1.

The origin of circumcision in verse 21 goes all the way back to the day of Abraham in Genesis. Why did God command Abraham and his descendants to do this? (Genesis 17:7,11-12; Romans 4:13-17) 

** God wanted to make it sure that all believes (after Abraham’s example) would live by faith in God’s promise to save people through God’s power (as exemplified in the way God granted a son to Abraham and Sarah even after passing the age of procreation.)

2.

In verses 22-24, Jesus’ parents consecrated Jesus to the Lord along with offerings prescribed by the law of Moses. In what respect was it not an easy command for any parents to obey? Yet, why did God command them to do this? (Exodus 13:14-16)

** Unlike modern societies where a lot of female population operate as bread earners, in those days it was male population that earned bread. And it was not easy for a family to dedicate the firstborn male to let him serve God first, rather than family businesses. 

** God asked them to do this, to teach them that: 1) man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from mouth; and 2) Jesus is the true bread of life who came to deliver all sinners from the grip of the power of sin and Satan as symbolized by Pharaoh in Egypt.

3.

Think about the joy of salvation Simeon had in verses 25-32. How did he come to receive this joy? What can we learn from him about the way to participate in God’s work of salvation? 

** He did receive the joy by: 1) maintaining a right relationship wit the Lord; 2) fully devoting himself to the Lord daily; 3) looking to God (not men or money) for salvation; and 4) thereby living in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Note: consolation of Israel refers to God’s promise to send the Savior to Israel at God’s right time as it is repeatedly described in the Scriptures such as Isaiah 52. 

** In our own generation, there are so m any attractive distractions that lead man away from the fellowship with the Lord, misleading men to the ways of destruction. 

So we must ward ourselves against the wickedness of this generation, by keeping a close relationship with: 1) the Lord (in our personal, daily devotion to the Lord); and 2) with the fellow believers in the Lord; and 3) the people of this world looking for the opportunity to teach them the Bible for their salvation.

4.

Memorize verses 30-31. The expression “your salvation” means “God’s salvation”. In what respect does the baby in the arm of Simeon represent “God’s salvation”? What does this passage teach us about the way God saves man? 

** Two things can be said: 1) Jesus came to open the way of salvation, that is, through himself dying on the cross to take away our sins (which work as the stumbling block in man’s relationship with God) and rising from the dead and going back to the Father, so he could work as the high priest praying for us all who believe in Him and 2) Jesus came to set an example of the life that loves the Lord God and serves Him and one’s neighbors. 

5.

Consider what Simeon said to Mary in verses 33-35. Why would anyone be either falling or rising because of Jesus? The expression “a sign that will be spoken against” indicates that the way of Jesus is not necessary popular among many. Why do many hate Jesus and his teachings? What does the expression, “a sword will pierce your own soul too” indicate about the way God saves sinners? (John 19:25-27)

** We can find an answer to this question in John 3:18, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.” 

When then would anyone choose not to believe in Jesus and thereby continually remain condemned? Jesus also answered this question in John 3:19-21. ^“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

Read also 1 Peter  2:6-8, “ For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him  will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,^[ and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”^[They stumble because they disobey the message–which is also what they were destined for.”

** John 7:7 answers the question.

** Through his self-sacrifice, even to the point of causing all the ill effects of the sins committed by his enemies to fall upon him.

6.

Skim through verses 36-38 and think about the expression, “She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.” In what respect might it not have been easy for her to do so? Yet, how did the Lord reward her?  

** The answer is quite obvious, for it is very difficult to do these three things (staying at the Lord’s temple without running around in wader lusts; fasting denying the most fundamental desire i.e. eating, and praying as opposed to going out doing something practical). 

** The Lord rewarded her by guiding her to see the salvation as Simeon testified. 

7.

Read verse 38. What does the “redemption of Jerusalem” mean? (Isaiah 40:2; 52:9; Ezekiel 5:5; John 17:23)

** Jerusalem denotes the chosen people in general. 

The end