presentation bible meaning

Try Emmaus Academy for free!

The Deeper Meaning of the Presentation in the Temple

By Clement Harrold

For many Catholics, the fourth joyful mystery—the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple—can be a difficult scene to meditate on. What’s the episode about, anyway? And what might be its deeper meaning?

Beginning with the first question, it’s important to remember that the Presentation described in Luke 2:22-38 is not the circumcision of Jesus. That already took place eight days after His birth. Rather, the Presentation took place in order to fulfill two different dictates of the Mosaic Law.

The first of these, drawn from Leviticus 12, mandated that mothers needed to be purified forty days after giving birth to a male child. This is why the Presentation is celebrated in the Church’s calendar on February 2nd—also known as “Candlemas,” an allusion to Simeon’s words about the boy Jesus being “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Lk 2:32)—because the event takes place forty days after the nativity (counting December 25 as day one).

In order to make the purification, the mother in question was required to sacrifice a lamb as well as either a pigeon or a turtledove. The law made provision, however, for those families who were too poor to afford a lamb, in which case they could sacrifice two pigeons or two turtledoves instead. St. Luke goes out of his way to inform the reader that this is exactly what the Holy Family did, thereby reminding us of their material poverty (see Lk 2:24).

The second precept of the Mosaic Law which Mary and Joseph were following is the requirement from Exodus 13:2 that all firstborns be consecrated to God in a special way. More specifically, this ritual rested on the understanding that the firstborn naturally belonged to God, and so the child’s human parents were expected to “redeem” (from the Latin redimō , meaning to “buy back”) their child by paying five shekels to the priest.

All of this helps us to see that the Presentation in the Temple was about two important things: (1) the purification of Mary and (2) the redemption of baby Jesus. So far so good. But there are two other elements here which are worth paying attention to. For one thing, the Mosaic Law nowhere demanded that the purification or the redemption take place within the Temple. This means that the Holy Family was being extra devout by going to the Temple for this special day.

Additionally, there is one detail in the Presentation narrative which is startling for its absence. While St. Luke does mention that Mary and Joseph bought the two turtledoves, he never takes the time to mention the paying of the five shekels to redeem baby Jesus. In other words, he cites the redeeming-of-the-firstborns precept laid down in Exodus 13:2, but he leaves out a description of this redemption taking place. Why might that be?

For the late Pope Benedict XVI, in his Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives , the answer was obvious. St. Luke leaves a literary silence in the passage in order to drive home the point that the infant Jesus belongs to His Heavenly Father:

Evidently Luke intends to say that instead of being “redeemed” and restored to his parents, this child was personally handed over to God in the Temple, given over completely to God. . . . Luke has nothing to say regarding the act of “redemption” prescribed by the law. In its place we find the exact opposite: the child is handed over to God, and from now on belongs to him completely. (p. 3)

Understanding this detail can help us bring the fourth joyful mystery to life in a new way. The Presentation isn’t just another boring religious ritual. On the contrary, it is a deeply symbolic moment pointing to Jesus’s divine identity, and to Mary and Joseph’s perfect cooperation with His divine mission.

How to go to Heaven

How to get right with god.

Gospel presentations

Subscribe to the, question of the week.

Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox!

Luke 2:22-38 New American Bible (Revised Edition)

The Presentation in the Temple. 22 [ a ] When the days were completed for their purification [ b ] according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, ( A ) 23 just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” ( B ) 24 and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, [ c ] and the holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, 28 he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

29 “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, ( C ) 31 which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” ( D )

33 The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; 34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted ( E ) 35 (and you yourself a sword will pierce) [ d ] so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. 38 And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. ( F )

2:22–40 The presentation of Jesus in the temple depicts the parents of Jesus as devout Jews, faithful observers of the law of the Lord ( Lk 2:23–24 , 39 ), i.e., the law of Moses. In this respect, they are described in a fashion similar to the parents of John ( Lk 1:6 ) and Simeon ( Lk 2:25 ) and Anna ( Lk 2:36–37 ).
2:22 Their purification : syntactically, their must refer to Mary and Joseph, even though the Mosaic law never mentions the purification of the husband. Recognizing the problem, some Western scribes have altered the text to read “his purification,” understanding the presentation of Jesus in the temple as a form of purification; the Vulgate version has a Latin form that could be either “his” or “her.” According to the Mosaic law ( Lv 12:2–8 ), the woman who gives birth to a boy is unable for forty days to touch anything sacred or to enter the temple area by reason of her legal impurity. At the end of this period she is required to offer a year-old lamb as a burnt offering and a turtledove or young pigeon as an expiation of sin. The woman who could not afford a lamb offered instead two turtledoves or two young pigeons, as Mary does here. They took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord : as the firstborn son ( Lk 2:7 ) Jesus was consecrated to the Lord as the law required ( Ex 13:2 , 12 ), but there was no requirement that this be done at the temple. The concept of a presentation at the temple is probably derived from 1 Sm 1:24–28 , where Hannah offers the child Samuel for sanctuary services. The law further stipulated ( Nm 3:47–48 ) that the firstborn son should be redeemed by the parents through their payment of five shekels to a member of a priestly family. About this legal requirement Luke is silent.
2:25 Awaiting the consolation of Israel : Simeon here and later Anna who speak about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem represent the hopes and expectations of faithful and devout Jews who at this time were looking forward to the restoration of God’s rule in Israel. The birth of Jesus brings these hopes to fulfillment.
2:35 (And you yourself a sword will pierce) : Mary herself will not be untouched by the various reactions to the role of Jesus ( Lk 2:34 ). Her blessedness as mother of the Lord will be challenged by her son who describes true blessedness as “hearing the word of God and observing it” ( Lk 11:27–28 and Lk 8:20–21 ).

Cross references

2:22–24 : Lv 12:2–8.
2:23 : Ex 13:2, 12.
2:30–31 : 3:6; Is 40:5 LXX; 52:10.
2:32 : Is 42:6; 46:13; 49:6; Acts 13:47; 26:23.
2:34 : 12:51; Is 8:14; Jn 9:39; Rom 9:33; 1 Cor 1:23; 1 Pt 2:7–8.
2:38 : Is 52:9.

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The Bible in a Year
The Catechism in a Year
Ask Fr. Josh
All Things Catholic
Catholic Classics
Every Knee Shall Bow
Girlfriends
Sunday Homilies Podcast
The Fr. Mike Schmitz Podcast
The Jeff Cavins Show
The Tightrope
La Biblia en un Año
Fr. Mike Schmitz
Sunday Homilies
Fr. Josh Johnson
Jackie and Bobby Angel
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFRs)
Encountering The Word: Year A

The Real Meaning of the Presentation of the Lord

Perhaps, you are familiar with the story of Joseph and Mary taking the baby Jesus to the temple after his birth. This event is called the Presentation. But why is it called this and what is so significant about this event? Dr. Edward Sri answers these questions and explains the deeper meaning of the Presentation that few Christians understand.

Snippet from the Show Our lives are meant to be a sacrifice to God.

Quotation from Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI

“Luke begins by specifically quoting the law regarding consecration of the first-born: ‘Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’ (2:23; cf. Ex 13:12). What is unusual about this account is that instead of then relating the redemption of Jesus, it speaks of a third event: Jesus’ presentation. Evidently Luke intends to say that instead of being ‘redeemed’ and restored to his parents, this child was personally handed over to God in the Temple, given over completely to God. The verb paristanai , here translate as ‘to present,’ also means ‘to offer’ in the way that sacrifices in the Temple were ‘offered.’ The language of sacrificial offering and priesthood is evoked here.

Luke has nothing to say regarding the act of ‘redemption’ prescribed by the law. In its place we find the exact opposite: the child is handed over to God, and from now on belongs to him completely. None of the aforementioned acts prescribed by the law required an appearance in the Temple. Yet for Luke, Jesus’ first entry into the Temple as the locus of the event is essential. Here, in the place of encounter between God and his people, instead of the reclamation of the first born, what happens is that Jesus is publicly handed over to God, his Father.”

“To offer” or “to present”

Purification of a Woman After Childbirth (Leviticus 12:1-8)

The Lord said to Moses: Tell the Israelites: When a woman has a child, giving birth to a boy, she shall be unclean for seven days, with the same uncleanness as during her menstrual period. On the eighth day, the flesh of the boy’s foreskin shall be circumcised, and then she shall spend thirty-three days more in a state of blood purity; she shall not touch anything sacred nor enter the sanctuary till the days of her purification are fulfilled. If she gives birth to a girl, for fourteen days she shall be as unclean as during her menstrual period, after which she shall spend sixty-six days in a state of blood purity.

When the days of her purification for a son or for a daughter are fulfilled, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a yearling lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or a turtledove for a purification offering. The priest shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and thus she will be clean again after her flow of blood. Such is the ritual for the woman who gives birth to a child, male or female. If, however, she cannot afford a lamb, she may take two turtledoves or two pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a purification offering. The priest shall make atonement for her, and thus she will again be clean.

Repayment of the Firstborn (Numbers 18:15-16)

Every living thing that opens the womb, human being and beast alike, such as are to be offered to the Lord, shall be yours; but you must redeem the firstborn of human beings, as well as redeem the firstborn of unclean animals. For the redemption price of a son, when he is a month old, you shall pay the equivalent of five silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, that is, twenty gerahs.

Isaiah 42:6

I, the Lord, have called you for justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,

Isaiah 49:6

It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Isaiah 52:10

The Lord has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth can see the salvation of our God.

Upcoming Events with Dr. Sri

Jan 31: St. Thomas More Parish Marriage Talk – Centennial CO
Feb 9-10: St. Vincent de Paul Parish Renewal Weekend – Austin TX
Feb 15: St. Rita Parish Mission – Wellington FL
Feb 16-17: Archdiocese of St. Louis Men’s Conference – St. Louis MO
Feb 21: St. Anna’s Catholic Church – Parish Lenten Mission – Monroe GA
Feb 22: Holy Trinity Catholic Church – Parish Lenten Mission – Peachtree City GA
Mar 1-2: Annual Diocesan Conference – Laredo TX
Mar 8-9: Catholic Men’s Conference of Maryland – Baltimore MD
Mar 13-14: St. Michael Catholic Church Parish Mission – St. Michael MN
Mar 15: Bishop Lucker Lecture for Diocese of New Ulm – Redwood Falls MN
Mar 20-21: St. Louis Catholic Church Parish Mission – Miami FL
Apr 5-6: Diocese of Charleston Eucharistic Congress – Columbia SC
Apr 19-20: Diocesan Eucharistic Congress – Altoona-Johnstown PA
June 20-23: St. Patrick Catholic Church – Summer Summit – London, England
June 23-July 1: Rome Pilgrimage
July 19-20: 2024 National Eucharistic Congress – Indianapolis IN
Aug 10: Discipleship Conference – Oklahoma City OK
Aug 23-24: Diocesan Faith Formation Conference – Tulsa OK
Sept 21: 2024 Annual Meeting and Investiture of the Northern Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem – Denver CO
Oct 3: Diocese of Harrisburg Annual Priest Workshop – Hunt Valley MD
Visit Dr. Sri’s website at www.edwardsri.com and to book online events with Dr. Sri email [email protected]
Find more of Dr. Sri’s episodes at www.ascensionpress.com/allthingscatholic
Ascension is pleased to offer our new and improved online bible study programs and sacramental preparation programs digitally to help you minister with flexibility. Go to www.ascensionpress.com to view all our offerings

Dr. Edward Sri is a theologian, well-known Catholic speaker, and author of several best-selling books. His work with Ascension includes study programs such as A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ’s Passion and Mary: A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother. Several of Dr. Sri’s programs were filmed on-site in the Holy Land, and feature immersive video explorations of the sacred sites where Jesus, Mary, and the Apostles lived and died.

