Luke 2:29-32

As with the Magnificat and the Benedictus, this hymn also has a Latin name: the Nunc Dimittis. Simeon acknowledged that Messiah had come. He felt ready to die since God had fulfilled His promise to Simeon (Luke 2:26). This statement may imply that he was an old man, but it may just be a way of saying that Simeon felt this was the greatest experience in his life. Simeon properly regarded God as his sovereign and himself as God’s servant (Gr. doulos). He equated the Messiah with God’s salvation. He also viewed the salvation that Jesus would provide as being worldwide, not just for Israel (cf. Psalms 98:3; Isaiah 52:10). Luke mentioned the fact that Jesus would provide salvation for Gentiles as well as Jews many times. For Israel, Messiah’s coming spells glory (Isaiah 45:25; Isaiah 46:13).

If we only had Matthew and Mark’s Gospels, we might wonder if there were any Jews except Jesus who understood the Old Testament correctly. Luke presented two so far who did, namely, Zechariah and Simeon.