Bible Study - Matthew Chapter 1
The Old-Aged Simeon And Prophetess Hanna
from Kaniyamparmabil Achen, the Great Teacher of Malankara
(Luke 2:25-38)
Simeon was righteous and pious and awaiting consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. There are many legends about him.
1) He was a righteous man who lived in the time of the Babel exile, who prayed with tears about the Babel exile. Being sad about the exile, he decided that he would not come back from the exile and stayed back. At that time he got the revelation that he would not die till the he sees the “Messiah of the Lord.” This means he was 570 years old.
2) It is said that he was a chief priest and that he was one of the 70 appointed by Ptolemy who edited the Septuagint. At time he saw the “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and [2] will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) and he doubted that prophecy. Since he doubted the prophecy God commanded him that he would not see death until he saw “Messiah of the Lord.” In that case he was 278 years old.
Simeon understood the infant Jesus Christ by Spirit
Jesus was:
1) Glory for Israel
2) Hope for the gentiles
3) It causes the fall and rise (i.e. one who receive Lord) in Israel.
Prophetess Hanna
1) Virgin till age 12
2) Married for 7 years
3) 84 years in the temple in prayer and fasting
4) She preached to many about the savior at 103
From Jerusalem to Nazareth (Luke 2:39)
And when they had accomplished all things, according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city Nazareth.
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