Dr. Sri is the host of the acclaimed Ascension podcast All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri . Together with Curtis Martin, Dr. Sri is a founding leader of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), of which he serves as senior vice president of Apostolic Outreach.

Dr. Sri lives with his wife Beth and their children in Colorado.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Responding to Unrest

When Your Spouse Doesn’t Share Your Faith

Reflections for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Introduction: This feast commemorates how Jesus, as a baby, was presented to God in the Temple in Jerusalem. This presentation finds its complete and perfect fulfillment in the mystery of the passion, death and Resurrection of the Lord. The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a combined feast , commemorating the Jewish practice of the purification of the mother after childbirth and the presentation of the child to God in the Temple and his buying back ( redemption ) from God. It is also known as the Feast of the Purification of Mary , and the Feast of Candlemas. It is also called the Feast of Encounter ( Hypapánte in Greek) because the New Testament, represented by the baby Jesus, encountered the Old Testament, represented by Simeon and Anna. Joseph offered two pigeons in the Temple as sacrifice for the purification of Mary after her childbirth and for the presentation and redemption ceremonies performed for baby Jesus.

Homily starter anecdote: “Four chaplains Sunday: Julia Duin in the Washington Times Sunday, February 1, 2009 told this story. Just after midnight on Feb. 3, 1943, an act of extraordinary unselfishness by a group of men became a legend of martyrdom and sacrifice. When the Army ship Dorchester was torpedoed by the Germans just south of Greenland that night, its passengers and crew had 25 minutes to get off the boat. As 902 people went for the life jackets, it quickly was discovered there weren’t near enough. Of the 13 lifeboats, only two functioned. In the ship’s final minutes, Methodist senior chaplain George Lansing Fox, Rabbi Alexander Goode, Dutch Reformed minister Clark V. Poling and John P. Washington, a Roman Catholic priest, were helping passengers leave the vessel. Then four men appeared all of them without life jackets. The chaplains quickly gave up their own vests and went down with the ship, perishing in the freezing water. Survivors saw them, locked arm in arm, praying and singing the Navy hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” just before the ship dove beneath the waves. It was a night as dramatic as the sinking of the Titanic but without a blockbuster movie to record the drama. “The Four Immortal Chaplains,” as they are now known, have been honored many times, including on a stamp issued in their honor by the U.S. Postal Service. Hence the first Sunday in February is known as “Four Chaplains Sunday” in some Christian denominations. They presented and offered themselves completely for the wellbeing of others as Jesus was presented to God his Heavenly Father in the Temple of Jerusalem for the salvation of the world. ( http://frtonyshomilies.com/).

Scripture lessons summarized: In the first reading, taken from Malachi, the prophet speaks of the Lord suddenly coming to Jerusalem to purify the lax, lazy and indifferent priests of His Temple as silver is purified by fire. Simeon saw the Infant Jesus as the fulfillment of this passage. He saw Jesus as the Lord Who has come to the Temple, "destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel." In the second reading, St. Paul proclaims Jesus as our Eternal High Priest of the New Covenant (Heb 2:17), Who offered himself on the altar of Calvary, the only pure priestly sacrifice that could please God. He replaces the former priesthood. The Gospel describes how Joseph, as the head of the Holy Family of Nazareth, presented Mary and the baby Jesus in the Temple of God for the mother’s purification and the Child’s “redemption.” It also describes the Holy Family’s encounter with the old prophet Simeon and the holy old widow Anna. In his prophecy, Simeon extols the divine blessings which the Messiah is bringing to Israel and to all men and predicts that Mary will play a crucial and sacrificial role in her Son's redemptive work by sharing in her Son's sufferings.

The first reading explained : Malachi prophesies in the first reading that the Lord is going to appear suddenly in the Temple of Jerusalem to purify its priests and the people . The prophecy warns that nobody can endure the day of the messenger's coming because he will be like a refining fire, purifying the sons of Levi. Led by the Spirit, Simeon saw the Infant Jesus as the fulfillment of this passage . Simeon, even if unknown to himself, foresaw Christ and His priests of the New Covenant who were ordained during the Last Supper. He saw Jesus as the Lord Who would come to the Temple, "destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel." In today's reading, Malachi prophesies that God will purify the lax, lazy and indifferent priests of His Temple as silver is purified by fire. At the time of Malachi (around 460-450 BC), the priests were offering blemished (blind, lame) sacrifices and giving bad example (1:6-2:4). The people were negligent in their support of the Temple (3:6-12). Israelite wives were being rejected by husbands who wished to marry foreign women (2:14-16). Social injustice was rampant (3:5), and the people doubted God’s love (1:2-5). Hence, Malachi reminds them that the Day of the Lord, a Day of Judgment, reward and retribution is coming. He describes the Divine intervention as a two-stage process. First God’s messenger will appear to prepare the way by purifying the clergy and refining the cult (v. 3). This purification will take place until they present offerings to the Lord in a spirit of justice and righteousness. Then, the Lord of Hosts will suddenly appear in the Temple (v. 1), to bring judgment and justice against unfaithful sinners (v. 5). The Psalm announces to Jerusalem that Jerusalem is about to receive a great visitor. The Psalmist identifies him as “The LORD of hosts … the king of glory.”

The second reading explained: The second reading proclaims Jesus as our Eternal High Priest of the New Covenant (Heb 2:17), Who offered Himself on the altar of Calvary, the only pure priestly sacrifice that could please God. The Didache or the first catechism of the early Church (14:1-3), saw Malachi’s prophecy of a pure sacrifice and offering made from east to west as a prophecy of the sacrifice of the Eucharist. Hence Malachi prophesies that the Lord will enter His Temple, there will be a renewed priesthood, and there will be a pure sacrifice offered worldwide and pleasing to God -- the Eucharist. Jesus became like us in all things except sin in order that He might offer to the Father perfect praise and glory. Besides, since Jesus fully shared our experience, He is now a merciful and faithful High Priest on our behalf, "able to help those who are being tested." Jesus replaces the former priesthood. In keeping with the theme of today’s feast, namely, the presentation of the first fruits, this excerpt from Hebrews emphasizes Jesus’ dual role, as first-fruits , par excellence , and as the faithful High priest Who presents the perfect gift of Himself to God for the expiation of human sin. By virtue of His Incarnation, Jesus became human in every way (vv. 17-18) except as regards sin. As representative of His brothers and sisters before God and as their Mediator, Christ perfected His service as both sacrifice and priest. By so doing, Christ was able to “rob the devil” of power (v. 14). As the first-fruits from the dead, as the conqueror of sin and death, Christ, in His person and through His mission, has set the course and cleared the way we are to follow; the decision to do so must be a daily and deliberate one. It takes faith to see God's power at work in the death of Jesus. Simeon hinted at this when he told Mary that she herself would be pierced with a sword. Even knowing that her Son was the Savior of the world, it would be difficult for Mary to see him accomplish that salvation by being crucified.

Exegesis of today’s Gospel: The birth of Christ was revealed by three kinds of witnesses in three different ways -- first, by the shepherds, after the angel's announcement; second, by the Magi, who were guided by a star; third, by Simeon and Anna, who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Today’s Gospel describes the Presentation of the Baby Jesus in the Temple. It was intended to ritually redeem Jesus who was the first born in the family and where Mary herself will have to be ritually purified. Mary and Joseph was a typical pious Jewish couple, who went to the Temple in obedience to do all that was required and expected of them by the Law.The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus is a combined feast , commemorating the Jewish practice of the purification of the mother after childbirth and the presentation of the child in the Temple. It is known as the Hypapánte feast or Feast of the Purification of Mary (by the offering two pigeons in the Temple), the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (by prayers and a sacrifice offered in the Temple to redeem or buy the firstborn male child back from the Lord), the Feast of Candlemas (because of its ancient rite of blessing of the candles to be used in the church for the next year — a practice dating from the middle of the fifth century) and the Feast of Encounter (because the New Testament, represented by the Baby Jesus, encountered the Old Testament, represented by Simeon and Anna). Originally, there was no connection between today’s festival and the blessing of candles. In the ancient East, this celebration occurred on February 14, forty days after Epiphany. On February 15, pagans celebrated the festival of Lupercalia , a great “light” festival. Perhaps this is an instance of the Church's “baptizing” a pagan custom. At the principal Mass, the celebrant blesses candles, and people take part in a candlelight procession. This should remind us that Jesus is our High Priest and the Light of the World.

Purification and redemption ceremonies : The Gospel describes how Joseph, as the head of the Holy Family of Nazareth, presented Mary and the baby Jesus in the Temple of God for the mother’s purification and the child’s “redemption.” According to Leviticus 12:2-8, a woman who bore a child was unclean for forty days following the birth of a son or eighty days following the birth of a daughter. Although Mary, the most holy of women, ever-Virgin, was exempt from these precepts of the Law, because of her miraculous conception, she chose to submit herself to the Law just like any other Jewish mother. Joseph and Mary showed their total submission to Law and obey the norms prescribed by the Old Testament. The custom was practiced probably for the physical and emotional re-integration of the new mother into the community. There was a religious reason as well. Exodus 13:2, 12-13 prescribes that every first-born male belongs to God and must be set apart for the Lord, that is, dedicated to the service of God. However, once divine worship was reserved to the tribe of Levi, first-born who did not belong to that tribe were not dedicated to God's service, and to show that they continued to be God's special property, a rite of redemption was performed. The Law also commanded that the Israelites should offer in sacrifice some lesser victim -- for example, a lamb or, if they were poor, a pair of doves or two pigeons. The Book of Numbers 18: 15 taught that since every Jewish firstborn male child belonged to Yahweh, the parents had to “buy back” (redeem), the child by offering a lamb or turtledoves as a sacrifice in the Temple. The price of redemption for a human baby is five shekels of silver (Num 18:15-16). Jesus never needed to be "bought back," as he belonged wholly to the Lord, but Joseph kept these laws as an act of obedience to God.

The encounter with Simeon and Anna : By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the old, pious and Spirit-filled Simeon and Anna had been waiting in the Temple for the revelation of God’s salvation. The Greek Church celebrates the Hypapánte or Feast of the Encounter commemorating the encounter of the New Testament represented by Jesus with the Old Testament represented by Simeon and Anna. Simeon, who is described as a righteous and devout man, obedient to God's will, addresses himself to our Lord as a vassal or loyal servant who, having kept watch all his life in expectation of the coming of his Lord, sees that this moment has "now" come, the moment that explains his whole life. When he takes the Child in his arms, he learns, not through any reasoning process but through a special grace from God, that this Child is the promised Messiah, the Consolation of Israel, the Light of the nations. Simeon recognizes Jesus as the Lord’s anointed one, and in his prayer of blessing he prophesies that Jesus is meant to be the glory of Israel and the light of revelation to the Gentiles. Pope Francis: “Simeon took him in his arms and thanked God that he had finally “seen” salvation. Anna, despite her advanced age, found new vigor and began to speak to everyone about the Baby. It is a beautiful image: two young parents and two elderly people, brought together by Jesus. He is the one who brings together and unites generations! He is the inexhaustible font of that love which overcomes every occasion of self-absorption, solitude, and sadness. In your journey as a family, you share so many beautiful moments: meals, rest, housework, leisure, prayer, trips and pilgrimages, and times of mutual support… Nevertheless, if there is no love then there is no joy, and authentic love comes to us from Jesus. He offers us his word, which illuminates our path; he gives us the Bread of life which sustains us on our journey.”

