Simeon

Simeon

Luke 2:22-35

Scripture and history do not provide us with a great amount of information about Simeon. All that we know of him is contained in these few verses in the book of Luke. But what we do have speaks volumes about Simeon, his character, faith and vision.

I. Simeon’s Character – Verse 25 “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout”

A. Just - Righteous

1. Righteous – dikaios – having judicial approval - in conformity to God's own being.

2. Whenever the Bible says somebody is righteous, it means they are justified before God. It doesn't mean they earned their righteousness, that's impossible. When the Bible says somebody is righteous, it means that God has declared them righteous and God only declares sinners righteous when they trust in God for their forgiveness, not in their own works. And God applied the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which hadn't even happened to Simeon because Simeon knew his sinfulness and he knew he couldn't earn his salvation. He cast himself on the mercy of God. God declared him righteous on the basis of what Christ would do in bearing his sins in the future. He was a righteous man. Whenever the Bible says a man is righteous, or a woman is righteous, it means before God they are considered just because their sins have been paid for and they have been forgiven. – John McArthur

3. Romans 3:10 “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one’.”

4. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

5. How can a man trust in his own righteousness? It is like seeking shelter under one's own shadow. We may stoop to the very ground; and, the lower we bend, we still find that our shadow is beneath us. But, if a man flee to the shadow of a great rock or of a wide-spreading tree, he will find abundant shelter from the rays of the noonday sun. So human merits are unavailing; and Christ alone is able to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by him.—Medhurst

6. Philippians 3:9 “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”

B. Devout

1. Eulabés - ("devout") literally means "taking hold of what is good." -cautious, circumspect; hence: God-fearing.

2. Simeon was a man who was showed a respect for the things of God.

3. He didn't live an irresponsible life. He walked carefully and cautiously before God and man.

4. Jonathan Edwards in his resolutions wrote...

• Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

• Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

• Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

• Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

• Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.

• Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

5. It's useless to put your best foot forward—and then drag the other.—Rex Moulin

6. Ephesians 5:15 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise”

7. Colossians 4:5 “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”

II. Simeon’s Faith – Verse 25-27

A. He was eagerly waiting for Consolation of Israel

1. Looking for “the consolation of Israel,” a term for the Messiah taken from Isaiah 40:1-3: “Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, will say your God. Speak consolation unto the heart of Jerusalem; and call unto her, that her appointed time is fulfilled, that her iniquity is atoned for, because she hath received from the hand of the Lord twofold for all her sins.”

2. Simeon believed God, believed God’s Word, believed in the literal coming of the Christ, the Messiah, the Promised One. He anticipated His coming.

3. Hebrews 9:27-28 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look [eagerly await] for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”