BORN UNDER THE LAW BUT NOT OF THE LAW

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LUKE 2:21-35

Lesson #07
BORN UNDER THE LAW BUT NOT OF THE LAW

• Memory verse: Rom 8:3
• After the birth of Jesus, Luke tells us about some practices that New Testament believers might question.
• Read Luk 2:21-24 Circumcision and Purification
  • The circumcision of Jesus
    • Why did Jesus need to be circumcised?
    • To identify himself with the Jews.
    • The circumcision of a child on the eighth day of his life puts the child under the covenant of Abraham.
      • The covenant with Abraham is a covenant of faith.
      • Read Gal 3:6-14
        • This covenant of faith is still valid today.
        • The believer is justified by faith and is told to live by faith.
  • The purification of Mary
    • Of what significance is this practice?
      • According to the Law of Moses, a woman was considered unclean for forty days. At the end of 40 days she bought a sacrifice for sin.
        • The sacrifice she brought was a dove.

This tells us that she was poor and could not afford a lamb.

Birds were cheap and considered a legitimate offering by the poor.

• • • • • This practice also tells us that Mary was not immaculate without sin. She needed a sacrifice for her own personal sins.
      • Why did the Law of Moses consider a woman unclean for 40 days after giving birth?
        • Read 1Tim 2:14-15

From the time of Adam and Eve and the birth of their first child, every child born has the flesh nature of sin.

Therefore, when a woman gives birth she is perpetuating the sinful nature of man down through the generations of human history. For that she is considered unclean spiritually.

It is at the crucifixion of Christ that a woman is no longer considered unclean after giving birth to a child. Why?

Sin came into the world because of the sin of Adam and Eve.

Through Jesus, born of a sinful woman, man can overcome the sinful nature when he is born again. (1Tim 2:14-15)

Through the crucifixion Jesus gives us victory over the sinful flesh nature.

• • • • • Why did the Law consider Mary unclean when Jesus was without sin?

Jesus did not have the sinful nature because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

However, Mary and Joseph were living in a period of Law.

Their actions were governed by the Law of Moses.

This period does not end until the crucifixion of Jesus.

According to the Law, the first son born to a woman was to be dedicated to God for service to Him.

She could pay a redemption price to buy him back from God.

Mary was poor and had no money to pay the redemption price.

Notice that the scripture in Luk 2 does not mention the exchange of money.

Jesus was therefore wholly dedicated to serving God, the Father.

• • • • • The number 40 in scripture indicates a time of testing.

Remember that Jesus was tested in the wilderness for 40 days before starting his ministry.

During this period of 40 days of Mary’s uncleanness she is tested as to how she will raise her child, dedicated to God or not.

• • Summary
    • Read Gal 4:4
      • Jesus was born during the period of Law under the Law of Moses. This period lasted from the time of Moses until the crucifixion of Christ.
      • Gal 4:4 tells us that Jesus was made under the law to identify himself with us.
    • Read Rom 8:3
      • Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh to redeem us.
      • Though He was without sin, He came in the flesh. For this we see Mary and Joseph go through the practices of the Law of Moses dealing with the human nature of sinful flesh.
    • Read Gal 5:3
      • Jesus became a debtor to the Law for us.
      • To pay the debt for our sins, He had to submit himself to being like us.
      • This tells us the importance of Jesus’ incarnation without sin. He did not have to pay for his own sins, as He was without sin. He therefore could pay for our sins.
• Read Luk 2:25-35 An Event in the Temple
  • Simeon
    • What do we know about this man?
    • The name Simeon means = hearing. He had strong faith to be able to hear from God.
    • We know he was old and had been looking for the coming of the promised Messiah all his life.
      • That tells us he knew the Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Messiah.
      • That tells us he had faith to trust God to fulfill His word.
    • We are told that he was anointed with the Holy Spirit.
      • Therefore, what Simeon has to say is very important because it comes to us from God.
      • After 400 years of silence, God is suddenly speaking and anointing people like Zacharias, Elisabeth, John the Baptist, Mary, Joseph, Simeon, and Anna.
    • He was righteous (just) before men and before God. In other words, he had a right relationship with God and man.
  • God’s revelation to Simeon:
    • Notice the sovereignty of God that brought Simeon to the temple at exactly the same hour that Mary brought Jesus to the temple.
      • This is further evidence of the “fullness of time”.
      • Remember that God is in control of people, places, events, and time.
    • God revealed to Simeon that he would not die before seeing the Messiah come.
      • Notice that God gives Simeon more than the desire in his heart to see the Messiah.
      • He is able to hold and touch Him.
    • If you were Simeon hoping to see the coming of the Messiah before your death, would you expect to see a baby? No.
      • The great majority of Jews were looking for a King to free them from their enemy, Rome.
      • Why was Simeon different?
        • Simeon knew the prophecies that He would be born in Bethlehem as a baby.
        • It is the same revelation that the Holy Spirit gave to the shepherds in the field.
    • How do we know for sure that Simeon recognized Jesus as the Messiah?
      •  ^“For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,” (30)
        • The word “salvation” is the meaning of Jesus’ name.