Simeon’s prophecy: Simeon's canticle (verses 29-32) is also a prophecy. It consists of two stanzas: the first (verses 29-30) is his act of thanksgiving to God, filled with profound joy for having seen the Messiah. The second (verses 31-32) is more obviously prophetic and extols the divine blessings which the Messiah is bringing to Israel and to all men. The canticle highlights the fact that Christ brings redemption to all men without exception -- something foretold in many Old Testament prophecies (cf. Genesis 22:18; Isaiah 2:6; 42:6; 60:3; Psalm 28:2). While Simeon blessed Mary, he warned her that her child would be “ a sign of contradiction, ” and that she would be “ pierced with a sword.” Simeon was prophesying both the universal salvation that would be proclaimed by Jesus and the necessity of suffering in the mission of the Messiah. Jesus came to bring salvation to all men, yet He would be a sign of contradiction because some people would obstinately reject Him -- and for this reason He would be their ruin. But for those who would accept Him with faith, Jesus would be their salvation, freeing them from sin in this life and raising them up to eternal life. The Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph marveled, but not because they did not know who Christ was. They were in awe at the way God was revealing Him.

The paradox of blessedness: Mary was given the blessedness of being the mother of the Son of God. That blessedness also would become a sword which would pierce her heart as her Son died upon the cross. The words Simeon addressed to Mary announced that she would be intimately linked with her Son's redemptive work. The sword indicated that Mary would have a share in her Son's sufferings. Her suffering would be an unspeakable pain which would pierce her soul. Our Lord suffered on the cross for our sins, and it is those sins which forged the sword of Mary's pain. Mary received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. But her joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled by her faith, hope, and trust in God and his promises. Jesus promised his disciples, "no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22). The Lord gives us a supernatural joy which enables us to bear any sorrow or pain and which neither life nor death can take way. Do you know the joy of a life fully surrendered to God with faith and trust? According to Dr. Scot Hann, the feast we celebrate shows a curious turn of events. The Redeemer is redeemed. She who is all-pure presents herself to be purified. Such is the humility of our God. Such is the humility of the Blessed Virgin. They submit to the law even though they are not bound by it.

Anna’s encounter with the Lord and her testifying to the Messiah: Anna was an eighty-four-year-old widow who spent her days in the Temple in fasting and prayer, waiting for the promised Messiah. She was rewarded with the joy of seeing her Redeemer as a Baby. In her excitement, she praised God and introduced the Infant to others around her as the expected Messiah. Supernatural hope grows with prayer and age! Anna was pre-eminently a woman of great hope and expectation that God would fulfill all his promises. She is a model of godliness for all believers as we advance in age. Advancing age and the disappointments of life can easily make us cynical and hopeless if we do not have our hope placed rightly. Anna's hope in God and His promises grew with age. She never ceased to worship God in faith and to pray with hope. Her hope and faith in God's promises fueled her indomitable zeal and fervor in prayer and the service of God's people. We grow in hope by placing our trust in the promises of Jesus Christ and relying not on our own strength, but on the grace and help of the Holy Spirit. After completing the presentation and redemption of baby Jesus and the ritual purification of Mary and the meeting with Simeon and Anna, Joseph and Mary understood more fully their responsibility before God to protect the child as they return to Nazareth

Life messages : 1) Every Holy Mass in which we participate is our presentation . Although we were officially presented to God on the day of our Baptism, we present ourselves and our dear ones on the altar before God our Father through our Savior Jesus Christ at every Holy Mass. Hence, we need to live our daily lives with the awareness both that we are dedicated people consecrated to God and that we are obliged to lead holy lives.

2) We need the assistance of the Holy Spirit to recognize the presence of Jesus in ourselves and in others: All those who, like Simeon and Anna, persevere in piety and in the service of God, no matter how insignificant their lives seem in men's eyes, become instruments the Holy Spirit uses to make Christ known to others. In His plan of redemption, God makes use of these simple souls to do much good for all mankind. In other words, The Holy Spirit employs ordinary men and women with simple faith as His instruments to bear witness to Christ, His ideals and teachings, just as He used Simeon and Anna. The Holy Spirit reveals the presence of the Lord to us when we are receptive and eager to receive Him. Let us be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us to recognize the indwelling presence of the Lord with us and in others. (Fr. Antony Kadavil)

Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here

Your contribution for a great mission:support us in bringing the Pope's words into every home

More upcoming events:

Listen to our podcasts

Subscribe to our newsletters

To get the latest news

Papal audiences

Daily readings

Saint of the day

Skip to content
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

Catholic Stewardship Consultants, Inc.

Developing Stewardship in Catholic Parishes

The Significance of the Presentation of the Lord

Traditionally, the Church has set aside Feb. 2 in observance of the Presentation of the Lord – or the day in which Joseph and Mary presented Jesus to the priests and elders in the Temple.

For years, this feast – which in the United States is only formally celebrated when it falls on a Sunday – marked the end of the Christmas season. In old days, the Presentation was often referred to as “Candlemas” and was celebrated by a candle-lit procession into the church, signifying Christ as the “light of nations.”

Known originally as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a relatively ancient celebration. We know that the Church at Jerusalem was observing the feast as early as the first half of the fourth century, and likely earlier.

According to Jewish law, the firstborn male child belonged to God, and the parents had to “buy him back” on the 40th day after his birth, by offering a sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:24) in the temple — thus the “presentation” of the child. On that same day, the mother would be ritually purified — thus the “purification.”

St. Mary and St. Joseph kept this law, even though, since St. Mary remained a virgin after the birth of Christ, she would not have had to go through ritual purification. In his Gospel, Luke (2:22-39) recounts the story.

Originally, the feast was celebrated on Feb. 14, the 40th day after Epiphany (Jan. 6), because Christmas wasn’t yet celebrated as its own feast, and so the Nativity, Epiphany, the Baptism of the Lord (Theophany), and the feast celebrating Christ’s first miracle at the wedding in Cana were all celebrated on the same day. By the last quarter of the fourth century, however, the Church at Rome had begun to celebrate the Nativity on Dec. 25, so the Feast of the Presentation was moved to Feb. 2, 40 days later.

When Christ was presented in the temple, “there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.” When St. Mary and St. Joseph brought Christ to the temple, Simeon embraced the Child and prayed the Canticle of Simeon: “Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).

Because of the words of the canticle — “a light to the revelation of the Gentiles” — by the 11th century, the custom had developed in the West of blessing candles on the Feast of the Presentation. The candles were then lit, and a procession took place through the darkened church while the Canticle of Simeon was sung. Because of this, the feast also became known as Candlemas. While the procession and blessing of the candles is not often performed in the United States today, Candlemas is still an important feast in many European countries.

Things to Do:

— Hold your own candlelight procession at home, teaching your children the significance of the light as a symbol of Christ.

— Ask a priest to bless the candles you hope to use at home this year.

— Read the Gospel account of the Presentation, found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses 22 to 35.

— Pray a decade of the Rosary, focusing upon the Presentation of the Lord, the fourth Joyful Mystery.

Stewardship Services

Growing disciples of christ.

See how we take stewardship to the next level. Contact us today for your FREE 30-minute consultation.

Free Consultation

scholarship. serving. ministry.

The presentation of Jesus in the temple in Luke 2

The lectionary reading for Epiphany 4 in Year C is Luke 2.22–40 as we celebrate the Presentation of Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem; this is also celebrated as the feast of Candlemas(s) and in many churches it marks the formal end of the Christmas season. (In the Church of England lectionary, we have this reading both for Epiphany 4 and the Presentation, though other versions of the RCL continue reading in Luke 4 for Epiphany 4. In Years A and B, the readings for Epiphany 4 are from Matthew 5 and Mark 1.)

If you are following Luke in the lectionary, this will all feel slightly odd; last week we heard about the beginning of Jesus’ teaching ministry in the synagogue in Nazareth, and have already reflected on the ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus’ own baptism, as well as the miracle in Cana . So this is a step back in the narrative before we move on to the catch of fish in Luke 5 and then loop back again to the temptations of Jesus at the beginning of Lent. It feels a bit like playing gospel narrative hop-scotch!

James Blandford-Baker and I discuss the passage in the video here; below it you can find the usual article discussing the text in detail underneath it.

This section in Luke 2 continues Luke’s unique nativity material; Matthew moves straight from the events surround the birth, including the visit of the Magi and the flight to Egypt, to the ministry of John the Baptist. But, in keeping with first-century expectations of a ‘life’ of a significant person, Luke offers (brief) descriptions of Jesus’ upbringing, including the episode in the temple when he is 12 years old.

The narrative once more includes three characteristic emphases of Luke’s work: the importance of Jewish pious devotion as the context for all that happens; the active role of the Spirit in directing events; and the understanding of Jesus as the fulfilment of eschatological hopes.

1. Jewish pious devotion

The whole narrative section begins and ends with an emphasis on pious devotion in fulfilment of the requirements of the law; the ‘requirement of the law of Moses’ in Luke 2.20 is matched by ‘required by the law of the Lord’ in Luke 2.39. We have already been told that Jesus was circumcised (and named) on the eighth day in the previous verse, and now Luke describes two important acts that follow on, the purification of Mary and the dedication of the child, interleaved as chiasm:

A ‘purification rites’ B ‘present him to the Lord’ B’ ‘as it is written… “every male is to be consecrated..”‘ A’ ‘to offer the sacrifice…’

The regulation cited in the outer theme A–A’ is set out in Lev 12.1–8; a woman who has given birth is ceremonially unclean (which, note, has nothing to do with sin) for different lengths of time (depending on whether the child born is a boy or a girl) in this case, for 33 days, so we are a month on from the date of circumcision. It is often noted in preaching that Mary and Joseph offer the more affordable of the two possible sacrifices as a concession to poverty—but in fact Luke makes nothing of this, and the emphasis is not on this, but on their compliance with the requirements set out in the Law. And we need to beware of projecting our own socio-economic framework on a different culture, where even skilled craftsmen might still be not far from subsistence living. Like other aspects of the birth narrative, this doesn’t really suggest that they were particularly poor ; it just identifies them as ordinary .

The inner theme of Jesus’ presentation comes from the offering and redemption of the first-born sons (and animals) set out in the Exodus narratives. This offering and redemption appears to have two explanations. The first is in connection with the Passover deliverance itself; in Exodus 13.1–16, the firstborn are to be dedicated to and redeemed from the Lord in parallel with the loss of the firstborn of the Egyptians when the angel of death passes over.

This offering of the firstborn is reiterated in Num 18.14–16, though now in the context of the priestly role of the the tribe of Levi. This goes back to the incident of the Golden Calf in Ex 32; whilst those in the other tribes committed idolatry by bowing down to the calf, the tribe of Levi alone kept themselves pure, so that we read in Num 3.11–12 that the tribe of Levi now has this priestly task .

