Sunday School Project --- 04-12-05 (December 5, 2004) Lesson --- based on the International Sunday School Lesson

Unless Jesus returns before
December 26, 2004

Sunday School Project
This Week's
International Sunday School Lesson

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

Luke 2:25

Quotes & Notes on: Luke 2:25

John Wesley's Notes:
The consolation of Israel-A common phrase for the Messiah, who was to be the everlasting consolation of the Israel of God.

The Holy Ghost was upon him-That is, he was a prophet.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
* just. Lu 1:6; Ge 6:9; Job 1:1,8; Da 6:22,23; Mic 6:8; Ac 10:2; 24:16 Tit 2:11-14
* waiting. Lu 2:38; Isa 25:9; 40:1; Mr 15:43
* Holy Ghost. Lu 1:41,67; Nu 11:25,29; 2Pe 1:21
Adam Clarke's Commentary:
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem] This man is distinguished because of his singular piety. There can be no doubt that 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. Such persevering exemplary piety was very rare, and therefore the inspired penman ushers in the account with behold! Several learned men are of the opinion that he was son to the famous Hillel, one of the most celebrated doctors and philosophers which had ever appeared in the Jewish nation since the time of Moses. Simeon is supposed also to have been the AB or president of the grand Sanhedrin.

The same man was just] He steadily regulated all his conduct by the law of his God: and devout-he had fully consecrated himself to God, so that he added a pious heart to a righteous conduct. The original word eulabhv, signifies also a person of good report-one well received among the people, or one cautious and circumspect in matters of religion; from eu, well, and lambanw, I take: it properly denotes, one who takes any thing that is held out to him, well and carefully. He so professed and practised the religion of his fathers that he gave no cause for a friend to mourn on his account, or an enemy to triumph.

Several excellent MSS. read eusebhv, pious or godly, from eu, well, and sebomai, I worship; one who worships God well, i.e. in spirit and in truth.

Waiting for the consolation of Israel] That is, the Messiah, who was known among the pious Jews by this character: he was to be the consolation of Israel, because he was to be its redemption. This consolation of Israel was so universally expected that the Jews swore by it: So let me see the Consolation, if such a thing be not so, or so. See the forms in Lightfoot.

The Holy Ghost was upon him] He was a man divinely inspired, overshadowed, and protected by the power and influence of the Most High.
Family Bible Notes:
Consolation of Israel; the Messiah, from whom consolation comes. Aged persons who have long walked uprightly in piety towards God and good will towards men, often have, as they approach the close of life, remarkably clear and exalted views of the Saviour--views which disarm death of its terrors, and prepare them to ascribe "unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father," "glory and dominion for ever and ever." Ge 49:1,10,22-26.
1599 Geneva Bible Notes:
Simeon openly in the temple foretells the death of the coming of Messiah, of the casting out of the greatest part of Israel, and of the calling of the Gentiles. He was endued with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and this is said using the figure of speech metonymy.
People's New Testament Commentary:
Simeon. The first prophet to declare that Christ had come.

Looking for the consolation of Israel. The promised Messiah.

The Holy Spirit was upon him. To give him supernatural knowledge. It was revealed to him that he should see Christ.
Robertson's Word Pictures:
Devout (eulabês). Used only by Luke (Ac 2:5; 8:2; 22:12) in the N.T. Common in ancient Greek from Plato on. It means taking hold well or carefully (eu and labein) and so reverently, circumspectly. Looking for the consolation of Israel (prosdechomenos paraklêsin tou Israel). Old Greek verb to admit to one's presence (Lu 15:2) and then to expect as here and of Anna in verse Lu 2:38. Paraklêsin here means the Messianic hope (Isa 11:10; 40:1), calling to one's side for cheer. Upon him (ep' auton). This is the explanation of his lively Messianic hope. It was due to the Holy Spirit. Simeon and Anna are representatives of real piety in this time of spiritual dearth and deadness.

Albert Barnes' Commentary:
Whose name was Simeon. Some have supposed that this Simeon was a son of the famous Hillel, a distinguished teacher in Jerusalem, and president of the Sanhedrim; but nothing is certainly known of him but what is here related. He was an aged man, of distinguished piety and reputation, and was anxiously expecting the coming of the Messiah. Such an old age is peculiarly honourable. No spectacle is more sublime than an old man of piety and high character looking for the appearing of the Lord, and patiently waiting for the time to come when he may be blessed with the sight of his Redeemer.

Just. Righteous before God and man; approved by God as a righteous man, and discharging faithfully his duty to man.

Devout {i} . This word means a religious man, or a pious man. The original expresses the idea of good reputation, well received, or of high standing among the people.

Waiting for the consolation {k} of Israel. That is, waiting for the Messiah, who is called the consolation of Israel because he would give comfort to them by his appearing. This term was often applied to the Messiah before he actually appeared. It was common to 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 respecting the Messiah about to appear.

