Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
26. it was revealed unto him ] Christian legend says that he had stumbled at Isa 7:14, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive,” and had received a divine intimation that he should not die till he had seen it fulfilled (Nicephorus, a. d. 1450). The notion of his extreme age is not derived from Scripture but from the ‘Gospel of the Nativity of Mary,’ which says that he was 113.
the Lord’s Christ ] The Anointed of Jehovah.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And it was revealed unto him – In what way this was done we are not informed. Sometimes a revelation was made by a dream, at others by a voice, and at others by silent suggestion. All we know of this is that it was by the Holy Spirit.
Not see death – Should not die. To see death and to taste of death, was a common way among the Hebrews of expressing death itself. Compare Psa 89:48.
The Lords Christ – Rather the Lords Anointed. The word Christ means anointed, 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 until, 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 forever. 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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Luk 2:26
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost
The leading of the Spirit
Observe that Simeon found Christ in the temple, being conducted thither by the Holy Ghost.
There was an ancient promise, The Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His Temple, and this probably drew the holy man to the courts of the Lord. But the Lord might have come, and Simeon might not have been there, or the good old man might have been occupied in some other court of the holy place; but being led of the Spirit he came to the appointed spot at the very time when the mother of Christ was bringing the Babe in her arms to do for Him according to the law. In this Simeon is an instance of the truth that they find Christ who are led by the Spirit, and they alone. No man ever comes to Christ by his own wit and wisdom, nor by his own unprompted will: he alone who is drawn of the Spirit comes to Christ. We must submit ourselves to Divine teaching and Divine drawing, or else Christ may come to His temple, but we shall not perceive Him. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Simeons felicity
How highly favoured was Simeon! A glorious anticipation truly for a pious Israelite to entertain! A stupendous assurance to carry about with him! How must it have stirred his inmost soul at times to think upon it! At one time, joy–at another, alarm–must have filled his heart; joy at the thought that God was about to visit and redeem His people; alarm, for who might abide the day of His coming, and who should stand when He appeared? Every rumour which reached him must have made his pulse throb and his heart beat; for he knew that he was destined to look upon Him to whom all type and all prophecy for four thousand years had been steadily pointing His words of recognition, the inspired hymn which bears his name, must doubtless have flowed from his burning lips like words of fire. His embrace must surely have been an act of unspeakable gratitude, wonder, and joy! (Dean Burgon.)
Blessedness found in the path of duty
Let us put ourselves in his position from the day that he received the promise, and consider, as far as may be, not merely what we should have felt, but how we should have acted, had we been in his place. It may be thought that we should have adopted one of the most probable opinions as to the manner in which Messiah would appear, and have anxiously expected His manifestation. We might perhaps have gone out of our way in this pursuit; and when the time grew long, we might have fancied that we were called upon to take some step in order to meet the Divine condescension half way. But what was the course adopted by devout Simeon? We find him frequenting the Temple faithfully, as aforetime; until, on a certain day, which was like every other day except in its results to him, the desire of his soul was gratified. A humble pair enter, and the mother bears in her arms a little Babe. There is nothing to distinguish that group from ordinary worshippers. Nay, their attire and their offering bespeak great poverty. Simeon is made aware by a sudden revelation of the Spirit, that in that helpless Child he beholds the Lords Christ: whereupon he takes Him up in his arms, and blesses God, and pours out his soul in solemn thankfulness. Surely the lesson to be derived from this incident is the same which is taught us by many a page of Holy Scripture besides; namely, that blessedness is to be found in the path of duty. This lesson we dare not overlook, or neglect. Every one is apt to think that there is something in his own position, peculiarly uncongenial to holiness; that his own path of life is peculiarly difficult and embarrassing. Especially are men prone to think that the common round of daily duties affords but little time, and presents yet fewer opportunities, for the service of God. The daily task is so humble, or so uncongenial; so simply worldly, or so extremely private, that many who desire a closer walk with God are apt to wish that they were not exactly what and where they are; but, indeed, almost anything besides. It is our own infirmity, if we thus think. God requires at our hand good things, not great things. He can do without us; and it is He who does in us all that we ever seem to do well. Moreover, if He does but find in us a perfect willingness to serve Him, let us be well assured that He will minister to us occasions of holiness; or rather, that we shall find ample room for the execution of our best designs and desires, in those same daily duties, that same lowly round of perhaps distasteful task, which we half dislike and half despise. (Ibid.)
