Simeon
Luke 2:22-35
Scripture and history do not provide us with a great amount of information about Simeon. All that we know of him is contained in these few verses in the book of Luke. But what we do have speaks volumes about Simeon, his character, faith and vision.
I. Simeon’s Character – Verse 25 “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout”
A. Just - Righteous
1. Righteous – dikaios – having judicial approval - in conformity to God's own being.
2. Whenever the Bible says somebody is righteous, it means they are justified before God. It doesn't mean they earned their righteousness, that's impossible. When the Bible says somebody is righteous, it means that God has declared them righteous and God only declares sinners righteous when they trust in God for their forgiveness, not in their own works. And God applied the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which hadn't even happened to Simeon because Simeon knew his sinfulness and he knew he couldn't earn his salvation. He cast himself on the mercy of God. God declared him righteous on the basis of what Christ would do in bearing his sins in the future. He was a righteous man. Whenever the Bible says a man is righteous, or a woman is righteous, it means before God they are considered just because their sins have been paid for and they have been forgiven. – John McArthur
3. Romans 3:10 “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one’.”
4. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
5. How can a man trust in his own righteousness? It is like seeking shelter under one's own shadow. We may stoop to the very ground; and, the lower we bend, we still find that our shadow is beneath us. But, if a man flee to the shadow of a great rock or of a wide-spreading tree, he will find abundant shelter from the rays of the noonday sun. So human merits are unavailing; and Christ alone is able to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by him.—Medhurst
6. Philippians 3:9 “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”
B. Devout
1. Eulabés - ("devout") literally means "taking hold of what is good." -cautious, circumspect; hence: God-fearing.
2. Simeon was a man who was showed a respect for the things of God.
3. He didn't live an irresponsible life. He walked carefully and cautiously before God and man.
4. Jonathan Edwards in his resolutions wrote...
• Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
• Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
• Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
• Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
• Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.
• Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.
5. It's useless to put your best foot forward—and then drag the other.—Rex Moulin
6. Ephesians 5:15 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise”
7. Colossians 4:5 “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”
II. Simeon’s Faith – Verse 25-27
A. He was eagerly waiting for Consolation of Israel
1. Looking for “the consolation of Israel,” a term for the Messiah taken from Isaiah 40:1-3: “Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, will say your God. Speak consolation unto the heart of Jerusalem; and call unto her, that her appointed time is fulfilled, that her iniquity is atoned for, because she hath received from the hand of the Lord twofold for all her sins.”
2. Simeon believed God, believed God’s Word, believed in the literal coming of the Christ, the Messiah, the Promised One. He anticipated His coming.
3. Hebrews 9:27-28 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look [eagerly await] for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
4. 2 Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
5. “There’s a man in yonder glory I have loved for many years,
He has cleared my guilty conscience and has banished all my fears.
He is coming in a moment in the twinkling of an eye,
And no time will be allotted for you to utter one good-bye.
No time to kiss the husband or embrace the loving wife,
If they are but united in the bonds of holy life.
Are you ready, Christian, ready, for shout and trump and voice?
Will His coming make you tremble or cause you to rejoice?
Are you walking, talking with Him daily, taking Him your care,
Do you live so close to heaven that a breath would waft you there?” - Quoted in Fairest of All, Herbert Lockyer, Eerdmans, 1936, p. 71
B. He was Spirit-filled and Spirit-Led
1. Verses 26-27 “And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law.”
2. Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
3. Ephesians 5:18 “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit”
4. D. L. Moody said, “I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled.”
III. Simeon’s Vision
A. Verses 28-32 “he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ‘Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen YOUR SALVATION Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”
B. Saw Christ as God’s provision for salvation for both Jew and Gentile
1. John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
2. John 1:11-12 “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become sons of God, even to those who believe on His name.”
C. Saw Christ as
1. Verses 33-35 “And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
2. Here was God's Salvation one could either accept or reject His gift. Many would like the scribes and Pharisees reject this wonderful gift from God, some like the shepherds, the wise men and the disciples would receive this gift. Those receiving Christ found Him as Savior. Those rejecting found Him as judge.
3. Here is God's Salvation one can either accept or reject His gift. Those who receive Jesus receive the gift of eternal life and the forgiveness of sin, finding Him to be Savior. Those who reject Him will never know eternal life. They will find Him as judge. They will die physically will never find forgiveness but will spend eternity experiencing the flames of hell.
4. Every person will face the Lord Jesus Christ someday. He will either be your Savior or He will be your Judge.
