Word
of God
Man
does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from
the mouth of God
Matthew
4:4
The
Messiah Confirmed
The
Gospel According to Luke 2:25-32
25
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon: this
man was just, and feared God, and waited for the consolation of
Israel, and the holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was declared to
him from God by the holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before
he had seen that Anointed of the Lord. 27 And he came by the motion
of the spirit into the Temple, and when the parents brought in the
babe Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the Law. 28 Then he
took him in his arms, and praised God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest
thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, 30 For mine
eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the
face of all people, 32 A light to be revealed to the Gentiles, and
the glory of thy people Israel.
A
light to lighten the Gentiles
Or
for the revelation of the Gentiles; to reveal the love, grace, and
mercy of God, an everlasting righteousness, and the way of life and
salvation to them. Reference seems to be had to ( Isaiah 42:6 ) (
49:6 ) . "Light", is one of the names of the Messiah in the
Old Testament, as in ( Psalms 43:3 ) ( Daniel 2:22 ) , which passages
are by the Jews themselves interpreted of Christ; and is a name often
used of him in the New Testament: it is true of him as God, he is
light itself, and in him is no darkness at all; and as the Creator of
mankind, he is that light which lightens every man with the light of
nature and reason; and as the Messiah, he is come a light into the
world: the light of the Gospel, in the clear shine of it, is from
him; the light of grace in his people, who were in darkness itself,
he is the author and donor of; as he is also of the light of glory
and happiness, in the world to come: and particularly, the Gentiles
enjoy this benefit of light by him; who were, and as this supposes
they were, in darkness, as they had been some hundreds of years
before the Messiah's coming: they were in the dark about the being
and perfections of God, about the unity of God, and the Trinity of
persons in the Godhead, and about God in Christ; about his worship,
the rule and nature of it; and the manner of atonement, and
reconciliation for sin; the person, righteousness, and sacrifice of
Christ; the Spirit of God, and his operations on the souls of men;
the Scriptures of truth, and both law and Gospel; the resurrection of
the dead, and a future state: now, though Christ in his personal
ministry, was sent only to the Jews, yet after his resurrection, he
gave his disciples a commission to go into all the world, to preach
the Gospel to the Gentiles, in order to turn them from darkness to
light; and hereby multitudes were called out of darkness into
marvelous light: and of this Simeon had knowledge.
And
the glory of thy people Israel
Which
is true of Israel in a literal sense, inasmuch as the Messiah was
born of the Jews, and among them; and was first sent and came to
them, and lived and dwelled with them; taught in their streets, and
wrought his miracles in the midst of them; though this was an
aggravation of their ingratitude and unbelief, in rejecting him: the
Gospel was first preached to them, even after the commission was
enlarged to carry it among the Gentiles; and many of them were
converted, and the first Gospel church was planted among them; and an
additional glory was made to them, by the calling of the Gentiles,
and joining them to them, through the ministry of the apostles, who
were all Jews; who went forth from Zion, and carried the word of the
Lord from Jerusalem, to the several parts of the world: and this also
is more especially true of God, whose glory Christ is; being made of
God unto them, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption;
they having such an head, husband, Saviour, and Redeemer, as he; and
they being clothed with his righteousness, and washed in his blood,
sanctified by his grace, and made meet for eternal glory; to which
they have a right and claim, through the grace of God, and merits of
Christ; and therefore glory not in themselves, but in Christ, who is
their all in all.
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