{i} Mr 15:43; Lu 2:38
{k} Isa 40:1
Jamieson-Faussett Brown:
And she shall bring forth a son--Observe, it is not said, "she shall bear thee a son," as was said to Zacharias of his wife Elizabeth (Lu 1:13).

and thou--as his legal father.

shalt call his name JESUS--from the Hebrew meaning "Jehovah the Saviour"; in Greek JESUS--to the awakened and anxious sinner sweetest and most fragrant of all names, expressing so melodiously and briefly His whole saving office and work!

for he shall save--The "He" is here emphatic--He it is that shall save; He personally, and by personal acts (as WEBSTER and WILKINSON express it).

his people--the lost sheep of the house of Israel, in the first instance; for they were the only people He then had. But, on the breaking down of the middle wall of partition, the saved people embraced the "redeemed unto God by His blood out of every kindred and people and tongue and nation."

from their sins--in the most comprehensive sense of salvation from sin (Re 1:5; Eph 5:25-27).
Spurgeon Commentary:
He was just before men and devout towards God, and his faith looked steadily forward for the coming of the Messiah, whom those who believingly searched the Scriptures were daily expecting.
William Burkitt's Notes:
No sooner was our Saviour brought into the temple and presented to the Lord by his holy parents, but in springs old Simeon, a pious and devout man who had a revelation from God that he should not die until he had with his bodily eyes seen the promised Messiah.

Accordingly, he takes up the child Jesus in his arms, but hugs him faster by his faith, than by his feeble arms, and with ravishment of heart praises God for the sight of his Saviour, whom he calls the Consolation of Israel; that is, the Messiah, whom the Israel of God had long looked and waited for, now took comfort and consolation in.

Note here, 1. How God always performs his promises to his children with wonderful advantages. Simeon had a revelation that he should not die until he had seen Christ; now he not only sees him, but feels him too; he not only has him in his eye, but holds him in his hands.

Though God stays long before he fulfils his promises, he certainly comes at last with a double reward for our expectation.

Note 2. That the coming of the Messiah in the fulness of time, and his appearing in our flesh and nature, was and is a matter of unspeakable consolation to the Israel of God. And now that he is come, let us live by faith in him, as the foundation of all comfort and consolation both in life and death.

Alas! what are all other consolations besides this, and without this? They are impotent and insufficient consolations, they are dying and perishing consolations; nay, they are sometimes afflictive and distressing consolations. The bitterness accompanying them, is sometimes more than the sweetness that is tasted in them; but in Christ, who is the consolation of Israel there is light without darkness, joy without sorrow, all consolation without any mixture of discomfort.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
The same Spirit that provided for the support of Simeon's hope, provided for his joy. Those who would see Christ must go to his temple. Here is a confession of his faith, that this Child in his arms was the Saviour, the salvation itself, the salvation of God's appointing. He bids farewell to this world. How poor does this world look to one that has Christ in his arms, and salvation in his view! See here, how comfortable is the death of a good man; he departs in peace with God, peace with his own conscience, in peace with death. Those that have welcomed Christ, may welcome death. Joseph and Mary marvelled at the things which were spoken of this Child. Simeon shows them likewise, what reason they had to rejoice with trembling. And Jesus, his doctrine, and people, are still spoken against; his truth and holiness are still denied and blasphemed; his preached word is still the touchstone of men's characters. The secret good affections in the minds of some, will be revealed by their embracing Christ; the secret corruptions of others will be revealed by their enmity to Christ. Men will be judged by the thoughts of their hearts concerning Christ. He shall be a suffering Jesus; his mother shall suffer with him, because of the nearness of her relation and affection.
The Fourfold Gospel:
There was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon. The name means "Hearing." Some think that it was Rabbi Simeon, the son of the great teacher Hillel; but the context forbids such an idea.

And this man was righteous and devout. Right in outward and devout in his inward life. The first prophet to tell the world that its Messiah had come was a thoroughly good man.

Looking for. Waiting like Jacob (Ge 49:18), and Joseph of Arimathea (Mr 15:43), he realized the truth of God's promise (Isa 49:23). The Jews waited for a coming Prince, local, carnal, finite, temporal; we wait for a KING universal, spiritual, infinite, eternal, the Son of God. Hence the magnitude of our expected consolation is to theirs as an ocean is to a drop of water.

The consolation of Israel. A common name for the era of the Messiah, which was so called because the advent of the Christ would bring comfort to his people (Isa 40:1). Jews swore by the consolation of Israel, and the phrase, "May I see the consolation of Israel," was common among them. A prayer for the coming of the Messiah was daily used by them.

And the Holy Spirit was upon him. Lu 1:68.

Nave's Topical Bible
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