing God, and deeply skilled in the knowledge of the divine law. He set a lovely example for all children; was subject to his parents, and increased in favor with God and man.

42. Twelve years old. It is probable that this was the age at which males at first went up to Jerusalem. They were required to appear three times a year before God, to attend on the ordinances of religion in the temple, and they commenced at the age of twelve years. Ex. xxiii. 14-17. Deut. xvi. 16. To Jerusalem. Where the feasts of the Jews were all held. This was a journey from Nazareth of about seventy miles. After the custom of the feast. According to the usual manner of the feast. The way in which it was properly obrved.

have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their hinsfolk and among their acquaintance.

45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerasalem, seeking him..

46 And it came to pass, that af ter three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and ask ing them questions.

47 And all that heard him were ·

ble that parents should not have been more attentive to their only Son, and have been assured of his presence with them when they left Jerusalem. Put the difficulty may be explained by the following considerations. 1. In going to these great feasts, families and neighbors would join together, and form a large collection. 2. It is not improba ble that Jesus was with them when they were about to start from Jerusa lem, and were making preparations Seeing him then, they might have been secure as to his presence. 3. A par of the company might have left before the others, and Joseph and Mary may have supposed that he was with them, until they overtook them at night, and ascertained their mistake. Kinsfolk. Relatives. Acquaintances. Neighbors who had gone up with them in the same company to Jerusalem.

46. After three days. This means probably on the third day after they had left Jerusalem. That is, the first day they went towards Galilee; on the second they returned to Jerusalem; and on the third they found him. Compare Matt. xxvii. 63. Mark viii. 31. ¶ In the temple. In the court of the temple. For Jesus not being a Levitical priest could not enter into the temple itself. See Matt. xxi. 12. ¶ In the midst of the doctors. The teachers, the Rabbins. who were the instructers of the people in matters of religion. ¶ Asking them questions. Proposing questions to them respecting the law and the prophets There is no reason to suppose that this was for the purpose of perplexing or confounding them. The questions were 14. Supposing him to have been in the doubtless proposed in a respectful man. mpany. It may seem very remarka-ner, and the answers listened to wh

43. Had fulfilled the days. The days of the passover. Eight days in allone day for killing the paschal lamb, and seven days for the observance of the feast of unleavened bread. Ex. xii. 15. Lev. xxiii. 5, 6.

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 a Ps. 119.99. Matt.7.28. Mar.1.22. c.4.22,32. Ino.7.15,46.

proper deference to their age and rank. Jesus was a child; and religion does not teach a child to be rude or uncivil, even though he may really know much more than more aged persons. Religion teaches all, and especially the young to treat others with respect; to show them the honor that is due; to venerate age; and to speak kindly to all. 1 Pet. ii. 17; iii. 8, 9. Ex. xx. 12. Matt. xxiii. 3. Rom. xiii. 7.

48. Why hast thou thus dealt with us? Why hast thou given us all this trouble and anxiety, in going so far, and returning with so much solicitude? Thy father. Joseph was not the real father of Jesus, but he was legally so; and as the secret of his birth was not commonly known, he was called his father. Mary, in accordance with that usage, also called him so. Sorrowing. Anxious, lest in the multitude he might not be found; or lest some accident might have happened to him.

deed upon his public work for eighteen yoars after this; yet still, the work of God was his work, and always, even in childhood, it was proper for him to be engaged in the great business for which he came.

50. They understood not, &c. It is remarkable that they did not understand Jesus in this; but it shows how slow persons are to believe. Even his parents, after all that had taken place did not seem to comprehend that he was to be the Saviour of men; or it they did, they understood it in a very imperfect manner.

51. Went down with them. Down from Jerusalem, which was in a high, mountainous region. Was subject unto them. Performed the duty of a faithful and obedient child; and not improbably was engaged in the trade of Joseph-that of a carpenter. Every Jew was required to learn some trade and there is every reason to think that 49. How is it, &c. Why have ye our Saviour followed that of his reputed sought me with so much anxiety? father. And from this we learn, 1. That Mary should have known that the Son obedience to parents is a duty. Jesus of God was safe; that his heavenly has set an example in this that all chilFather would take care. of him, and dren should follow. Though he was that he could do nothing amiss. Wist the Son of God, and on proper occa ye not. Know ye not. You had reason sions was engaged in the great work of to know. You knew my design in com- redemption, yet he was also the Son of ing into the world; and that design Mary; and he loved and obeyed his was superior to the duty of obeying mother, and was subject to her. 2. It earthly parents, and they should be is no dishonor to be a mechanic, or to willing always to give me up to the be brought up in an obscure employ. proper business for which I live. My ment. Jesus has conferred honor on Father's business. Some think that this virtuous industry, and no man should should be translated "in my Father's be ashamed of industrious parents, house; that is, in the temple. Jesus though poor, or of a condition of life reminded them here that he came down that is far from ease and affluence. In. from heaven; that he had a higher Fa-dustry is honorable, and virtuous pov. ther than an earthly parent; and that, erty should not be regarded as a mat even in early life, it was proper that ter of reproach. The only thing to be he should be engaged in the work for ashamed of, in regard to this matter, is which he came. He did no enter n- when men are idle or when children