The Testimonies

of Simeon & Anna

Luke 2:25-38

Simeon & Anna• The birth narratives (in Luke chapters 1

and 2) cover the period of time that includes the conceptions and births of both John the Baptist and Jesus.

• The final 22 chapters of Luke’s gospel will cover the three years of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Simeon & Anna• In the birth narratives, Luke introduced

several witnesses who testified to Jesus’ true identity and mission.

• In today’s passage, Luke added Simeon and Anna to that list of witnesses.

Simeon & Anna• Luke 2:25-38—25 And there was a man in

Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 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.

Simeon & Anna• 27 And he came in the Spirit into the

temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;

Simeon & Anna• 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel.” 33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.

Simeon & Anna• 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to

Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—35

and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Simeon & Anna• 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the

daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.

Simeon & Anna• 38 At that very moment she came up and

began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Simeon & Anna• Simeon and Anna were both advanced in

age, lived in Jerusalem, and had some connection to the temple.

Simeon & Anna• Luke 2:25—And there was a man in

Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

Simeon & Anna• Luke 2:38—At that very moment she

came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Simeon & Anna• This was a very dark time in Israel’s

history.

• For the most part, the people of Israel had become very legalistic and their hearts were turned away from the Lord.

• Israel had also just gone through 400 years of divine silence.

Simeon & Anna• Romans 11:2-5—2 God has not rejected

His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

Simeon & Anna• 3 “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR

PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.” 4 But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”

Simeon & Anna• 5 In the same way then, there has also

come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.

Simeon & Anna• The witnesses presented by Luke, in the

birth narratives, who testified to the nature and mission of Jesus, were all individuals who were part of God’s remnant.

Simeon & Anna• Simeon and Anna were among that

faithful remnant.

• They were enthusiastically anticipating the coming of the Messiah.

• Luke 2:26—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.

Simeon & Anna• Anna “continued to speak of Him to all

those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Verse 38).

• Simeon was “looking for the consolation of Israel” (verse 25).

Simeon & Anna• “Consolation” comes from the Greek

word paraklēsis (pä-räʹ-klā-sēs), which means to render aid by coming alongside another.

• “Redemption” comes from the Greek word lytrōsis (lüʹ-trō-sēs), which means to deliver one by providing a ransom.

Simeon & Anna• Luke 24:18-21—18 One of them, named

Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?”

Simeon & Anna• 19 And He said to them, “What things?”

And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,

Simeon & Anna• 20 and how the chief priests and our

rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.”

Simeon & Anna• One of the common traits about Simeon

and Anna was that they were part of God’s faithful remnant.

Simeon & Anna• Luke 2:25—And there was a man in

Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout…

• Luke 2:37—and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.

Simeon & Anna• Luke 2:27-29—27 And he came in the

Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;

Simeon & Anna• Luke 2:26—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.

• Simeon immediately recognized Jesus as the Christ.

Simeon & Anna• Luke 2:29—“Now Lord, You are releasing

Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;”

• Simeon had accomplished what God had put him on earth to do.

• His hope was fulfilled, his joy was complete, and his heart was at peace.

Simeon & Anna• Luke 2:30-32—30 For my eyes have seen

Your salvation, 31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

Simeon & Anna• The Jews believed that the Messiah, who

was promised to them in their Scriptures, was their deliverer.

• Jesus didn’t come to bring salvations to Israel alone.

• He came for all people, both Jews and Gentiles.

Simeon & Anna• A Messiah for all people groups was

completely contrary to the Jewish preconceived notions about Him.

• Acts 1:6—So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

Simeon & Anna• Luke 2:32—A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO

THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

Simeon & Anna• Galatians 3:28-29—28 There is neither

Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Simeon & Anna• Luke 2:33—And His father and mother

were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.

Simeon & Anna• Luke 2:34-35—34 And Simeon blessed

them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Simeon & Anna• These stark words to Mary were the first

negative words found in the entire gospel.

• Most likely, the reason Simeon only addressed Mary was because Joseph wouldn’t be around when Jesus died.

Simeon & Anna• Many of the things that Mary would

experience as Jesus grew, would be like a sword piercing her soul.

Simeon & Anna• Luke 2:36-38—36 And there was a

prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,

Simeon & Anna• 37 and then as a widow to the age of

eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Simeon & Anna• Anna was a faithful, righteous, God-

fearing woman who was committed to serving the Lord.

• Her actions showed her complete devotion to the Lord.