Luke 2:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;

NIV: Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

NASB: 'Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace, According to Your word;

CSB: Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised.

NLT: 'Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.

KJV: Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

NKJV: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;

This begins a short passage spoken by Simeon: a devout man under the influence of the Holy Spirit (Luke 2:25–28). He is holding the infant Jesus Christ, after Mary and Joseph brought the baby to the temple for purification rites (Luke 2:22–24). Among the results of Simeon's interaction with the Spirit is a divine promise: that he will live to see the arrival of the Messiah. That prophecy has now been fulfilled.

Simeon's praise begins by thanking God for completing His promise. He is at peace, knowing that the greatest desire of his life has been achieved. This sense of peace resembles that of Jacob, who was ready to die in happiness after being reunited with his long-lost son, Joseph (Genesis 46:30).

As the song of praise continues, Simeon will refer to Jesus using terms like "light," "salvation," and "revelation." He will note Jesus' role in saving the world, including both the people of Israel and the Gentile nations (Luke 2:30–32).

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 5/2/2024 10:10:33 PM