Luke 2:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for my eyes have seen your salvation

NIV: For my eyes have seen your salvation,

NASB: For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

CSB: For my eyes have seen your salvation.

NLT: I have seen your salvation,

KJV: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

NKJV: For my eyes have seen Your salvation

Here, a man filled with the Holy Spirit holds the infant Jesus, in the temple in Jerusalem. He is praising God for fulfilling promises to send the Messiah. Joseph and Mary have brought Jesus for purification rites. There, they meet Simeon, who was given divine assurance that he would live to see the arrival of the Promised One (Luke 2:22–29).

Simeon refers to Jesus here as "[God's] salvation." This echoes prophetic remarks from Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6–7; 52:10). Christ's role on earth, in part, will be to accomplish the sacrifice needed to atone for all human sin (Philippians 2:8; Romans 5:6–8). This offer of redemption will be made available not only to Israel, but to all people of the world (Luke 2:31–32).

Luke 2:22–38 contains several interesting events. The infant Jesus is brought to the temple for purification and dedication, as commanded in Mosaic law. There, a devout man speaks through the Holy Spirit to celebrate the arrival of Messiah. Luke also mentions a prophetess named Anna, who likewise praises God for fulfilling His promises.

The early part of this chapter is famously read at Christmas, while celebrating the birth of Jesus. Luke gives a relatively brief description of how Mary came to give birth in a stable, laying Jesus in a feeding trough. Nearby shepherds are informed of the news by multiple angels. Two people speak in praise of God at Jesus' circumcision. Years later, Joseph and Mary lose track of Jesus on the way back from Jerusalem, only to find Him astounding teachers in the temple with His wisdom.

Luke began his well-organized account by explaining the conceptions of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, in chapter 1. In chapter 2, he briefly summarizes Jesus' birth and the arrival of shepherds directed by angels. Prophecies and prayers celebrate His dedication at the temple. After briefly losing track of a twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple, Jesus' parents take Him home to Nazareth. There, He grows up relatively normally. Chapter 3 leaps forward many years to the beginning of John the Baptist's preaching. This is followed by Jesus' genealogy. Chapter 4 relates Jesus' temptations by Satan and the start of His public ministry.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.

Accessed 11/21/2024 10:09:56 AM