The scripture does not say that Simeon asked Mary what name she would give her baby.

This is a direct revelation by the Holy Spirit.

• • • • • Salvation is a broad concept that goes through all of the Old Testament.

It means to be liberated from one’s enemies or evil.

From domination by one’s enemies, physical, mental, and spiritual.

From the fear and intimidation of one’s enemies.

From the presence and power of one’s enemies.

It means to be liberated from one’s illnesses.

From the physical weakness that comes with illness.

From the end result of illness which is physical death.

It means to be liberated from sin of the past, the present, and the future.

From the presence of sin.

From the power of sin.

From spiritual death that is the result of sin.

• • • • “Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people” (31)
        • Simeon knew this baby was different and that He came from God.
        • God’s plan was in preparation from the first Old Testament prophecy given in Gen 3:15.
        • God planned all of this in the open. He did not hide the coming of the Messiah.

There are 333 prophecies of the coming of the Messiah.

Jesus fulfilled 196 of them at His first coming.

More Jews would have recognized Jesus as the Messiah if they had paid attention to God as Simeon had done.

• • • • “A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” (32)
        • This verse is amazing.

The Jews were not concerned with the salvation of the Gentiles.

They hated the Gentiles and did everything to avoid them.

• • • • • This verse is amazing because of its prophetic foresight.

According to the New Testament writers, Jesus came to heal the breach between Jews and Gentiles.

Salvation was always intended for all people from the very beginning, whether Jew or Gentile.

Read Eph 2:11-19

• • Simeon’s prophecy about the person of Jesus (34-35)
    • “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (34-35)
      • Simeon saw the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus over which many people would stumble and fall because they did not recognize Him for who He was and put Him to death.
      • Simeon also saw the rising of his people to salvation. The Jews will eventually receive Jesus Christ as their Messiah, but it will not be until the Second Coming of Christ.
        • Jesus is the sign by which all men must come to decide who He is, sent from God or not.
        • Remember that the people called for a “sign”, and Jesus said Jonah was the sign. (Mat 12:38-40)
        • Jesus was talking about his death and resurrection after the three days and nights in the tomb.
      • A sword will pierce through Mary’s soul when she sees her child crucified.
        • Notice the word “also” in reference to the sword that shall pierce Mary.
        • Jesus would be crucified and a sword would pierce his side.
    • What a person believes about Jesus will determine his eternal destiny. (35)
      • Simeon said that Jesus would reveal man’s thoughts and hearts.
      • In other words, what man believes about Jesus will come out in his actions.
      • Jesus will reveal what a person really understands about God.
        • Jesus is the only person that divides history.
        • Jesus is the only person that divides men into two groups, believers and unbelievers.
• Application:
  • What do we learn about faith in this section of scripture?
  • If you have a heart for God, walking with Him daily in an intimate relationship, and listening for His guidance, God will speak to you the secrets of His heart.
    • God does not give out His secrets easily to just anybody.
    • God reveals His secrets to those who persevere in faith to study the Word of God like Simeon.
    • Simeon is the model for us in our lesson today.

HOMEWORK
Luke 2:36-52

• Application of Luk 2:21-35
  • What have you learned in this lesson that motivates you to be more like Simeon?
• Preparation for Luk 2:36-52
  • Read Luk 2:36-52
    • What specific things do you learn about Jesus’ childhood?
    • If Jesus needed to read and study the scriptures to gain wisdom and knowledge, why do you think man thinks he can live a successful life without the Bible?
• Memory Verse: Luke 2:52