Originally, God intended that the first-born of each Jewish family would be a kohen – i.e. that family’s representative to the Holy Temple. (Exodus 13:1-2, Exodus 24:5 Rashi) But then came the incident of the Golden Calf. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai and smashed the tablets, he issued everyone an ultimatum: “Make your choice – either God or the idol.” Only the tribe of Levi came to the side of God. At that point, God decreed that each family’s first-born would forfeit their “kohen” status – and henceforth all the kohanim would come from the tribe of Levi. (Numbers 3:11-12)

What is striking in Luke’s narrative is that, though Jesus is dedicated to the Lord in the temple, he is not redeemed and thus exempted from priestly service. Like Hannah’s dedication of Samuel in 1 Samuel 1.24–28, Jesus remains dedicated to the Lord, which makes the episode in the temple when Jesus is 12 seem to follow on quite naturally. It also signals that Jesus’ ministry will restore to God’s people their priestly role, an idea that is picked up in Revelation as one of its points of connecting with Luke’s gospel. In Rev 1.5–6, Jesus is the one who has ‘freed us from our sins’ and ‘made us to be a kingdom and priests’ to serve God, taking up the pre-Golden-Calf language of Ex 19.6. In Rev 7.3, God’s people are sealed on their foreheads with the seal of the living God, which turns out in Rev 14.1 to be the name of the lamb and God, and by Rev 22.4 this turns out to be the high-priestly adornment as they do priestly service in the presence of God in the New Jerusalem which is shaped as a cube like a giant Holy of Holies.

The integration of these two rites serves to emphasise Mary and Joseph as pious observant Jews, which has two effects. First, it undoes the common claim that Jesus welcomed the outsider, but rebuked the religious; throughout Luke it is both the religiously observant and the ‘sinner’ who hears the good news. Second, it contributes to a consistent assertion that God honours the devotion of his people, a theme continued in Acts as the early followers of Jesus continue to worship in the temple.

2. The role of the Holy Spirit

The emphasis on pious devotion is interweaved in this passage with the importance of the role of the Spirit, just as it has already been in the case of Mary (humbly devoted and then clothed with the Spirit and power) and will be in Jesus’ temptations (disciplined obedience which leads to being filled with the power of the Spirit).

Simeon is ‘righteous and devout’ ( dikaios kai eulabes ); the term for ‘devout’ here only occurs in Luke’s writings (Acts 2.5, 8.2 and 22.12) but its cognates also occur in Heb 5.7, 11.7 and 12.28 to describe Jesus, Noah and the gathered followers of Jesus in worship. Although the ‘righteous’ are contrasted with the ‘sinners’ Jesus has come to call to repentance, it is clear in Luke (and especially in Matthew) that being ‘righteous’ is a positive quality to be desired and pursued. But along with this, there is a threefold emphasis on the Spirit: the Spirit is ‘upon him’; the Spirit has ‘revealed to him’ that he will see the Messiah; and the Spirit ‘moves him’ to go to the temple at that moment. It is safe to assume that the Spirit has also moved him, like Mary and Zechariah before him, to utter a prophetic oracle often now known by its opening line in Latin translation, the Nunc Dimittis (‘Now you dismiss…’). Given the juxtaposition of pious devotion and the Spirit, it seems fitting that Simeon’s prophetic utterances now finds its place in Anglican pious devotion as part of Night Prayer in Common Worship (previously in Evening Prayer in the BCP).

The description of the prophetess Anna provides a parallel with the description of Simeon, as one of Luke’s many male-female pairs. Her pious devotion is expressed in narrative terms, as she prays and fasts in the temple in her widowhood. The detail on fasting reflects a special interest of Luke; he offers us detail that the other gospels omit, namely that Jewish devotion involved ‘frequent’ fasting (Luke 5.33), and that this took place on two days a week (Luke 18.12) which we know from the Didache happened to be Mondays and Thursdays. Luke makes much of meals and eating, as symbolising messianic rejoicing; as its converse, fasting symbolises both sorry for sin and exile, and a longing for the messiah to come. Thus here is is connected with Anna’s anticipation of the ‘redemption of Jerusalem’ (the city serving as a metonym for the whole nation). Luke doesn’t mention the Spirit explicitly in relation to Anna, but like Simeon she offers a prophetic comment on the child.

We might say that, for Luke, the disciplines of pious devotion form the vessel into which he pours his Spirit, and without the Spirit such a vessel is empty. On the other hand, the work of the Spirit issues in these devotions of discipline, and without such disciplines the work of the Spirit is incomplete.

3. The fulfilment of God’s promise

The statements of both Simeon (recorded in detail) and Anna (offered in summary) are saturated with the theme of the eschatological fulfilment of the promise of God, as have (in their different ways) the first two of the three canticles in this part of the gospel. This theme will be repeated again in both the ministry of John the Baptist and the teaching of Jesus in Nazareth. There are some important things worth noting about the nature of this fulfilment.

First, Simeon follows Mary in seeing God’s promises already fulfilled in the person of Jesus. Where Zachariah, in the Benedictus, retains a future sense, Simeon (with the Magnificat) uses the language of realised salvation. Even though all that was promised has not yet happened, the confidence in the person of Jesus is such that it is as if we already have all the answers to the hopes that we longed for.

Second, this fulfilment is rooted in Scripture . Every line of the Nunc Dimittis echoes one of the promises in Isaiah 40–66.

And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. (Is 40.5) I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles. (Is 42.6) Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. (Is 60.1)

(See also Is 46.13, 49.6, 52.10 and 56.1).

Thirdly, this biblical pattern of promise is also personally fulfilled . Just as God has promised something to his people, which he now fulfils in Jesus, so God has promised something to Simeon (that he will not die…) which he now fulfils in Simeon’s encounter with Jesus (…until he has seen with his own eyes). The Spirit of God in Simeon has brought the word of God to Simeon, just as the Spirit has brought the word of God to his people in scripture.

Fourth, all these announcements are marked by joy and wonder , as have all the events around Jesus’ birth, both for those bringing the word of disclosure and for those who hear those words. The theme of joy continues to be a significant part of Luke’s account, both in the gospel and in Acts.

Fifth, and in some contrast, they also include warnings of division and pain . This will affect both the nation (‘the rising and falling of many’, Luke 2.34) and the individuals involved, especially Mary herself. The ‘sword that pierces her heart’ (Luke 2.35) might refer to the demotion of Mary in importance for Jesus as she takes second place to the imperative of gospel ministry, but it surely reaches its clearest fulfilment in her witnessing her son’s excruciating death on the cross.

Joel Green, in his NIC commentary on Luke, notes the wide number of themes in this short passage which interconnect with themes already present from the beginning of the third gospel.

There is much to learn from the individuals in the narrative, but if we are going to focus on the most important thing in preaching (not what we must do but what God has already done) we might note in this passage that God honours pious devotion, God sends his Spirit to guide, reveal and speak, and God fulfils all his promises in the person of Jesus.

(The artwork at the top is The Presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple by Philippe de Champaigne , 1648.)

We will look at: t he background to this language in Jewish thinking; Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24 and Mark 13; t he Rapture—what is it, and does the Bible really teach it; w hat the New Testament says about ‘tribulation’; t he beast, the antichrist, and the Millennium in Rev 20; t he significance of the state of Israel.

The cost is £10 per person, and you can book your tickets at the Eventbrite link here .

If you enjoyed this, do share it on social media (Facebook or Twitter) using the buttons on the left. Follow me on Twitter @psephizo . Like my page on Facebook .

Much of my work is done on a freelance basis . If you have valued this post, you can make a single or repeat donation through PayPal: For other ways to support this ministry, visit my Support page .

Comments policy: Do engage with the subject. Please don't turn this into a private discussion board. Do challenge others in the debate; please don't attack them personally. I no longer allow anonymous comments; if there are very good reasons, you may publish under a pseudonym; otherwise please include your full name, both first and surnames .

10 thoughts on “The presentation of Jesus in the temple in Luke 2”

Ian, One of the striking aspects concerning Jesus to be found in these early chapters of Luke is the stress on his authority and power : “He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” [1:16] ; “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit —and was led by the Spirit in desert”[4:1]; and “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit —–and he taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.” [4:14]. And yet – in Nazareth? They too recognized this authority and power, but if we allow Mark to contribute to this scene, it compliments what Luke is declaiming: “He could not do any miracles there — — he was amazed at their lack if faith” (ESV -“unbelief”) [Mark 6: 5-6]. Jesus did not acquiesce in this atmosphere of outright hostility and venom. He did not try to placate his detractors. On the contrary he went on the offensive (not, I hasten to add, by his attitude and demeanour, but by employing the Tanach to devastating effect)! There are (at least ) two conclusions to be drawn from this:- First, This passage illuminates the forcefulness, the singlemindedness and the refusal to compromise the truth of the Word of God; something that is clearly exhibited, not only in Christ’s preaching/teaching , but in his whole being. Secondly, this encounter begins a train of events (and continued in The Acts) which reveal that being empowered by the Holy Spirit does not neseassarily lead to unalloyed bliss. On the contrary, it led to persecution and death. And it is no different for this generation!

Yes, I would agree with you. I note quite often in the texts on Luke that he specifically makes reference to power, sometimes where the other gospels omit it.

I think this continues through Acts—the apostles exercise a spiritual power which is at odds with the institutional power of the Jewish leaders.

Than you Ian. You put a lot of work into these posts.

Does Jesus not being ‘redeemed’ also point to his sinlessness; there was no need for him to be redeemed?

You speak of Jesus’ priestly role. I agree. Christ acted as a priest but was not formally a priest. Sometimes we lose sight of the book of Hebrews – if Jesus were on earth he would not be a priest. He came from the wrong tribe. And so his priesthood comes through Melchizedek. It functions from heaven as part of his enthronement and his indestructible life.

Your point that all God’s people are now priests is intriguing. We are all kings too. I’m wondering if the Bible comments on the democratising dynamic. Christ has made us a kingdom of priests. Is this the work of the indwelling Spirit that equips us for a priestly role?

Ian Paul – that was a very nice post – many thanks for putting it up and all the work you put into it.

One issue that arises is pious devotion. Some of the things you mention were clearly prescribed in the Pentateuch; they are meticulously following these things, but they belong to the ceremonial law which was fulfilled and no longer plays any role (circumcision, the length of time one is ceremonially unclean after birth, what one is supposed to do at the end of this period, etc …).

Other things don’t seem to fall into this category. Is there any mention in the Pentateuch of fasting, specifically on Mondays and Thursdays?

So I’m wondering – what would constitute `pious devotion’ which is pleasing to God for Christians living in the 21st century? Clearly the Pharisees thought that their rigorous lifestyle corresponded to `pious devotion’, but Jesus only has condemnation for them. So – what should we be doing?

” – the apostles exercise a spiritual power which is at odds with the institutional power of the Jewish leaders”. Absolutely true! However let’s bring this up to date. “In the last days —- there will be times of difficulty ——–“. There will be those who have “the appearance of godliness but denying its power”. Without entering into a debate on the meaning of the last days, we are now witnessing a Westernised Christianity (not least within Anglicanism) which possesses a form of institutional *authority” – but with a growing declivity in *spiritual power* ; a manifestation I would suggest of a desire, among other things, to recreate a Jesus Christ who somehow conforms to the ever present need in some quarters for *relevancy* (conformity?) to secular values; a Jesus, perhaps, who in response to the question ” Is this not Joseph’s son ?” would probably have answered: ” That doesn’t matter really. I’m only here for you”.

Colin – perhaps true where you are. Right now, I’m living in a Catholic country, where the regime panders to the ultra-religious head bangers. They’re certainly not trying to recreate a Jesus Christ who conforms to secular values – quite the opposite.

