GOING TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

LUKE 2:21-38


      In the days of His flesh, Jesus demonstrated how to go to the House of the Lord.

•          Luke recorded Jesus’ first journey to the House of the Lord in Jerusalem (Lk. 2:22)

•          Luke recorded Jesus’ last journey to the House of the Lord in Jerusalem (Lk. 9:51)


Ps. 122:1 [ESV]. I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"


  I. Go to the House of the Lord habitually (2:21-24)


Lk. 2:42 [ESV]. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.


Lk. 4:16 [ESV]. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.


      Jesus’ family fulfilled the custom of going to the House of the Lord. The family obeyed the law of Moses (Mal. 4:4). Vincent noted, “The word law occurs in this chapter five times; oftener than in all the rest of this Gospel put together. Luke emphasizes the fact that Jesus ‘was made under the law’ (Gal. 4:4), and accordingly elaborates the details of the fulfilment of the law by the parents of both John and Jesus.” Endnote

 

•          Circumcision of the son: the 8th day (Gen. 17:12)

•          Purification of the mother: 40th day (Lev. 12:6)

•          Redemption of the first-born (Ex. 13:2)


      A. With the Scripture


Acts 17:11 [ESV]. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.


      B. With a sacrifice


Ps. 96:8 [BBE]. Give to the Lord the glory of his name; take with you an offering and come into his house.


 II. Go to the House of the Lord spiritually (2:25-27)

 

•          Righteous man (Lk. 1:6)

•          Reverent man (Acts 10:2)

•          Redeemed man (Lk. 1:68)


      The leadership of the Holy Spirit guided Simeon to Jesus (Jn. 16:13-14).


Rom. 8:14 [ESV]. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.


      A. Indwelt by the Spirit (Jn. 14:17)


      B. Instructed by the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10; 1 Jn. 2:27)


III. Go to the House of the Lord biblically (2:28-32)


      Simeon received the key to understanding the Bible–Jesus.


Jn. 5:39 [HCSB]. You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, yet they testify about Me.


      A. Convicted to salvation (Rom. 10:17)


      B. Convinced by Scripture (2 Tim. 2:15)


      Simeon grasped the key to interpreting the Bible–missions.


Lk. 24:45-47 [ESV]. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

 46. and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

 47. and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.


      W. O. Carver once wrote the book, All the World in All the Word. Carver traced the universal love of God to all peoples as what the Bible is all about.


 IV. Go to the House of the Lord responsively (2:33-35)


      The Cross did not leave the option of neutrality. Christ brings both life and death (2 Cor. 2:16). Christ’s death on the cross caused a stigma–a stumbling-block.


      Robertson wrote, “The falling of some and the rising up of others is what is meant. He will be a stumbling-block to some (Is. 8:14; Mt. 21:42, Mt. 21:44; Rom. 9:33; 1 Pet. 2:16.) who love darkness rather than light (Jn. 3:19), he will be the cause of rising for others (Rom. 6:4, Rom. 6:9; Eph. 2:6).” Endnote


      Those who take up the stigma of the cross will bear the offence. Simeon stated that those who follow Christ will be spoken against. Becoming a “Christ-follower” meant a stain or reproach on one's reputation–to become an outcast from society.


      A. Divider of a household (Mt. 10:34)


      B. Discerner of the heart (Heb. 4:12)


      Robertson said, “He is to test men’s thoughts (dialogismoi) and purposes. They will be compelled to take a stand for Christ or against him.” Endnote


      Stephen Neill wrote, “I spent one of the most interesting evenings of my life on the banks of the Rhine in 1949 with three companions–a Dutchman, and two Germans, one of whom had risen high in the diplomatic service of his country. The diplomat began to reminisce: ‘Mussolini was a much better man than Hitler,’ he said. ‘I knew Mussolini well, and of course I knew Hitler also. Our great mistake was in underestimating that man. You could lead me blindfold through ten rooms, and I would tell you without error in which of them the Fuhrer was standing. There was an electric power that sparked out of him. If you have to deal with a man like that, there are only three choices before you–to give up politics and retire to your estates in the country, to sell yourself to him body and soul–or to bump him off.’ If you are confronted with Jesus Christ, there are no estates in the country to which you can retire; the choices are not three, but two.” Endnote


  V. Go to the House of the Lord expectantly (2:36-38)


      Anna ministered with fastings and prayers to the Lord as a holy woman of God. Simeon and Anna formed a company of disciples in the temple anticipating the coming of Messiah.


      Robertson stated, “Simeon and Anna are representatives of real piety in this time of spiritual dearth and deadness.” Endnote Robertson noted that Anna “never missed a service in the temple.” Endnote


      A. Disciplines of holiness (1 Tim. 4:7-8)


      B. Disciples with hope (Jude 21)