Luke 2:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Simeon was not a priest, yet he was a devoted follower of God; he anticipated the arrival of Christ, the Messiah who would bring solace to the Jews and liberate them from the chains of sin, as well as potentially from Roman oppression and the tyranny of Herod. Indeed, anyone who puts their faith in Christ experiences true freedom and is esteemed among rulers and all people. Consider the apostles; were they not once regarded as captives under Roman authority? Now, however, even the rulers of Rome hold them in high regard and honor them. Thus, Christ served as a source of comfort for the Israelites.

The Scriptures affirm that the Spirit is referred to as the Lord, as demonstrated in the following passage: ‘Simeon received a directive from the Holy Spirit, assuring him that he would not experience death before witnessing the Lord Christ. Upon holding the Lord in his arms, he proclaimed, “Now you are releasing, O Lord, your servant according to your word into the world”’ (cf. Luke 2:28, 29). Thus, he was given a command by the Holy Spirit and declared: ‘You, Lord, allow Your servant to depart,’ as stated, ‘until you have seen the Lord Christ.’

In Jerusalem, there lived a man named Simeon who was both devout and God-fearing, longing for the consolation of Israel. The Lord's birth was acknowledged not just by angels, prophets, and shepherds, but also by wise elders and holy individuals. Throughout various generations and among different people, astonishing occurrences validate faith: a virgin conceives, a barren woman becomes fruitful, the mute is given speech, Elizabeth declares prophecies, wise men offer their worship, a child leaps for joy in the womb, a widow gives thanks to God, and the righteous patiently await.

Upon reading the prophecies relating to Christ and recognizing Him as God who would assume human form, he was struck by the extraordinary majesty of this mystery. Consequently, he received a divine assurance that he would not depart from this life until he beheld Christ the Lord with his own eyes. Christ is referred to as the Lord due to His deep connection with the Father; here, the term Lord can be understood as referring to the Father Himself. I have encountered references indicating that this righteous man was among the seventy Jewish interpreters during the time of Ptolemy Philadelphus.

Who would go to meet Him? Only the devout elder Simeon and the octogenarian widow Anna, who constantly dedicated themselves to fasting and prayer within the temple. All the faithful patriarchs and holy figures of the Old Testament awaited with eager anticipation the arrival of the promised Savior of Israel, longing above all to behold Him. Similarly, the righteous Simeon entreated the Lord to grant him the privilege of witnessing this longed-for moment, and due to his devoutness, the Holy Spirit assured him that he would indeed see Jesus Christ prior to his passing. Words for the Presentation of the Lord. Word 1

Anna and Simeon, an elderly couple, encountered the Lord through their devoted service to their faith. Despite His infancy, they recognized His immense divinity. Symbolically, they embody the Jewish synagogue, fatigued from their prolonged anticipation of His coming, and they come to exalt and glorify Him through their heartfelt actions and sincere expressions of faith, proclaiming, "Guide me in Thy truth and teach me, since Thou art God my Saviour, and I have hoped in Thee all the day long" (Ps 24:5).

According to the account of the Holy Gospel, the elder Simeon was a devout and upright man who fervently awaited the redemption of Israel, with the Holy Spirit resting upon him. God revealed to him the imminent arrival of the true Messiah. Historical accounts describe how Simeon received this divine revelation. Under the directive of the Egyptian king Ptolemy, a translation of the Mosaic Law and the prophetic writings from Hebrew to Greek was commissioned. Seventy esteemed scholars from among the Jewish people were selected for this significant task, and Simeon, known for his wisdom and deep understanding of the Scriptures, was among them. While translating the book of Isaiah, he encountered the phrase, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son” (Isaiah 7:14).

Simeon resided during a period when the longing of every devout Israelite—for the arrival of the Messiah, the divine Sovereign, who would bestow prosperity upon His people—grew into an urgent anticipation. This yearning frequently found expression in Simeon's prayers. He was blessed with divine insights and, amidst a time of moral decline and turmoil, he drew strength from the hopeful promises found in ancient prophecies. Having reached a venerable age, he perceived no signs indicating the imminent arrival of the Messiah, save for the conclusion of the prophetic timeline of Daniel. In response to his devout petitions, God bestowed upon him the revelation that he would not pass from this life until he beheld Christ the Lord. While he often frequented the temple, on this particular occasion, he felt an extraordinary compulsion to visit.

To fulfill both commandments, the Lord was presented by His parents in the temple. During this momentous occasion, remarkable events unfolded, revealing to the humble parents the Lord Christ through their child. At that time, there lived in Jerusalem a devout and righteous man named Simeon. He had received a promise from the Holy Spirit that he would not depart this life until he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. Consequently, the deep longing of his spirit was focused on the comfort of Israel—the birth of the promised Savior. When the Child Jesus was brought to the temple by His parents to fulfill the lawful ritual, Simeon was inspired by the Holy Spirit, who was upon him, and learned that his desire had been fulfilled.

The Gospel narrative does not provide additional specifics regarding the purification and presentation in the temple; however, this occasion was significant due to the acknowledgment of the world's Redeemer by the devout Simeon and Anna. During this period in Jerusalem, as in other parts of the nation, there were many particularly devout individuals who deeply sensed the gravity of the times they were living in and were earnestly longing to witness the salvation of Israel. Among them was Simeon, described as “a righteous and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel.” He was an aged man, having endured numerous upheavals throughout his life and facing various troubling thoughts.

He was prophesied, etc.: there exists an ancient and poignant tale suggesting that this Simeon was among the seventy who translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. It is said that he was tasked with translating the book of the prophet Isaiah and struggled with the prophecy concerning the virgin birth of Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). Following his doubts, an angel visited him, revealing that he would not pass away until he witnessed the realization of this prophecy with his own eyes. Regardless of the legend's veracity, it indicates that something significant occurred in the life of this virtuous elder which warranted such an extraordinary revelation. - ‘He shall not see death’: this is a metaphorical phrase indicating he shall not experience death (Heb. 11:5, Jn. 8:51, Ps. 88:48). - ‘Christ of the Lord’: this refers to the Messiah sent by God, the anointed one whom God will deliver (cf. Lk. 9:20).