How does one comment regarding a situation where information regarding the country is non-existent and where the ecclestical information is sparse – except to say that I have a long- standing, working knowledge of a European country with a Catholic majority. As far as I am concerned, what you have presented Jock is the exception; not the rule!

Colin – yes – I think you hit the nail on the head there.

Apologies for giving “ecclesiastical” short shrift!

Colin – absolutely no problem – you’re right about it being the exception. I’d simply prefer not to go any further down that road and give details, since Ian Paul put up a very nice post – and I don’t want to be responsible for taking the comments section `off topic’.

Latest Grove Booklet

Ian Paul: theologian, author, speaker, academic consultant. Adjunct Professor, Fuller Theological Seminary ; Associate Minister, St Nic's, Nottingham ; Managing Editor, Grove Books ; member of General Synod. Mac user; chocoholic. Tweets at @psephizo

More About Ian...

To make a one-off or repeat donation to support the blog, use PayPal with the button below:

You can also visit my Patreon page .

For other ways to support this ministry, visit my Support page .

Email Updates

My Recent Publications

Other Publications

Publications Ian Paul has written or contributed to.

Andrew Goddard Bible biblical interpretation Biblical literacy biblical theology Christmas Church of England culture discipleship discussion doctrine eschatology evangelism gay General Synod Grove guest Hermeneutics History hope interpretation James Blandford Baker Jesus John's gospel Justin Welby leadership lectionary Luke Luke's gospel Matthew ministry mission New Testament Old Testament Paul politics preaching resurrection Revelation same sex unions sexuality theology video Year A Year C

EWTN News, Inc. is the world’s largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the Catholic Church.

National Catholic Register
News Agencies
Catholic News Agency
CNA Deutsch
ACI Afrique
ACI Digital
Digital Media
ChurchPOP Español
ChurchPOP Italiano
ChurchPOP Português
EWTN News Indepth
EWTN News Nightly
EWTN Noticias
EWTN Pro-life Weekly
Register Radio

Get HALF OFF the Register!

National Catholic Register News https://www.ncregister.com/blog/what-s-happening-at-the-presentation-of-the-lord

Synod on Synodality
Most Popular
Publisher’s Note
College Guide
Commentaries
Culture of Life
Arts & Entertainment
Publisher's Note
Letters to the Editor
Support the Register
Print subscriptions
E-Newsletter Sign-up
EWTN Religious Catalogue

What’s Happening at the Presentation of the Lord?

Forty days after his birth, Christ was presented at the Temple. Why?

Ambrogio Lorenzetti (1290-1348), “The Presentation”

Feb. 2 is the Feast of the the Presentation of the Lord.

We read about the presentation of the Lord in Luke Chapter 2, but the text can be a little mysterious.

What is actually happening there?

Some claim that Luke himself didn't know...

What Luke Says

Here is what Luke (2:22-24) actually says about the event:

And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ’Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.’

He then records the encounters with Simeon and Anna the prophetess, but at the moment our focus is what Luke refers to as “their purification.”

What is he talking about?

The Purification of the Mother

The first thing to note is that Luke is not talking about the time of Jesus' circumcision. That occurred on the eighth day after his birth . Luke has already talked about that and is now referring to a later time.

Specifically, he's talking about the 40th day after Christ's birth.

We know that because of he quotes from Leviticus 12:8 (“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons”), which refers to the purification ritual that a Jewish mother needed to perform to become ritually clean again after childbirth.

In the case of a boy, this was on the 40th day after childbirth (which is why this feast is on Feb. 2 — 40 days after Christmas, counting Dec. 25 as the first day).

In the case of a girl child, the purification was later.

This leads to a question ...

Why “Their” Purification?

Leviticus only mentions the purification of the mother, not anybody else. So why does Luke refer to the time of “their” purification?

Some have thought Luke was fuzzy on how all this was supposed to work.

That seems unlikely to me. Luke may have been a Gentile Christian, but he was living amidst numerous Jewish Christians, and in keeping with his habit of investigating things thoroughly, he would have been able to find out precisely how these things worked.

I think another explanation is more likely, and there are several possible ones.

One is that Luke is just speaking in a general way. The rite of purification was something that the whole family was present for. They all made the journey to the temple together, and so it was in some sense “their” effort, even if it was Mary in particular who was being ritually purified.

If a modern family goes to a restaurant to celebrate the birthday of one of it’s members, it is in one sense “their” party, even if in another sense it is the party of the one having the birthday.

In the same way, if the whole family goes to the temple for a purification, Luke can speak of it as “their” purification, even if they aren’t all being purified.

A Poor But Obedient Family

There are a couple more things to note about Mary’s purification.

The first is that the offering she made indicates that the Holy Family was poor. The ordinary offering was a lamb and a dove, but in cases where a family was too poor for that, two doves were used instead.

Despite its noble lineage, belonging to the line of David, Joseph’s family had fallen on hard times and was among the poor.

They were still obedient to what the Law of Moses required, though. This is the reason why Mary offers the second dove as “a sin offering” (see Leviticus 12:6), though she herself was immaculate.

This act does not indicate that she was a sinner any more than Jesus' circumcision, baptism, or participation in other sacrificial rites indicates that he was a sinner.

And there is more happening here ...

The Redemption of the Firstborn

Luke also quotes Exodus 13:2, which deals with the redemption of firstborn males.

The idea behind this ritual was that every male firstborn — whether human or animal — is holy to God, the same way that the firstfruits of a crop were holy to God.

Consequently, they had to either be given to God in sacrifice or redeemed — bought back from him.

Since human sacrifice was illegal and immoral, all firstborn boys had to be redeemed, which was done by their father paying a priest five shekels.

Luke Confused Again?

Again, people accuse Luke of being confused about this. It is argued that the redemption of the firstborn didn't take place at the Temple, and so there was no reason for the Holy Family to bring Jesus there.

Again, the criticism is misplaced.

While it may have been possible for a boy to be redeemed anywhere, it was natural for this to be done at the temple, and we know — in fact — that there was a tradition of doing so.

We read about that in Nehemiah 10:35-36, where the people took an oath, saying:

We obligate ourselves ... to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the law.

No Mention of Redemption?

Interestingly, Luke does not mention Joseph paying the five shekels to a priest. Why not?

It could be that he simply takes this act for granted, just as he doesn't go into the details of the rite of Mary’s purification. He has cited the Old Testament passages referring to these rites, and he takes that as sufficient indication they were performed.

But some have thought there may be a deeper significance to his failing to mention Jesus being redeemed.

Why might that be?

Still Consecrated

The obvious answer would be that Jesus was considered as still consecrated to the Lord.

Two reasons suggest themselves. First, as the Jewish Encyclopedia notes :

Not only priests and Levites, but also Israelites whose wives are the daughters of priests or Levites, need not redeem their firstborn .

Joseph was the husband of Mary, and Mary was a relative of Elizabeth, who was “of the daughters of Aaron” (Luke 1:5), so perhaps Mary's lineage didn't require her to have her Son redeemed.

In that case, he was presented at the Temple in acknowledgement of his consecration to God.

Or, if the redemption was done, Luke may meant to suggest, on a literary level, that Jesus remained totally consecrated to God.

Benedict XVI comments:

Evidently Luke intends to say that instead of being ‘redeemed’ and restored to his parents, this child was personally handed over to God in the Temple, given over completely to God. ... Luke has nothing to say regarding the act of 'redemption' prescribed by the law. In its place we find the exact opposite: the child is handed over to God, and from now on belongs to him completely. (Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives: 3)

This article originally appeared Feb. 2, 2014, at the Register.

presentation

Jimmy Akin Jimmy was born in Texas and grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant pastor or seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith. Eventually, he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, “A Triumph and a Tragedy,” is published in Surprised by Truth . Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine , and a weekly guest on “Catholic Answers Live.”

Related Stories
Latest News

St. John Cantius parish celebrates Candlemas 2022 in Chicago.

A Day of Light: Candlemas Celebrates the Light of the World

In an often-dreary February, the feast of the Presentation brings illumination.

A Catholic Guide to the Traditional 40 Days of Christmas

COMMENTARY: May we follow Mary’s ‘sweet example’ in adoring the Child until Feb. 2.

Pope Francis says Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Dec. 24, 2021

Christmas: When Does it End?

Candlemas is still observed with public, Christmas-esque celebrations throughout the world, including in Peru, Puerto Rico, France, and Belgium.

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Feb. 2, 2021.

Pope Francis on Feast of Presentation: Learn from the Patience of Simeon and Anna

Pope Francis offered Mass on Feb. 2 on the World Day for Consecrated Life, which has been celebrated each year on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord for the past 25 years.

Father John Nat Tucker leads a service at the Saint Paul Catholic Church in Freetown.

Most Priests in Sierra Leone Are Sons of Muslims, Bishop Says

In an interview with the Catholic magazine Omnes posted April 25, he noted that the majority of Catholic priests in that African country are sons of Muslims.

Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, chapel and statue.

Franciscan University Rejects Biden Administration’s Transgender Policies in Title IX

Religious schools, such as the Catholic Franciscan University, are exempt from Title IX provisions that violate their faith.

Alexis Small kisses her newborn, Aubrielle, in Los Angeles.

US Birth and Fertility Rates Drop to Record Lows, According to CDC Report

This was the fewest number of babies born in the United States in a year since 1979 and the lowest fertility rate recorded in American history — just under the previous record lows set in 2020.

Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich attends the Synod of Synodality in October 2023.

Cardinal Cupich Says Synod’s Egalitarian ‘Conversations in the Spirit’ Can ‘Revolutionize’ the Church

The Chicago prelate called for a reform of Church governance rooted in a process that some say inappropriately minimizes the distinction between bishops and laypeople.

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis

José de Ibarra (1685-1756), “The Most Holy Trinity,” Museo Nacional de Arte, Mexico City

God’s Fingerprints: The Trinity is Everywhere

The transcendentals are nothing less than a glorious trinity of trinities

The Dark World Cannot Heal, Meet the 15-Year-Old Dominican Abbess, and More Great Links!

The Best In Catholic Blogging

The Slippery Slope of Non-Discrimination Policies: To Sign or Not to Sign?

DIFFICULT MORAL QUESTIONS: Beware the moral pitfalls that can turn licit toleration into sinful cooperation.

Did Pope Francis Just Endorse ‘Parish Shopping’?

Catholic charities isn’t religious so sayeth the wisconsin supreme court, radicalized students will regret backing hamas, a ‘veep of faith’ trump’s running mate could be one of these catholics, priests’ talk show that sparked controversy over pope francis remarks now back on youtube, robert f. kennedy jr. talks catholic faith, abortion, title ix in exclusive ewtn interview, audience erupts in anger as trustees oppose flying pro-life flag at toronto catholic schools, columbia in chaos: catholic chaplain offers path through campus tensions, pope francis may visit united states in september after un invitation, subscription options.

Subscriber Service Center Already a subscriber? Renew or manage your subscription here .

Subscribe and Save HALF OFF! Start your Register subscription today.

Give a Gift Subscription Bless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register.

Order Bulk Subscriptions Get a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization or school.

Sign-up for E-Newsletter Get Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox.