Simeons character
1. The Holy Ghost, his Leader.
2. Faith, his consolation.
3. Piety, his life.
4. The Saviour, his joy.
5. To depart for heaven, his desire. (Van Doren.)
In the huge Temple, deckd by Herods pride, Who fain would bribe a God he neer believed, Kneels a meek woman, that hath once conceived, Tho she was never like an earthly bride. And yet the stainless would be purified, And wash away the stain that yet was none, And for the birth of her immaculate Son, With the stern rigour of the law complied: The duty paid received its due reward When Simeon blessd the Baby in her arm; And though he plainly told her that a sword Must pierce her soul, she felt no weak alarm, For that for which a prophet thanked the Lord Once to have seen, could never end in harm. (Hartley Coleridge.)
The fear of death destroyed by a sight of Christ
Our text is a joyful exclamation of a venerable old saint upon seeing the Lords Christ. It seems that when his eyes once looked upon Jesus, he never wished them to gaze on aught more on earth. Hence he exclaimed, Now, Lord, lettest Thou Thy servant depart inpeace. We remark–
I. THAT GOD ALWAYS HONOURS PRE-EMINENTLY DEVOTED MEN. Them that honour Me, saith the Lord, will I honour. Undevout minds are too worldly, too apathetic, too dull to hear the secret whispering of heaven. Tis the spiritual ear alone that can hear the still small voice that comes across the universe from the spirit-world; tis the spiritual eye alone that reads the secrets of eternity, that sees passing in review before it the realities of the hidden state. Some simple-hearted Christians were once returning from chapel; they had been to hear the holy Bramwell preach. One of them said to the other, How is it that Mr. Bramwell has always something new to tell us? Ah! said the other, I can tell you how it is; he lives very much nearer the gates of heaven than many of us, and God tells him things He does not tell other people. And so it was with Simeon. He lived very much nearer the gates of heaven than many of his day; and God honoured him by telling him this great fact. It was revealed unto Simeon that he should not see death till he had seen the Lords Christ.
II. SIMEON WAS A MAN OF PRE-EMINENT DEVOTEDNESS TO GOD. And, behold, say the Scriptures, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. Observes an eminent divine, No doubt there were many persons in Jerusalem named Simeon besides this man, but there was none of the name who merited the attention of God so much as he in the text. There are four things said about him in the text, every one of which is an evidence of his great devotedness. It is said of him that he was just, devout, that he waited for the Consolation of Israel, and that the Holy Ghost was upon him. You cannot dispense with one of these elements from eminent piety, reconciliation, devoutness, a waiting upon God, and the possession of the Holy Ghost. A virtuous man said, a philosopher is the noblest work of God; but we would rather say a Christian, a devout man, is the noblest work of God. Such a man is Gods jewel, His friend; tis with him God delights to dwell; tis to him God will tell His secrets; on him confer His richest houours. Simeon was such a man; God honoured him by telling him the great fact, that before death should close his eyes, he should see the Lords Christ.
III. THAT THOUGH SIMEON WAS AN EMINENTLY DEVOTED MAN, HE HAD GREAT DISCOURAGEMENT IN OBTAINING A SIGHT OF THE OBJECT HE SO EXTREMELY DESIRED. What Simeon wanted was to see the Lords Christ. Unbelief would suggest to him, Simeon, you are an old man, your day is almost ended, the snow of age is upon your head,, your eyes are growing dim, your brow is wrinkled, your limbs totter, and death cannot be at a great distance; and where are the signs of His coming? You are resting, Simeon, on a phantom of the imagination–it is all a delusion. No, replies Simeon, I shall not see death till I have seen the Lords Christ. Yes, I shall see Him before I die. But unbelief would again suggest, But remember, Simeon, many holy men have desired to see the Lords Christ, but have died without the sight. Yes, says Simeon, I shall see the Lords Christ. I imagine I see Simeon walking out on a fine morning along one of the lovely vales of Palestine, meditating on the great subject that filled his mind. He is met by one of his friends–Peace be with you: have you heard the strange news? What news? replied Simeon. Do you not know Zacharias, the priest? Yes, well. According to the custom of the priests office, his lot was to burn incense in the temple of the Lord, and the whole multitude of the people were praying without. It was the time of incense, and there appeared unto him aa angel standing on the right side of the altar of incense, and told him that he should have a son, whose name should be called John: one who should be great in the sight of the Lord, who should neither drink wine nor strong drink, and he should be filled with the Holy Ghost from his infancy, and that he should go before the Messiah in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord, and make ready a people prepared for the Lord. The angel was Gabriel, that stands in the presence of God, and because he believed not the angel, he was struck dumb. Ah! says Simeon, that is an exact fulfilment of the prophecy of Mal 