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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:34

And Simeon blessed them ,.... Pronounced them blessed persons, on account of their relation to Christ as man; and more especially, because of their interest in him, as the, Saviour and Redeemer of them; and wished them all happiness and prosperity inward and outward, temporal, spiritual, and eternal; and so the Arabic version renders it, confining it to Joseph and Mary; "and Simeon blessed them both"; though this blessing of his may take in also the young child Jesus; whom he might pronounce... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:35

Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also ,.... Meaning either the sword, "or spear of scandal", as the Arabic version renders it; so the calumny, and reproach of the tongues of men, is compared to a sharp sword, Psalm 57:4 and such the virgin might meet with on account of her conception in art unmarried state, which might greatly wound her soul; or else the sorrows she met with on account of her son: as he was a man of sorrows, so was she a woman of sorrows, from his cradle to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:36

And there was one Anna ,.... The name is the same with Hannah: so Hannah, the mother of Samuel, is by the Septuagint called Anna, in 1 Samuel 1:2 and it signifies "grace"; or "gracious": and as was her name, so was she, a gracious woman; One that had the grace of God herself, and was a publisher of the glad tidings of grace and redemption by Christ, to others; and she was a prophetess : for though prophecy had ceased among the Jews for some hundreds of years, it now revived upon the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:37

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years ,.... Which is not the date of her whole age, as some have thought, but of her widowhood state, as distinct from her marriage state, and the time of her virginity. And this sense all the versions favour, Which departed not from the temple that is, she was constant in her devotion there, at the time of divine service, whether by night or day; not that she was in it, for she had been out of it now; otherwise it could not with propriety... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:38

And she coming in that instant ,.... That the parents of Christ brought him into the temple; just as Simeon was embracing him in his arms, and blessing God for him, and saying the things concerning him he had done; and who also came at that juncture, as he did, under the impulse, and by the direction of the Spirit of God, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord : praised him, as he had done, that he had sent the promised, and long looked for Messiah and Saviour; and that she had lived to see... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:39

And when they had performed all things ,.... Relating to the purification of Mary, and the presentation and redemption of her firstborn, and the sacrifices and ceremonies belonging thereunto: according to the law of the Lord ; which that directed to, and enjoined: they returned into Galilee : not that they came from thence to Jerusalem, but from Bethlehem, where Mary gave birth, and her time for purification was now just expired: nor did they go now directly to Galilee; or, if they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:40

And the child grew ,.... In body, in strength, and in stature; which shows that it was a true body Christ assumed, and like ours, which did not come to its maturity at once, but by degrees: and waxed strong in spirit , or in his soul; for as he had a true body, he had also a reasonable soul; the faculties of which were far from being weak, they were exceeding strong, and appeared stronger and stronger every day; his understanding was clear, his judgment solid, and his memory strong and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:41

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year ,.... Joseph was obliged to go three times a year, as were all the males in Israel, at the feasts of the passover, pentecost, and tabernacles, Deuteronomy 16:16 . The first of these is expressed here, at the feast of the passover; but the women were not obliged to go up: for so it is said by the Jews F16 T. Hieros. Kiddushin, fol. 61. 3. , פסחן של נשים רשות , "the passover of women is voluntary", or in their own power; they might... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:42

And when he was twelve years old ,.... Not that he was now, בר מצוה , "a son of the commandment", F18 Aben Ezra in Gen. xvii. 14. to use the Jewish phrase; or now came under the yoke of the law; or was obliged to the duties of adult church membership, as is asserted by some; nor particularly to go to Jerusalem to make his appearance at the feast of the passover, or any other feast: for according to the maxims of the Jews, persons were not obliged to the duties of the law, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:43

And when they had fulfilled the days ,.... The seven days of the fear of unleavened bread, for so many days that feast was observed; and though it was not absolutely necessary, and obligatory upon them to stay all that time at Jerusalem, yet Mary and Joseph seem so to have done, as did the more religious and devout persons: as they returned ; at the time when they were going from Jerusalem home again: the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; being desirous of hearing the... read more

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