Catholicism
Religious Catalogue
Give Monthly
1-800-447-3986
[email protected]
See of Peter
Daily Mass and Readings
Seasons and Feast Days
Traditional Latin Mass
Prayer Requests
EWTN News Nightly
EWTN Pro-Life Weekly
EWTN News In Depth
The World Over
National Catholic Register
Catholic News Agency
Weekly Schedule
Channel Finder
Listen Live
Audio Archive
Monthly Schedules
Podcast Central
Galaxy 33 Transmission Plan
SW Frequency Guide
SW Monitoring Form
Frequently Asked Questions
EWTN Religious Catalogue
My Giving Account
Ways to Give
Mother Angelica
Online Learning Series
EWTN Everywhere
Media Missionaries
Privacy Policy
International Satellite Feeds

Why do Catholics celebrate the feast of the Presentation?

This feast day celebrates both the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, as well as the Purification of Mary, which was required by the Mosaic Law forty days after the birth of a child.

The Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2, also called Candlemas for the custom of using lighted candles. In the early Church it was often celebrated on February 14th, 40 days after the Epiphany, in keeping with the practice of celebrating Christmas on that date in the East. Among the Orthodox it is known as the Hypapante (“Meeting” of the Lord with Simeon).

DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF SACRED SCRIPTURE

Through this free ebook, the scriptural rosary: joyful mysteries ..

The Holy Rosary is an amazing prayer, encouraged by popes, loved by saints, and prayed by the faithful. Many miracles have come from this beautiful devotion. At its heart, the Rosary is a meditation on Sacred Scripture, on the lives of Jesus and Mary.

Through this Scriptural Rosary, we hope that you will be able to better meditate on each Hail Mary and deepen your understanding of Sacred Scripture. Use the form below to get your free copy of, The Scriptural Rosary .

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 529) teaches,

The presentation of Jesus in the temple shows him to be the firstborn Son who belongs to the Lord. With Simeon and Anna, all Israel awaits its encounter with the Savior-the name given to this event in the Byzantine tradition. Jesus is recognized as the long-expected Messiah, the “light to the nations” and the “glory of Israel,” but also “a sign that is spoken against.” The sword of sorrow predicted for Mary announces Christ's perfect and unique oblation on the cross that will impart the salvation God had “prepared in the presence of all peoples.”

It is also important to note that, as a poor family, the Holy Family gave an offering of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. However, the Lamb whom they brought to the Temple was the Lamb of God.

He was presented when He was still a newborn, only 40 days old.

“In the mysterious encounter between Simeon and Mary, the Old and New Testaments are joined. Together the aging prophet and the young mother give thanks for this Light which has kept the darkness from prevailing. It is the Light which shines in the heart of human life: Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world, ‘a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory of his people Israel.’” – Pope St. John Paul II

The Gospel of Luke 2:22-40 states:

And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Regarding Simeon and Anna, Pope Benedict XVI said,

Even the priests proved incapable of recognizing the signs of the new and special presence of the Messiah and Saviour. Alone two elderly people, Simeon and Anna, discover this great newness. Led by the Holy Spirit, in this Child they find the fulfilment of their long waiting and watchfulness. They both contemplate the light of God that comes to illuminate the world and their prophetic gaze is opened to the future in the proclamation of the Messiah: “Lumen ad revelationem gentium!” (Lk 2:32). The prophetic attitude of the two elderly people contains the entire Old Covenant which expresses the joy of the encounter with the Redeemer. Upon seeing the Child, Simeon and Anna understood that he was the Awaited One.

“… while we are still at the dawn of Jesus’ life, we are already oriented to Calvary. It is on the Cross that Jesus will be definitively confirmed as a sign of contradiction, and it is there that his Mother’s heart will be pierced by the sword of sorrow. We are told it all from the beginning, on the 40th day after Jesus’ birth, on the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, so important in the Church’s liturgy.” - Pope St. John Paul II

This is a Hebrew name that means “he has heard” or “God has heard.”

When is St. Simeon’s feast day?

The Church celebrates his feast day on the day after Candlemas, February 3.

In Hebrew navi, a prophet is one who tells, a spokesperson of God, speaking divine truth, or foretelling what will be the consequences for the future. On both counts, Simeon was a prophet, who revealed the truth about who Jesus was, as well as the implications for Israel, for Jesus Himself and for Mary.

Originally taken from the Hebrew name Hannah, it means “favor” or “grace.”

When is St. Anna’s feast day?

Anna the Prophetess shares a feast day with St. Simeon on February 3.

“In the encounter between the old man Simeon and Mary, a young mother, the Old and New Testaments come together in a wondrous way in giving thanks for the gift of the light that shone in the darkness and has prevented it from prevailing: Christ the Lord.” - Pope Benedict XVI

St. Simeon offered this prayer,

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32)

Called the Nunc Dimittis, for the first words in the Latin Vulgate, it is one of the three major Canticles used in the Church’s liturgy. It is said each evening at the end of Night Prayer, the last Divine Office of the Liturgy of the Hours, or Breviary. The other Canticles are that of Zechariah, used for Lauds or Morning Prayer, and of Mary (the Magnificat), used for Vespers or Evening Prayer.

After speaking of Jesus, St. Simeon then spoke to Mary of her role of accompanying her Son in His redemptive suffering. Simeon reveals, as well, Mary’s own mission of intercession and compassion for us, her spiritual children.

Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. (Luke 2:34-35)

“This is the meeting point of the two Testaments, Old and New. Jesus enters the ancient temple; he who is the new Temple of God: he comes to visit his people, thus bringing to fulfilment obedience to the Law and ushering in the last times of salvation.” - Pope Benedict XVI

Anna is the prophetess who saw the Holy Family at the Presentation of Jesus at the temple. The Gospel of Luke 2:36-38 tells us about Anna:

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The purification was ritual, preparatory to worship, in this case after the momentous events of childbirth and the time of rest or “laying in” afterwards. Thus, the Jewish priest purified himself by bathing before entering the holy place, and, similarly, the priest at Mass washes his hands before beginning the Eucharistic Prayer and handing the Body and Blood of Christ.

Mary, although morally pure, fulfilled her religious obligations by being purified 40 days after Jesus’ birth. Throughout her life, the Blessed Mother was always obedient to God’s Will, in this case expressed through the laws given to Israel through Moses.

“Simeon’s words seem like a second Annunciation to Mary, for they tell her of the actual historical situation in which the Son is to accomplish his mission, namely, in misunderstanding and sorrow. While this announcement on the one hand confirms her faith in the accomplishment of the divine promises of salvation, on the other hand it also reveals to her that she will have to live her obedience of faith in suffering, at the side of the suffering Savior, and that her motherhood will be mysterious and sorrowful.” — Pope St. John Paul II

This is the day when candles are blessed in the Church and traditionally have been lit in celebration of the feast.

Pope St. John Paul II said, “Christian traditions of the East and West have been interwoven, enriching the liturgy of this feast with a special procession in which the light of candles both large and small is a symbol of Christ, the true Light who came to illumine his people and all peoples.”

Candlemas is celebrated 40 days after Christmas. According to Leviticus 12, women should be purified 40 days after a son’s birth (33 days after the boy’s circumcision) and 80 days after a daughter’s birth. The purification was ritual, and preparatory to worship, in this case after the momentous events of childbirth and the time of rest or “laying in” afterwards.

In the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite, the liturgical forms and calendar as revised after the Second Vatican Council, the last day of the Christmas Season is the Baptism of Our Lord, when His hidden life ended and His public ministry began.

However, the Church maintains an Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite which utilizes the forms and calendar in use prior to the Council. In this usage, the Christmas Season continues until the Feast of the Presentation. Many Catholics, therefore, maintain their Christmas decorations through Candlemas.

Videos About Presentation of the Lord

Pope St. John Paul II said,

The prophetic words spoken by the aged Simeon shed light on the mission of the Child brought to the temple by his parents: “Behold this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against ... that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed” (Lk 2:34-35). To Mary Simeon said: “And a sword will pierce through your own soul also” (Lk 2:35). The hymns of Bethlehem have now faded and the cross of Golgotha can already be glimpsed; this happens in the temple, the place where sacrifices are offered. The event we are commemorating today is thus a bridge as it were, linking the two most important seasons of the Church's year.

Pancakes are the traditional choice on Candlemas. In Mexico, people eat tamales on this feast day, and in France, they eat crepes.

What are the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary?

The Joyful Mysteries include:

The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity of Our Lord
The Presentation in the Temple
The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

The Presentation is celebrated in the Church as the World Day for Consecrated Life. Pope St. John Paul II instituted this annual celebration in 1997 as a day of prayer for religious men and women and other consecrated persons. This recalls the special offering which they have made to the Lord through their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. In Rome, the Holy Father celebrates a special Mass for them at St. Peter’s, which the religious living in Rome attend.

Pope Benedict XVI said,

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is an eloquent image of the total gift of one’s life for all those, men and women, who are called to represent “the characteristic features of Jesus — the chaste, poor and obedient one” (Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Vita Consecrata, n. 1) in the Church and in the world, through the evangelical counsels. For this reason Venerable John Paul II chose today’s Feast to celebrate the Annual World Day of Consecrated Life.

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

"A Light of Revelation to the Gentiles"

Holy Days and Holidays
Beliefs and Teachings
Christianity Origins
The New Testament
The Old Testament
Practical Tools for Christians
Christian Life For Teens
Christian Prayers
Inspirational Bible Devotions
Denominations of Christianity
Christian Holidays
Christian Entertainment
Key Terms in Christianity
Latter Day Saints

Known originally as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a relatively ancient celebration. The Church at Jerusalem observed the feast as early as the first half of the fourth century, and likely earlier. The feast celebrates the presentation of Christ in the temple at Jerusalem on the 40th day after His birth.

Quick Facts

Date: February 2
Type of Feast: Feast
Readings: Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 ( full text here )
Prayers: Nunc Dimities , the Canticle of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32); see below
Other Names for the Feast: Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin, the Meeting of the Lord, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

History of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

According to Jewish law, the firstborn male child belonged to God, and the parents had to "buy him back" on the 40th day after his birth, by offering a sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons" ( Luke 2:24 ) in the temple (thus the "presentation" of the child). On that same day, the mother would be ritually purified (thus the "purification").

Saint Mary and Saint Joseph kept this law, even though, since Saint Mary remained a virgin after the birth of Christ, she would not have had to go through ritual purification. In his gospel, Luke recounts the story ( Luke 2:22-39 ).

When Christ was presented in the temple, "there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel" ( Luke 2:25 ) When Saint Mary and Saint Joseph brought Christ to the temple, Simeon embraced the Child and prayed the Canticle of Simeon:

Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel ( Luke 2:29-32 ).

The Original Date of the Presentation

Originally, the feast was celebrated on February 14, the 40th day after Epiphany (January 6), because Christmas wasn't yet celebrated as its own feast, and so the Nativity, Epiphany, the Baptism of the Lord (Theophany), and the feast celebrating Christ's first miracle at the wedding in Cana were all celebrated on the same day. By the last quarter of the fourth century, however, the Church at Rome had begun to celebrate the Nativity on December 25, so the Feast of the Presentation was moved to February 2, 40 days later.

Why Candlemas?

Inspired by the words of the Canticle of Simeon ("a light to the revelation of the Gentiles"), by the 11th century, the custom had developed in the West of blessing candles on the Feast of the Presentation. The candles were then lit, and a procession took place through the darkened church while the Canticle of Simeon was sung. Because of this, the feast also became known as Candlemas. While the procession and blessing of the candles is not often performed in the United States today, Candlemas is still an important feast in many European countries.

