Luke 2:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Elder Simeon was present, eagerly anticipating the realization of the promised news...

Simeon, though not a priest, was a devoted servant of God, eagerly anticipating the arrival of Christ, the solace for the Jews and the liberator from the chains of sin, as well as potentially from Roman oppression and Herod’s tyranny. Indeed, anyone who places their faith in Christ experiences true freedom and is esteemed alongside monarchs and all humanity. Consider the apostles: were they not once subjects of Roman rule? Yet now, they are revered and venerated by the Roman leaders. Thus, Christ emerged as a source of comfort for the Israelites.

Next after the circumcision they wait for the time of purification, as it is said, And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were come.

Now this commandment of the law seems to have had its fulfilment in the incarnate God, in a very remarkable and peculiar manner. For He alone, ineffably conceived and incomprehensibly brought forth, opened the virgin’s womb, till then unopened by marriage, and after this birth miraculously retaining the seal of chastity.

He ordered two things to be offered, because as man consists of both body and soul, the Lord requires a double return from us, chastity and meekness, not only of the body, but also of the soul. Otherwise, man will be a dissembler and hypocrite, wearing the face of innocence to mask his hidden malice.

For no union with man disclosed the secrets of the virgin’s womb, but the Holy Spirit infused the immaculate seed into an inviolate womb. He then who sanctified another womb in order that a prophet should be born, He it is who has opened the womb of His own mother, that the Immaculate should come forth. By the words opening the womb, he speaks of birth after the usual manner, not that the sacred abode of the virgin’s womb, which our Lord in entering sanctified, should now be thought by His proceeding forth from it to be deprived of its virginity.

In Jerusalem, there was a man named Simeon, recognized for his righteousness and devoutness. He longed for the redemption of Israel and was filled with a sense of hope rooted in the prophetic scriptures that foretold the coming of Christ, who would call the new nation of Israel out of the darkness of error. The Holy Spirit rested upon him, guiding his understanding. It is notable that Simeon was not a priest, as one might expect; otherwise, the Evangelist would likely have highlighted this honor.

Where are they who deny that Christ proclaimed in the Gospel the law to be of God, or can it be supposed that the righteous God made His own Son under a hostile law which He Himself had not given? It is written in the law of Moses as follows, Every male which openeth the womb shall be called holy unto the Lord. (Ex. 13:2, 12.)

Who would encounter Him? Only the devout elder Simeon and the octogenarian widow Anna, who steadfastly devoted themselves to prayer and fasting within the temple. All the devout patriarchs and holy figures of the Old Testament Church awaited with eager anticipation the arrival of the promised Savior of Israel, yearning to behold Him. Likewise, the righteous Simeon petitioned the Lord to grant him the grace to witness this much-anticipated moment, and due to his faithfulness, the Holy Spirit assured him that his prayer would be granted: he would see Jesus Christ before his passing.

But while each bird, from its habit of wailing, represents the present sorrows of the saints, in this they differ, that the turtle is solitary, but the pigeon flies about in flocks, and hence the one points to the secret tears of confession, the other to the public assembling of the Church.

When Jesus Christ was presented in the temple, individuals from all walks of life were present; however, it was only Simeon and Anna who were granted the insight to recognize Him, due to the pure hearts they possessed. Among the multitude of faithful congregants in our churches, how few truly sense the presence of Jesus Christ and offer Him proper worship! The faithful from the Old Testament lived in anticipation, yearning for the comfort of Israel, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Messiah—not in a worldly or superficial manner, as many of the Jewish people did, but with a spiritual vision befitting the true descendants of Abraham. They consistently focused their hearts and spirits on the eternal city, which is solely designed and established by God Himself (Hebrews 11:10).

To fulfill the requirements of both laws, the Lord was brought by His parents to the temple. During this time, remarkable events unfolded, through which God revealed to the humble parents the presence of Christ the Lord. In Jerusalem, there was a righteous and devout man named Simeon. The Spirit of God had made a promise to him that he would not pass away until he had witnessed the Lord's Christ; thus, the entirety of his inner being was focused on the hope of Israel's comfort, the arrival of the promised Messiah. When the Child Jesus was brought into the temple by His parents for the prescribed ceremony, Simeon received a revelation from the Holy Spirit, who was upon him, affirming that his hope was realized, and his eyes would behold the Savior in the Child present in the temple.

In the temple, while the Blessed Virgin was presenting the ransom and sacrifice, there was a devout elder named Simeon, who eagerly anticipated the Comforter of Israel. As the arrival of the Messiah was meant to bring solace to the Jewish nation, it became customary to refer to the Messiah as the Comforter or Consolation; thus, Simeon is described as one who was expectantly awaiting this Consolation of Israel.

The Gospel narrative offers no additional specifics regarding the purification and presentation in the temple; however, this occasion was highlighted by the recognition of the world's Redeemer in the infant by the devout Simeon and Anna. At that time in Jerusalem, as in other parts of the land, there were many particularly devoted individuals who acutely felt the gravity of their circumstances and were fervently awaiting the longed-for salvation of Israel. Among these was Simeon, described as “a just and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel.” He had aged considerably, witnessing numerous significant events throughout his life and enduring various profound mental struggles. He experienced periods of intense doubt, which were especially challenging for such a faithful soul.

"Upright and devout" refers to Lk. 1:6. - "He who seeks the comfort of Israel" signifies the Messiah or the anointed one whose coming was meant to bring hope to Israel or the Jewish people, fulfilling all the prophetic messages about him. This designation was attributed to the Messiah prior to His arrival, likely in line with the initial verses of Isaiah's prophecy regarding the Messiah's manifestation (Isaiah 40:1). It became a practice among the Jews to invoke the name of the comfort of Israel, referring to the anticipated Messiah, even swearing by it before His coming.

In Jerusalem, there resided the righteous and devout elder Simeon, who yearned for the comfort of Israel—the arrival of the Savior. Amidst the trials of his era, marked by a widespread decline in faith and morality, he focused his fading sight on the hopeful future, envisioning the joyous moment when the Messiah would come to restore Israel’s true glory. The conclusion of Daniel's seventy weeks filled him with delightful anticipation, confident that the Messiah's appearance was imminent, and the Spirit of God revealed to him that he would not encounter death before witnessing the Lord’s Anointed.