“The Just Shall Live By Faith”

New King James Version                          Written by: David Hicks

 

Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

“Articles of Faith”

 

An Orderly Account Of The Greatest Story Ever Told

(A Study in Luke)

Chapter 2:21-35:

In our previous lesson we looked at the facts concerning the birth of Jesus. If it was considerably different than you had understood it from the way the world portrays it each year, you must ask yourself: “ What other misconceptions may I have concerning the word of God ?”

This question is why it is so important that we know the word of God and the righteousness “HE” expects of us, rather than what men teach or desire it to be!

Now lets move on to cover the fulfillment of the law concerning the Child and the first inspired prophecies concerning the Child after His birth.

TEXT #1:

Luke 2:21 “And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called J esus , the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.”

Keep in mind that much like Zacharias and Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary were ‘just' before the Lord ( Matthew 1:19 ; Luke 1:38 ), so the fact that they would fulfill all the righteousness concerning the Law for their male child should not be any surprise. Jesus was circumcised according to the provision of the Old Law, note:

Genesis 17:12 “He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant.”

Genesis 21:4 “Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.”

Leviticus 12:3 “And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.”

Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law ,”

The name ‘Jesus' signifies Savior! This made it an appropriate name for the Son of God in the flesh (it would also complete the instructions of the angel Gabriel concerning the child's name – 1:31 ).

TEXT #2:

Luke 2:22-24 “Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the L ord "), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

Days of Purification: This encompassed a total of thirty-three days after the circumcision of a male child, which was when he was eight days old (2 weeks plus 66 days of purification for a female child).

Leviticus 12:4-5 “She shall then continue in the blood of her purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her customary impurity, and she shall continue in the blood of her purification sixty-six days.

Called Holy: To be called holy to God is best described as being set apart to Him, to be regarded as His! Therefore, He was presented to God at Jerusalem where the temple was located. It is importance to note that this quote from Exodus 13 constitutes a command concerning the firstborn child. The consecration of the firstborn was the presentation of the firstborn or the considered heir, to God. This would enforce the fact that Joseph did not have another heir before the child Jesus was born and conclude that Matthew's account of Joseph not knowing Mary (intimately) until after the birth of Jesus ( Matthew 1:25 ), was also accurate (thus the siblings of Jesus mentioned in Matthew 13:55-56 ; Mark 6:3 ; John 7:3-5 , were younger siblings by the natural relationship between Joseph and Mary).

Sacrifice: At the conclusion of her purification the Law required a sacrifice to be made, note:

Leviticus 12:6-8 “When the days of her purification are fulfilled, whether for a son or a daughter, she shall bring to the priest a lamb of the first year as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 7 Then he shall offer it before the L ord , and make atonement for her. And she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who has borne a male or a female. 8 And if she is not able to bring a lamb, then she may bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons--one as a burnt offering and the other as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean."

In the case that a lamb could not be afforded by the woman in this purification ceremony, God allowed for poverty, by means of a substitution. Whether Joseph and Mary were actually in poverty or the fact that they are just a long way from home and unable to afford a lamb is unknown!

TEXT #3:

Luke 2:25-35 “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your Salvation 31Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." 33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel , and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Simeon: In many cases and in various ways men were inspired in Biblical times when God wished to have some message spoken, and this is the case with Simeon. However, in order to glorify His Son, whom He has appointed Heir of all things, God now only speaks to man through His Son ( Hebrews 1:1-2 ). He was told by the Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Christ.

Consolation means the blessing that God had promised to Israel (and to all men – Vs.32 ), through the seed of Abraham ( Genesis 12:3 ; 22:18 ).

Seen Salvation: Simeon lifts the child in his arms and then begins through the Spirit to give thanks to God for this privilege! Simeon acknowledges that God has prepared this Jesus for salvation before the face of the people.

Isaiah the prophet of God looked forward to this very day when the consolation of Israel would be made known, note:

Isaiah 52:9-10 “Break forth into joy, sing together, You waste places of Jerusalem !

For the L ord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem . 10 The L ord has made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the nations; And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God .”

Here, Simeon as a prophet, acknowledges that Jesus is the salvation promised by God!

Behold: As Joseph and Mary marveled at the things said by this prophet of God, he then directed his prophecies to Mary concerning the child. The term “destined” means, “appointed” or “set for”. Thus Simeon declares that Jesus would be the cause of the results being mentioned.

The fall and rising of many in Israel , is prophetic in describing the response of the children to Israel to the prophesied kingdom and new covenant of Jesus the Christ. After the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His kingdom would be established on the day of Pentecost ( Acts 2 ). Through the work of His chosen Apostles the kingdom would spread and the Gospel would go out into the world (in fulfillment of the great commission Mark 16:15 -16 ). The Apostle Paul writing to Christians in Rome (a church made up of both Jew and Gentile Christians, divided by these ethnic backgrounds), would best explain this rising and falling of Israel in more detail, note:

Romans 11:1-5 “I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel , saying, 3 "L ord , they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace .”

God's grace manifested in Jesus the Christ would only be received by a remnant of Israel . God had desired that the children of Israel be part of the foundation of the kingdom ( Acts 4:11 ; I Peter 2:6-8 ), although some did believe and obey, a far greater number would reject the Christ of God!

The fact that Simeon also acknowledged that Jesus would be a sign which would be spoken against, is tribute to the opposition that Jesus would encounter among the people and leadership that would reject His teaching and the signs that attested Him from God (many instances will manifest themselves within the study of Luke!).

Finally, Simeon finishes his prophecy with the sad words that, “a sword shall pierce through your own soul” . This would be in reference to the sorrow that Mary would know concerning the suffering of Jesus; a mothers anguish at the suffering of her son. However, it would be necessary to manifest the hearts of many. This is illustrated in the words of the Savior to Nicodemus, note:
John 3:19-21 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light , lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light , that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

In our next lesson, we will finish the chapter with a final prophecy concerning the child and take a look at the only recorded specific episode of the childhood of Jesus, apart from His birth.