Candlemas and Groundhog Day

This emphasis on light, as well as the timing of the feast, falling as it does in the last weeks of winter, led to another, secular holiday celebrated in the United States on the same date: Groundhog Day. You can learn more about the connection between the religious holiday and the secular one in Why Did the Groundhog See His Shadow?

Meditations on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
How Long Did Jesus Live on Earth?
Scripture Readings for the First Week of Advent
Scripture Readings for the Second Week of Advent
When Is Christmas Day?
The Annunciation of the Lord
Chronology of the Birth and Life of Jesus Christ
What Is Epiphany Day?
What Were the 12 Tribes of Israel?
When Is Ascension?
Who Is the Virgin Mary?
Holy Saturday
When Is the Virgin Mary's Birthday?
Holy Days of Obligation in the Catholic Church
The Liturgical Seasons of the Catholic Church
Introduction to the Catholic Religion: Beliefs, Practices and History

Interlinear
More ▼
2 Steps (Chapter)
3 Steps (Verse)
Bible Search
Popular Verses
Thematic Bible
Cross References

'Presentation' in the Bible

and put all of them in the hands of Aaron and his sons and wave them as a presentation offering before the Lord.

“Take the breast from the ram of Aaron’s ordination and wave it as a presentation offering before the Lord; it is to be your portion.

Consecrate for Aaron and his sons the breast of the presentation offering that is waved and the thigh of the contribution that is lifted up from the ram of ordination.

Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts brought brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry—everyone who waved a presentation offering of gold to the Lord.

All the gold of the presentation offering that was used for the project in all the work on the sanctuary, was 2,193 pounds, according to the sanctuary shekel.

The bronze of the presentation offering totaled 5,310 pounds.

His own hands will bring the fire offerings to the Lord. He will bring the fat together with the breast. The breast is to be waved as a presentation offering before the Lord.

I have taken from the Israelites the breast of the presentation offering and the thigh of the contribution from their fellowship sacrifices, and have assigned them to Aaron the priest and his sons as a permanent portion from the Israelites.”

He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and waved them before the Lord as a presentation offering.

He also took the breast and waved it before the Lord as a presentation offering; it was Moses’ portion of the ordination ram as the Lord had commanded him.

but he waved the breasts and the right thigh as a presentation offering before the Lord, as Moses had commanded.

But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast of the presentation offering and the thigh of the contribution in any ceremonially clean place, because these portions have been assigned to you and your children from the Israelites’ fellowship sacrifices.

They are to bring the thigh of the contribution and the breast of the presentation offering, together with the offerings of fat portions made by fire, to wave as a presentation offering before the Lord. It will belong permanently to you and your children, as the Lord commanded.”

The priest is to take one male lamb and present it as a restitution offering, along with the one-third quart of olive oil, and he must wave them as a presentation offering before the Lord.

The priest will take the male lamb for the restitution offering and the one-third quart of olive oil, and wave them as a presentation offering before the Lord.

“You are to count seven complete weeks starting from the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the presentation offering.

Bring two loaves of bread from your settlements as a presentation offering, each of them made from four quarts of fine flour, baked with yeast, as firstfruits to the Lord.

The priest will wave the lambs with the bread of firstfruits as a presentation offering before the Lord; the bread and the two lambs will be holy to the Lord for the priest.

The priest is to wave them as a presentation offering before the Lord. It is a holy portion for the priest, in addition to the breast of the presentation offering and the thigh of the contribution. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.

Aaron is to present the Levites before the Lord as a presentation offering from the Israelites, so that they may perform the Lord’s work.

“You are to have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, and you are to present them before the Lord as a presentation offering.

After that the Levites may come to serve at the tent of meeting, once you have ceremonially cleansed them and presented them as a presentation offering.

The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes; then Aaron presented them before the Lord as a presentation offering. Aaron also made atonement for them to ceremonially cleanse them.

“The contribution of their gifts also belongs to you. I have given all the Israelites’ presentation offerings to you and to your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. Every ceremonially clean person in your house may eat it.

But their meat belongs to you. It belongs to you like the breast of the presentation offering and the right thigh.

You are also to offer the second lamb toward the evening. Just like the morning sacrifice, you are to present the grain offering, accompanied by its corresponding drink offering, as a presentation made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD."

They set aside in reserve the burnt offerings, so they could distribute them in proportion to the divisions of their ancestral households for presentation by the people to the LORD, as is required by the book of Moses. They did this with respect to the bulls, also.

for the loaves of presentation and for the regular grain offerings and regular burnt offerings, for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, for the appointed meetings, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the temple of our God.

how he went into the house of God, and the loaves of the presentation did eat, which it is not lawful to him to eat, nor to those with him, except to the priests alone?

how he went into the house of God, (at 'Abiathar the chief priest,') and the loaves of the presentation did eat, which it is not lawful to eat, except to the priests, and he gave also to those who were with him?'

how he went into the house of God, and the loaves of the presentation did take, and did eat, and gave also to those with him, which it is not lawful to eat, except only to the priests?'

And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation .

For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves.

Search Results by Versions

HCSB (27)
ISV (2)
LEB (4)
NET (2)
YLT (3)

Search Results by Book

Leviticus (12)
Numbers (8)
2 Chronicles (1)
Nehemiah (1)
Matthew (1)
1 Corinthians (1)
Hebrews (1)

Related Words

Misrepresentation (1 instance in 1 translation)
Presentability (1 instance in 1 translation)
Presentable (2 instances in 5 translations)
Representation (8 instances in 6 translations)
Representations (6 instances in 4 translations)
Representative (21 instances in 6 translations)
Representatives (40 instances in 6 translations)
Unpresentable (1 instance in 4 translations)

Bible Theasaurus

Demonstration ( 8 instances )
Display ( 80 instances )
Introduction ( 4 instances )
Presentation ( 33 instances )

100 Bible Verses about Presenting

John 3:16 esv / 8 helpful votes helpful not helpful.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Acts 2:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah 7:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 6:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord , they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. ...

Joshua 1:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Genesis 1:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:26 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...

Revelation 1:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

1 John 2:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Hebrews 13:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let all that you do be done in love.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Acts 16:31 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Acts 2:38 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

John 14:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

John 14:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 10:29 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

John 10:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 8:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.

John 5:31 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.

John 5:30 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

John 1:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

John 1:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Luke 5:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Matthew 27:46 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Matthew 24:36 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

Matthew 19:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

Matthew 4:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Matthew 1:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

Jeremiah 31:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Isaiah 40:31 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 9:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 3:1-26 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. ...

Proverbs 3:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psalm 2:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

2 Kings 24:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.

2 Kings 8:26 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah; she was a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.

Exodus 4:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord , Israel is my firstborn son,

Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ...

Genesis 1:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Revelation 19:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Revelation 19:12-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Revelation 2:20-21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

1 John 4:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2 Peter 2:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

1 Peter 2:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

James 5:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 4:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

James 1:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Hebrews 12:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 11:37 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—

Hebrews 11:17-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

Hebrews 11:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,

Hebrews 11:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 9:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Hebrews 9:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 1:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Hebrews 1:2-3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Titus 2:11-12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Colossians 3:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Colossians 1:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Galatians 5:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 3:1-29 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— ...

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

1 Corinthians 14:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

1 Corinthians 8:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

1 Corinthians 8:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—

1 Corinthians 7:1-2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Romans 15:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 10:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 8:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:1-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ...

Romans 6:12-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Romans 3:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 1:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

Suggest a Verse

Enter a verse reference (e.g., john 3:16-17 ).

Visit the Bible online to search for words if you don’t know the specific passage your’re looking for.

Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles , a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.

Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. —Psalm 138:2, KJV

Introduction
Verse Charts
Bible Version FAQ
KJV Dictionary
Site Search
For Webmasters:
VerseClick™
« presence
preservable »

KJV Dictionary Definition: present

PRES'ENT, a. s as z. L. proesens; proe and sum, esse, to be.

1. Being in a certain place; opposed to absent.

2. Being before the face or near; being in company. Inquire of some of the gentlemen present.

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. John 14.

3. Being now in view or under consideration. In the present instance, facts will not warrant the conclusion. The present question must be decided on different principles.

4. Now existing, or being at this time; not past or future; as the present session of congress. The court is in session at the present time. We say, a present good,the present year or age.

5. Ready at hand; quick in emergency; as present wit.

'Tis a high point of philosophy and virtue for a man to be present to himself.

6. Favorably attentive; not heedless; propitious.

Nor could I hope in any place but there

To find a god so present to my prayer.

7. Not absent of mind; not abstracted; attentive.

The present, an elliptical expression for the present time.

At present, elliptically for, at the present time.

Present tense, in grammar, the tense or form of a verb which expresses action or being in the present time, as I am writing; or something that exists at all times, as virtue is always to be preferred to vice; or it expresses habits or general truths, as plants spring from the earth; fishes swim; reptiles creep; birds fly; some animals subsist on herbage, others are carnivorous.

PRES'ENT, n. That which is presented or given; a gift; a donative; something given or offered to another gratuitously; a word of general application. Gen.32.

Presents' in the plural, is used in law for a deed of conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney or other writing; as in the phrase, "Know all men by these presents," that is, by the writing itself, per presentes. In this sense, it is rarely used in the singular.

presentable

PRESENT'ABLE, a. That may be presented; that may be exhibited or represented.

1. That may be offered to a church living; as a presentable clerk.

2. That admits of the presentation of a clerk; as a church presentable. Unusual.

presentation

PRESENTA'TION, n. The act of presenting.

Prayers are sometimes a presentation of mere desires.

1. Exhibition; representation; display; as the presentation of fighting on the stage.

2. In ecclesiastical law, the act of offering a clerk to the bishop or ordinary for institution in a benefice. An advowson is he right of presentation.

If the bishop admits the patron's presentation, the clerk so admitted is next to be instituted by him.

3. The right of presenting a clerk. The patron has the presentation of the benefice.

presentative

PRESENT'ATIVE, a. In ecclesiastical affairs, that has the right of presentation, or offering a clerk to the bishop for institution. Advowsons are presentative, collative or donative.

An advowson presentative is where the patron hath a right of presentation to the bishop or ordinary.

1. That admits the presentation of a clerk; as a presentative parsonage.

PRESENT'ED, pp. Offered; given; exhibited to view; accused.

PRESENT'ER, n. One that presents.

PRES'ENTLY, adv. s as z. At present; at this time.

The towns and forts you presently have.

1. In a short time after; soon after.

Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. Phil.2.

And presently the fig-tree withered away. Matt.21.

presentment

PRESENT'MENT, n. s as z. The act of presenting.

1. Appearance to the view; representation.

2. In law, a presentment, properly speaking, is the notice taken by a grand jury of any offense from their own knowledge or observation, without any bill of indictment laid before them at the suit of the king; as the presentment of a nuisance, a libel or the like, on which the officer of the court must afterwards frame an indictment, before the party presented can be put to answer it.

3. In a more general sense, presentment comprehends inquisitions of office and indictments.

In the United States, a presentment is an official accusation presented to a tribunal by the grand jury in an indictment; or it is the act of offering an indictment. It is also used for the indictment itself. The grand jury are charged to inquire and due presentment make of all crimes, &c. The use of the word is limited to accusations by grand jurors.

4. The official notice in court which the jury or homage gives of the surrender of a copyhold estate.

presentness

PRES'ENTNESS, n. s as z. Presence; as presentness of mind. Not used.

