Luke 2:37

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. AND SHE WAS A WIDOW OF ABOUT FOURSCORE AND FOUR YEARS. If this mean that she had been 84 years in a state of widowhood, then, since her married life extended to seven years, she could not now have been lees than 103 years old, even though she had married at the age of twelve, the earliest marriageable age of Jewish females. But probably the meaning is that her whole present age was 84, of which there had been but seven years of a married life. WHICH DEPARTED NOT FROM THE TEMPLE - that is, at any of the stated hours of day-service, and was found there even during the night-services of the temple-watchmen (see Psalms 134:1);...

37._She departed not from the temple _This is a hyperbolical expression; but the meaning is plain, that Anna was almost constantly in the temple. Luke adds, that she _worshipped God with fastings and prayers day and night _Hence we infer, that she did not visit the temple for the mere purpose of performing the outward service, but that she added to it the other exercises of piety. It deserves our attention, that the same rule is not enjoined on all, and that all ought not to be led indiscriminately to copy those performances, which are here commended in a widow. Each person ought to make a judicious inquiry, what belongs to his own calling. Silly ambition has filled the world with apes, from superstitious persons seizing, with more “zeal” than “knowledges” (Romans 10:2,) every thing that they hear praised in the saints: as if the distinction of rank did not render a selection of

36-40 There was much evil then in the church, yet God left not himself without witness. Anna always dwelt in, or at least attended at, the temple. She was always in a praying spirit; gave herself to prayer, and in all things she served God. Those to whom Christ is made known, have great reason to thank the Lord. She taught others concerning him. Let the example of the venerable saints, Simeon and Anna, give courage to those whose hoary heads are, like theirs, a crown of glory, being found in the way of righteousness. The lips soon to be silent in the grave, should be showing forth the praises of the Redeemer. In all things it became Christ to be made like unto his brethren, therefore he passed through infancy and childhood as other children, yet without sin, and with manifest proofs of the Divine nature in him. By the Spirit of God all his faculties performed their offices in a manner n...

Verse 37. _DEPARTED NOT FROM THE TEMPLE_] Attended constantly at the hours of prayer, which were _nine_ in the morning and _three_ in the afternoon. See Acts 2:15; Acts 3:1. It does not appear that women had any other functions to perform in that holy place. _WITH FASTINGS_] She accompanied her devotion with frequent fastings, probably not _oftener_ than _twice_ in the week; for this was the custom of the most rigid Pharisees: see Luke 18:12....

AND SHE WAS A WIDOW OF ABOUT FOURSCORE AND FOUR YEARS - That is, she was about 84 years of age. It does not mean that she had been a widow for that long time. FASTINGS AND PRAYERS - Constant religious service. pending her time in prayer, and in all the ordinances of religion. NIGHT AND DAY - Continually - that is, at the usual times of public worship and in private. When it is said that she departed not from the temple, it is meant that she was “constant” and “regular” in all the public services at the temple, or was never absent from those services. God blesses those who wait at his temple gates....

EXPOSITION LUKE 2:1 _The Redeemer's birth_. LUKE 2:1 THERE WENT OUT A DECREE FROM CAESAR AUGUSTUS, THAT ALL THE WORLD SHOULD BE TAXED; more accurately, _that there should be a registration_, etc.; that is, with a view to the assessment of a tax. On the historical note of St. Luke in this passage much discussion has arisen, not, however, of much real practical interest to the ordinary devout reader. We will glance very briefly at the main criticism of this and the following verse. Respecting this general registration it is alleged (1) no historian of the time mentions such a decree of Augustus. (2) Supposing Augustus had issued such an edict, Herod, in his kingdom of Judaea, would

AND SHE WAS A WIDOW OF ABOUT FOURSCORE AND FOUR YEARS,.... Which is not the date of her whole age, as some have thought, but of her widowhood state, as distinct from her marriage state, and the time of her virginity. And this sense all the versions favour. WHICH DEPARTED NOT FROM THE TEMPLE that is, she was constant in her devotion there, at the time of divine service, whether by night or day; not that she was in it, for she had been out of it now; otherwise it could not with propriety be said of her, that SHE COMING IN THAT INSTANT, as in the next verse; but that she always was there when there was any worship performed, in which women might be concerned, and which is pointed out in the next clause: BUT SERVED GOD WITH FASTINGS AND PRAYERS, NIGHT AND DAY: she attended to the usual fasts of twice a week, and to such as were enjoined the whole congregation, and to the several set times...

Luke 2:1. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord cam...

CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The Birth of Christ at Bethlehem (Luke 2:1)_ 2. The Glad Tidings Announced to the Shepherds. (Luke 2:8) 3. The Circumcision and Presentation (Luke 2:21) 4. Simeon and His Prophecy (Luke 2:25) 5. Anna the Prophetess (Luke 2:36) 6. In Nazareth (Luke 2:39) 7. In the Temple (Luke 2:41) 8. The Increase ...

ANNA. Simeon has a counterpart in a centenarian widow who spends her whole life in ascetic devotion in the Temple. She adds her prophetic testimony to his, and afterwards speaks of the child to the circle of pious and expectant folk who, like these two representatives, ardently awaited the consolation of Israel, the redemption of Jerusalem. Joseph and Mary fulfil their errand and return to Nazareth (contrast Matthew 2:20 *)....