Parallel Gospels 2 - the Circumcision and Presentation of Jesus at the temple

Luke 2:21-40

The Circumcision

²¹ When the eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named Jesus—the name given by the angel before He was conceived.


It is unclear if after his circumcision they went back home to Galilee or stayed in Bethlehem. The assumption is that they stayed in bethlehem a few years because the Magi went to Bethlehem when Jesus was 2 years old. They followed the star there and they lived in a house. But we will review that at that time.

The Presentation of Jesus

²² And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord ²³ (just as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord) ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons).


The Book of Leviticus, Chapter 12, states that a mother should be considered unclean for 40 days after giving birth to a boy and for 80 days after giving birth to a girl.

• for a boy, the woman is unclean for 7 days just as in her menstrual period, then on the 8th day, the boy is to be circumcised. But for a girl, the woman is unclean 14 days.
• for a boy, 33 and for a girl, 66 more days, to be purified from her bleeding.
• then after the days of purification are over, to be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood, she brings a burnt offering and a sin offering to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting:
  • burnt offering, a year old lamb. If she cannot afford a lamb, then this can be a young pigeon or dove.
  • sin offering, a young pigeon or dove

Given all this, since she brought 2 young doves, it appears that they must not have been able to afford a lamb. or maybe because they traveled and maybe they didn't have a lamb.. but that is pure speculation.

Also every firstborn male (whether man or animal) was to be holy, given to the lord - Exodus 13:2, 12

Simeon’s Prophetic Praise

²⁵ There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷ Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law, ²⁸ Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said:

²⁹ Now, Master,
You can dismiss Your slave in peace,
as You promised.
³⁰ For my eyes have seen Your salvation.
³¹ You have prepared it
in the presence of all peoples—
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and glory to Your people Israel.

³³ His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about Him.
³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary: “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed— ³⁵ and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Anna’s Testimony

³⁶ There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷ and was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. ³⁸ At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Family’s Return to Nazareth

³⁹ When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰ The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on Him.