4:5-6. This is the messenger of the Lord, to prepare the way; this is the forerunner; this is the morning star; the day dawn is not far off; the great Messiah is on His way–is nigh at hand. I shall not see death till I have seen the Lords Christ.Hallelujah! the Lord shall suddenly come to His Temple. Simeon ponders these things in his heart, and time rolls on. I imagine I see Simeon again on his morning meditative walk. He is again accosted by one of his neighbours: Well, Simeon, have you heard the news? What news? Why, theres a wry singular story almost in everybodys mouth. A company of shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem were watching their flocks; it was the still hour of night, and the mantle of darkness covered the world; a bright light shone around the shepherds, a light above the brightness of the midday sun; they looked up, and just above them appeared an angel glowing in all the lovely hues of heaven; the shepherds became greatly terrified, and the angel said to them, Fear not, behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. This is the Lords Christ. I shall not see death till I have seen the Lords Christ. Simeon said to himself, They will bring Him to the Temple to circumcise Him. Away went Simeon, morning after morning, to see if he could get a glimpse of Jesus. Perhaps unbelief suggested to Simeon, You had better stop at home this wet morning; you have been so many mornings and have not seen Him, you may venture to be absent this once. No, says the Spirit, you must go to the Temple. Away went Simeon to the Temple. He would no doubt select a good post of observation. Look at him there, leaning his back against one of the pillars of the Temple; how intently he watches the door! He sees one mother after another bringing her infant to the Temple to be circumcised; he surveys the face of every child. No, says he, as his eye scans the countenance, that is not He, and that is not; but at length he sees the Virgin appear, and the Spirit told him that that was the long-expected Saviour. He grasped the Child in his arms, and pressed Him to his heart, and exclaimed, Now, Lord, lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation. Between Simeon and an awakened sinner there is one point of agreement: they both desire to see one object–the Lords Christ. What must I do? I want help: to whom must I look? Behold, a ray of light breaks in upon him–one single, but bright ray; it keeps him from utter despair, it gives him a faint hope, it enables him tremblingly to say, Before I see death, I shall see the Lords Christ.
1. Unbelief suggests, How do you suppose that you will be permitted to see the Lords Christ? Do you think the great Jehovah, whose majesty almost confounds the cherubim and seraphim–at least compels them to cover over their bright faces with their wings, and fall before His throne in deep adoration–whose temple is all space, whose arm is around all worlds, who inhabits eternity, at whose bidding the sun lights up his fire, whose empire is so vast that were an angel, with the lightnings swiftness, to fly in a direct line from the centre, he would not in millions of years sweep the outskirts of His creation, who sits upon the highest heavens, and sees worlds infinite dance beneath Him as atoms in the sunbeam, you an atom, a shade, a moth, a worm, a flower of the field to-day, and not tomorrow, in the morning, and not to-night, not master of a moment, not a match for a breeze, a dream, a vapour, a shadow, a sinner born to die–how do you suppose He will show you the Lords Christ? Replies the awakened sinner, One thing I know: I dare not die till I have seen the Lords Christ. He cares for my body: will He be less concerned about my soul? Will He arrange all nature to minister to my bodily wants, and leave my soul to perish? No; that is unlike Him.
2. Unbelief again suggests: Are not your sins too great in magnitude and multitude to be forgiven?
3. But unbelief again suggests, Do you suppose that the sins of an age can be pardoned in a moment of time–sins that have spread over years of your life? When we have seen Christ, the sting of death is gone. Simeon pressed the Lords Christ to his heart, and then he never wished his eyes to gaze on aught more of earth; and when the believing penitent has Christ in his heart, the hope of glory, then he is not afraid of death. A fact will bear out this statement. Some time since, a minister of the gospel was called upon to visit a dying woman. He ascended a flight of stairs that led into a miserable-looking garret; for, though clean and neat, there was scarcely an article of furniture to give an air of comfort to the chamber of death. In one corner of the room there was a bed–a bed of straw! On it lay a dying female, pale, and worn to a skeleton; she was near the verge, the trembling verge, of eternity. The minister drew nigh and said to her, Well, my friend, how do you feel? What are your prospects for the eternity which is just about to open upon you? She looked up in the ministers face with a countenance bright with heavenly radiance, and beaming with a brightness she had caught gazing on the visions of God, and said, Oh I sir,
Tis Jesus, the first and the last,
Whose Spirit shall guide me safe home.
Ill praise Him for all that is past,
And trust Him for what is to come.
