Matthew Poole Commentary - Luke 2:34 - 2:34

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Matthew Poole Commentary - Luke 2:34 - 2:34


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:





Ver. 34,35. Simeon blessed them: some may question how it was that Simeon blessed Christ, whereas the apostle tells us, The less is blessed of the better, Heb_7:7. But we must distinguish between:



1. A prophetical blessing, as Jacob blessed his sons, which was nothing but a prediction how God would bless them.



2. An authoritative blessing, as the priests blessed the people in the name of the Lord, Num_6:1-27; which is nothing but a pronouncing them blessed by authority from God, whom God hath blessed.



3. A charitable or precatory blessing; praying God to bless them.



Thus inferiors may bless superiors, as well as superiors may bless inferiors. The first or last, or both those, is to be understood here, not the second.



And said unto Mary his mother; not to Joseph, who he knew was not his natural, but legal and reputed, father.



Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel. That by the fall and rising again is here meant the salvation and damnation of many is doubted by no valuable interpreters. The apostle so applies Isa_8:14,15, where he is said to be for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. So doth Peter, 1Pe_2:8. Neither is it more than Christ telleth us, Joh_9:39, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. Accordingly the apostle saith, 2Co_2:16, that they were to some the savour of death unto death, to others the savour of life unto life. The reason is, because they that believe in him shall be saved, they that believe not shall be damned, Mar_16:16 Joh_3:18,36. This is now granted on all hands, that Christ will be the occasion of many people’s damnation, even all that reject and oppose him, and believe not in him; and the cause of many people’s salvation, even all that shall be saved: for there is no other name given under heaven, by which any can be saved, Act_4:12: see Mat_21:44 1Pe_2:4,5. And it is observable, that the salvation of souls by Christ is expressed by the term rising; so as all are, fallen, Eph_2:1, and have need of the application of a greater power to them for their salvation, than an under propping of the innate power of their wills. But the great question is about ceitai, is set, whether it signifieth only an event, or some counsel and ordination of God. Let us compare it with other texts where the same word is used, Phi_1:17 1Th_3:3. How such great issues of providence should happen without the foreknowledge of God, or how God should have any such foreknowledge without a previous act of his will determining the thing, let any one consider; in the mean time it is freely granted, that the intervening of men’s unbelief, and malice, and opposition to Christ and his gospel, is the proximate meritorious cause of the fall of any soul by occasion of him.



It follows, and for a sign which shall be spoken against; such a mark as Job speaks of, Job_16:12; or such a sign as Isaiah speaks of, Isa_8:18. Simeon here prophesieth, that Christ, and his ministers and people, should be ridiculed, and all the arrows of ungodly men should be shot against him; which proved true in that age as to Christ and his apostles, and in succeeding ages as to all that derive from him, and will so hold to the end of the world.



Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also; as the irons entered into the soul of Joseph, Psa_105:18. He tells the virgin her soul should be wounded with the reproaches and indignities which should be offered to this blessed babe, as it proved afterwards, when she heard him reviled, and saw him crucified.



That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. The gospel times, especially times of persecution, will discover whom God hath chosen, and whom he hath not, by discovering the thoughts of their hearts; it will then be seen who will receive and who will reject the Messias, who is on his side and who will be against him. The term that doth denote the consequent, not the effect. The preaching of the gospel is the Lord’s fan, by which he purgeth his floor. Persecution is the Lord’s sieve, by which he winnoweth churches, and separateth the dirt, and darnel, and tares from the wheat. Gospel times and times of persecution are both of them times which make great discovery of men’s spirits.