Christianity can make a bed of straw into a bed of down–can convert a gloomy sick chamber into the vestibule of heaven, a chamber where the soul unrobes and plumes herself for her flight. (J. Caughey.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 26. It was revealed unto him] He was divinely informed, – he had an express communication from God concerning the subject. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. The soul of a righteous and devout man is a proper habitation for the Holy Spirit.
He should not see death] They that seek shall find: it is impossible that a man who is earnestly seeking the salvation of God, should be permitted to die without finding it.
The Lord’s Christ.] Rather, the Lord’s anointed. That prophet, priest, and king, who was typified by so many anointed persons under the old covenant; and who was appointed to come in the fulness of time, to accomplish all that was written in the law, in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning him. See Clarke on Lu 2:11.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
26. revealed by the HolyGhostimplying, beyond all doubt, the personality of theSpirit.
should see not death till hehad seen“sweet antithesis!” [BENGEL].How would the one sight gild the gloom of the other! He was,probably, by this time, advanced in years.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost,…. Not in a dream, as the wise men were warned, nor by an angel, as Joseph, nor by a voice from heaven, which the Jews call “Bath Kol”, but by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, enlightening his understanding, and impressing on his mind:
that he should not see death; an Hebraism, see it in Ps 89:48 the same with the phrase, “to taste death”, elsewhere used; and the sense is, as the Ethiopic version renders it, “that he should not die”; or as the Persic version, “that his death should not be”; as yet: he should live some time longer; nor should that messenger be sent to remove him, though a man in years, out of time into eternity,
before he had seen the Lord’s Christ: with his bodily eyes: for he had seen him with an eye of faith already, and in the promise, as Abraham had; and in the types and sacrifices of the law, as the rest of believers under the Old Testament. The Messiah is called the Lord’s Christ, referring to Ps 2:2 because he was anointed by Jehovah, the Father, and with Jehovah, the Spirit; with the Holy Ghost, the oil of gladness, to be prophet, priest, and king, in the Lord’s house. So the Messiah is by the Targumist called, the Messiah of Jehovah, or Jehovah’s Messiah; that is as here, the Lord’s Christ: thus in the Targum on Isa 4:2 it is said.
“in that time, , “Jehovah’s Messiah”, shall be for joy and for glory.”
And on Isa 28:5 the paraphrase is,
“at that time, , “the Messiah of the Lord” of hosts shall be for a crown of joy, and for a diadem of praise to the rest of his people.”
Compare these paraphrases with what is said of Christ, in Lu 2:32. “The glory of thy people Israel”; Simeon’s language exactly agrees with the Targumist. The Persic version adds, “and with this hope he passed his time, or age, and became very old and decrepit.”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
It had been revealed unto him ( ). Periphrastic past perfect passive indicative. Common Greek verb. First to transact business from and that from , to use, make use of; then to do business with public officials, to give advice (judges, rulers, kings), then to get the advice of the Delphic and other oracles (Diodorus, Plutarch). The LXX and Josephus use it of God’s commands. A Fayum papyrus of 257 B.C. has the substantive for a divine response (cf. Ro 11:4). See Deissmann, Light From the Ancient East, p. 153.
Before ( ). Classic Greek idiom after a negative to have subjunctive as here (only example in the N.T.) or the optative after past tense as in Ac 25:16 (subjunctive changed to optative in indirect discourse). Elsewhere in the N.T. the infinitive follows as in Mt 1:18.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
It was revealed [ ] . Lit., it was having been revealed; i e., it stood revealed, while he waited for the fulfilment of the revelation. The verb means primarily to have dealings with; thence to consult or debate about business matter; and so of an oracle, to give a response to one consulting it. The word here implies that the revelation to Simeon had been given in answer to prayer. See on Mt 2:12.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And it was revealed unto him,” (kai en auto kechrematismenon) “And it had already been communicated to him,” by a vision, or inner illumination.
2) “By the Holy Ghost,” (hupo tou pneumatos tou hagiou) “By the Holy Spirit,” who helps our weaknesses and reveals God’s will to the upright, 1Co 2:10-12.
3) “That he should not see death,” (me idein thanaton) “That he would not see death,” or experience death, a departure from this life, to which all are appointed, Heb 9:26-27.
4) “Before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” (prin e an ide ton Christon kuriou) “Before he should see Christ the Lord,” the Messiah, the Lord’s anointed one, and as a wise one, he saw and understood; How long before, is not indicated, Joh 1:12; Dan 12:3; Dan 12:10. He was the anointed of Jehovah, Psa 2:2.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(26) It was revealed unto him.The Greek word is the same as that rendered warned in Mat. 2:12. It implies a divine oracular communication, but rests on a different idea from the unveiling, which lies at the root of the word reveal. The message in this case came clearly as an answer to prayers and yearnings.
The Lords Christ.The word retains all the fulness of its meaningthe Messiah, the Anointed of Jehovah.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And it had been revealed (communicated) to him by the Holy Spirit, that he would not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.’
And during the course of his spiritual life it had been revealed to him by the Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the coming of the Christ, of the Lord’s Messiah. Thus, possibly for long years, he had longed and waited expectantly for His coming. And as he grew older he must have wondered if it would ever be.
‘Revealed/communicated.’ The word means originally ‘to transact trade’ and thus came to mean ‘gave an authoritative answer to’ and to indicate a divine oracle.
‘The Messiah of the Lord.’ The ‘anointed One’ appointed by YHWH Who would act on His behalf.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
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.
Ver. 26. It was revealed unto him ] By an immediate oracle, . The idolatrous, heathen made use of this word to signify their impious and diabolical oracles. The abuse of a word taketh not away the use of it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
26. ] Of the nature of this intimation, nothing is said. Symeon was the subject of an especial indwelling and leading of the Holy Ghost, analogous to that higher form of the spiritual life expressed in the earliest days by walking with God and according to which God’s saints have often been directed and informed in an extraordinary manner by His Holy Spirit. In the power of this intimation, and in the spirit of prophecy consequent on it, he came into the Temple on this occasion.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Luk 2:26 . , it had been revealed (for the verb vide Mat 2:12 ), how long before not indicated. : we have here an instance of the aorist infinitive referring to what is future in relation to the principal verb. In such a case the aorist is really timeless, as it can be in dependent moods, vide Burton, M. and T. , 114. : here and in Act 25:16 with a finite verb, usually with the infinitive, vide Mat 1:18 ; Mat 26:34 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
it was revealed. Greek. chrematizo. Occurs nine times; seven times of a Divine communication; here, Mat 2:12, Mat 2:22. Act 10:22; Act 11:26. Rom 7:3. Heb 8:5;. Luk 11:17; Luk 12:25.
the Holy Ghost. The Person being the revealer (with Articles). Not the same as in Luk 2:25. See App-101.
before. Greek. prin. See note on “Till”, Mat 1:25.
the Lord’s Christ = Jehovah’s Anointed. See note on Luk 2:11. App-98.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
26.] Of the nature of this intimation, nothing is said. Symeon was the subject of an especial indwelling and leading of the Holy Ghost, analogous to that higher form of the spiritual life expressed in the earliest days by walking with God-and according to which Gods saints have often been directed and informed in an extraordinary manner by His Holy Spirit. In the power of this intimation, and in the spirit of prophecy consequent on it, he came into the Temple on this occasion.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Luk 2:26. , it was) perhaps for a long time back: although the old age in the case of Anna is specially noticed, it is not so in the case of Simeon.- – , that he should not see-before that he saw) A sweet antithesis.- , before that) Moreover, when he had seen Him, he was immediately about to depart; as appears from Luk 2:29, according to Thy word.- , the Lords Christ [Anointed]) So, the Christ [Anointed] of God, ch. Luk 9:20. It is He whom the Lord hath anointed, and in comparison with Whom God acknowledges no other as His Anointed.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
it: Psa 25:14, Amo 3:7
see death: , to see death, is a Hebraism for to die, exactly corresponding to . Psa 89:49, Luk 9:27, Psa 89:48, Joh 8:51, Heb 11:5
the Lord’s: Psa 2:2, Psa 2:6, Isa 61:1, Dan 9:24-26, Joh 1:41, Joh 4:29, Joh 20:31, Act 2:36, Act 9:20, Act 10:38, Act 17:3, Heb 1:8, Heb 1:9
Reciprocal: Gen 49:1 – Gather Jos 19:24 – General Job 11:17 – age Son 8:1 – that thou Mat 2:11 – they saw Mat 16:28 – taste Mat 22:43 – General Mat 23:39 – Ye shall not Mar 9:1 – taste Luk 2:11 – which Luk 2:29 – according Act 13:35 – to see 1Co 2:10 – God Eph 3:5 – by 1Pe 1:12 – it
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6
A special promise had been made to Simeon that he would live to see the Lord’s Christ, which means the Anointed One.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 2:26. Should not see death. Comp. Psa 89:48; Joh 8:51; Heb 11:5; also the phrase taste death (Mat 16:28; Heb 2:9).
The Lords Christ, i.e., the Messiah of Jehovah. It is implied that Simeon was very old, and would die soon after. How this revelation was made is not hinted.