For a complete Scripture study system, try SwordSearcher Bible Software , which includes the unabridged version of this dictionary. Once you experience the swiftness and ease-of-use SwordSearcher gives you right on your own computer, combined with the most powerful search features available, you will never want to use the web to do online study again. Includes tens of thousands of topical, encyclopedic, dictionary, and commentary entries all linked to verses, fully searchable by topic or verse reference.

Watch demo videos

Must-Read Articles

Westcott & Hort Magic Marker Binge — Would you do this to the Bible?

The Preeminence of Christ and Bible Translation

1st John 5:7: The best proof of the Trinity you might not have read!

Disarming the Saints: The Bible as Defective Weaponry

Pontius Pilate: His Role and Significance in the Bible

"When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor." ~ Matthew 27:1-2

The life of Pontius Pilate is difficult to accurately trace outside of his stature as a Roman ruler. Artifacts with his image and name place him unquestionably in history, and the Bible records his presence at the scene of Jesus’ trial to be crucified. Some regard him as a martyr, and others remember him as a brutal ruler. As Christians, we know God is purposeful in all He does. As we attempt to uncover and decipher the exact events of ancient history, one thing is remarkably clear: God’s love story with His people continues on, generation after generation, and Pontius Pilate appears in one of the most poignant scenes in history.

Pontius Pilate and Jesus Christ

Jesus Before Pilate: John 18

Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

Image credit: Flickr

Who Was Pontius Pilate according to History?

Pontius Pilate is best known for presiding over Jesus’ trial and ordering his crucifixion . He was an officer of the Roman empire, serving as procurator, or prefect, of Judea, managing the financial affairs and flexing administrative powers on behalf of the emperor. Pilate was the heir of the Roman family of Pontii . The name Pilate indicates he was probably a descendant of a "freedman." “ A former slave set free … under Roman law, might become a citizen if the proper legal form was followed ,” Britannica defines, “ although he did not enjoy full civic rights .”

His full Latin name, Marcus Pontius Pilatus, was of Samnite origin, an ancient tribe eventually absorbed by the Roman empire. Britannica explains, “ Pilate was a Roman equestrian (knight) of the Samnite clan of the Ponti (hence his name Pontius) .” He was a middle-class Roman citizen, ruling under Emperor Tiberius. His reign, from 26 to 36, stretched across the ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ.

Pilate’s political position gave him military power, though his soldiers mainly policed civilian life. He was head of the judicial system, with the power to inflict capital punishment. Coins have been found bearing his image because as Roman governor he had control of the monetary system and collection of taxes. Pilate held a small allotment of civil control over the Sanhedrin, the body of Jewish leaders who acquitted Jesus, which would explain why they came to him for the order to crucify him. Pilate also had the power to appoint the high priest.

Roman rulers were renowned for their brutality and corruption, but Pilate’s reputation superseded most. In 50 AD, Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria supposedly reprimanded him severely for his “briberies, insults, robberies, outrages and wanton injuries, execution without trial, constantly repeated, ceaseless and supremely grievous cruelty.”

Pilate’s hatred for the Jews was intense, and he deliberately infuriated them. Under Jewish law, images of the Roman government were forbidden in Jerusalem, but Pilate once allowed troops to carry shields with the Roman Emperor Tiberius into the city. “ A great crowd traveled to the Judean capital of Caesarea in protest and lay prostrate around Pilate’s palace for five days until he relented, ” wrote Christopher Klein .

Some sources indicate Pilate died in 36, committing suicide after being banished to Vienne in Gaul, accused by the governor of Syria for attacking unarmed Samaritans who were hoping to unearth artifacts buried on Mount Gerizim by Moses. Other sources say he simply retired, or his post as governor of Judea was up, and he either didn’t choose to return or was reassigned. His death, much like his early life, is difficult to trace with reliable accuracy. To some, he is considered a Christian martyr, because of the way the New Testament accounts portray him as hesitant to execute Jesus.

What Does the Bible Say about Pontius Pilate?

“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” - John 19:10-11

Luke 13:1 speaks of how brutal Pilate could be, sprinkling the blood of Galileans over their sacrifices. He deliberately found ways to disrespect their traditions and beliefs, “ and in times of irritation freely shed their blood ,” Easton’s Bible Dictionary records.

The political climate between the Jews and Pilate was a toxic, mutual feeling of disdain. Pilate was sent to Judea routinely to keep the peace during Passover. It was at this time Jesus was brought to him. “ The council wanted him to pronounce this man guilty of capital treason ,” John Bloom wrote for desiringGod.com , “ Pilate resented the pressure. His patience strained at the seams .”

Hearing Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate sent Jesus to Herod Antipas, who sent him back to Pilate donning a purple robe in mockery. Pilate eventually bowed to the demands of the people, ordering Jesus to be scourged. “ This scourging was usually inflicted by lictors ,” notes Easton’s Bible Dictionary , “ but as Pilate was only a procurator he had no lictor, and hence his soldiers inflicted this terrible punishment .”

Pilate appears in both the Apostles and Nicene creeds. The only other people mentioned in those sacred prayers are Jesus and His mother, Mary. The phrase, “ Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate ” confirms his presence in that historical moment.

Knowing Jesus was innocent, Pilate tried on four occasions to free him. In John 18:33 , “Pilate went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?” A moment with the Son of God clearly tormented Pilate. ( John 18:28-19:1 6.) He was no stranger to persecuting the Jews, and yet he could not find fault with Jesus. Following a custom of Passover to release one prisoner, Pilate offered to free Jesus! His wife rushed in to warn him not to execute this ‘just man,’ yet Pilate caved in fear of the threats being made against him (John 19:14-16) . “ Pilate knew Jesus had committed no crime worthy of death ,” wrote Dr. Ray Pritchard , “ But like many a politician caught between a rock and a hard place, he caved in to pressure from the Jewish leaders who wanted Jesus dead .”

What Do We Know about Pilate's Wife?

“While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: ‘Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” - Matthew 27:19

Pilate’s wife does not appear by name in the Bible. The Gospel of Nicodemus , an Apocryphal book , identifies her as Claudia Procula, granddaughter of the Emperor Augustus. “ Apocryphal books were not recognized as the word of God by their writers, Christ, nor the Apostles ,” notes Christianity.com . Though these books are not on equal ground with Scripture , they can sometimes aid historical inquiry. According to texts outside the Bible, she was highly influenced by the Jewish faith and was possibly a convert to Judaism.

This woman’s dream caused her husband to pause. “ In all the long hours when Jesus stood on trial, only one person spoke up for him ,” Dr. Ray Pritchard wrote. The actual conversations of Pilate and his wife prior to witnessing Jesus’ footsteps in their midst are unknown, but both were clearly affected by him. “ Calling Jesus the ‘just man’ testifies to the impression He had made on her mind in contrast to the religious leaders seeking to destroy Jesus because of His claim ,” states BibleGateway.com ; “ Pilate’s wife sensed her solemn responsibility and made her plea, even though her husband who was also convinced of Christ’s innocence, ultimately delivered Him to be crucified .”

Photo by Ahmet Sali on Unsplash

Why Are Pontius Pilate and His Wife Important in the Resurrection Story?

What we know historically about Pilate would not predict his hesitation at the execution of a Jew. He profoundly and outspokenly hated them. Pilate, a brutal leader, expressed compassion on Christ. Only God knows whether he was entangled in envy and authority, or possibly experiencing the very presence of God .

John 19:33 says, “ Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, ‘Are you the kind of the Jews?’ ” Pilate wanted to speak to Jesus away from the insightful crowd, who should have been on Jesus’ side. The accusation made him curious. Pilate’s wife was a woman of Gentile lineage, wife to a Roman leader and granddaughter to a Roman emperor. Yet, she was the only one to come forth and speak on Jesus’ behalf while He stood trial. The profound effect of Jesus on Pilate and his wife is significant in the resurrection story.

Jesus came for all of us. Gentiles and Jews! God has the power to redeem any and all of our hearts. Neither Pilate nor his wife were of Jewish heritage, yet here they are playing a part in the greatest story of all time. Pilate’s wife had a profound dream that led her to conclude Jesus as a “just man.” She was no stranger to the Jewish Scriptures.

Pilate’s sinful life and terribly wrong choice to crucify Jesus became part of God’s sovereign plan. “ Our comfort comes not from the powerlessness of our enemies, but from our Father's sovereign rule over their power ,” John Piper stated “ Pilate (and all Jesus’ adversaries- and ours) meant it for evil. But God meant it for good ( Genesis 50:20 ) .”

Could it be possible these two outsiders recognized Jesus more than the Jewish people who were supposed to know unequivocally who He was? The death and resurrection of Christ left a historical footprint in time and permanent freedom from sin for all those who embrace Jesus as Savior.

Should Christians Feel Sorry for Pilate?

“When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘It is your responsibility!’” - Matthew 27:24

Pilate knew Christ was innocent but lacked the moral fiber to face the mob with a verdict against their wishes. He attempted to default responsibility of Jesus’ crucifixion to the people demanding him to make the decision. Alexander MacLaren wrote in “ The Wearied Christ ,” “ His impotent effort to cast off responsibly only witnessed to his consciousness of it .” Unfortunately for Pilate, any attempt to disassociate himself with the decision he made is futile.

Scripture clearly states we are each responsible for our own choices and will suffer the consequences for our sin as God rightly judges. Oppressive leaders like Pilate make decisions that affect the people they lead. But God assures us in Genesis 50:20 : “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Christians needn’t feel sorry for Pilate, but we can lend compassion. God knows the finite details of His heart. In regard to Pilate, and other corrupt rulers, we needn’t justify the obvious tyranny and sin in his life. However, we can choose to leave it in God’s hands.

There is a lesson in leadership tucked into the folds of the few reconcilable facts we can glean from Pilates life. “We should never point to our own prestige and power, abusing the authority we have over others. “ All authority comes from God’ is to be our mantra ,” wrote Trevin Wax , “ We are vessels of God’s authority, and how we exert the authority delegated to us ultimately reveals the kind of God we believe in .” Jesus kept His Father’s love on the throne of His heart, all the way to the cross .

Biblegateway.com, “ Pilate’s Wife ” Brittanica.com, “ Freedman ,” “ Pontius Pilate ,” “ Prefect ” Christianity.com, “ What Is the Apocrypha? ” Crosswalk.com, “ Pilate’s Wife ” DesiringGod.org, “ Why Was Jesus Unintimidated by Pilate? ” and “ The Faithful Will Look Foolish – For Now ” EastonsBibleDictionary.org, “ Pilate, Pontius ” History.com, “ Why Pontius Pilate Executed Jesus ” TheGospelCoalition.org, “ A Guide to the Entire Cast of Characters During Jesus’s Final Week ” and “ Pilate, Jesus, and True Authority ”

Content Library

Equipping World-Changing Disciples

Need Help? Let Us Know
Contact A Staff Member

Home AN ORDER FOR THE PRESENTATION OF BIBLES TO CHILDREN

November 14, 2014

November 2014

AN ORDER FOR THE PRESENTATION OF BIBLES TO CHILDREN

This service may be used on Sunday morning as a Response to the Word. A Bible may be handed to each child by a pastor, parent, teacher, or friend in the congregation. Luke 2:41 –52 may be read prior to the giving of the Bibles, preferably by an older child.

Pastor, parents, teachers, and friends, facing the children, say:

Receive the Word of God. Learn its stories and study its words. Its stories belong to us all, and these words speak to us all. They tell us who we are. They tell us that we belong to one another, for we are the people of God.

Children respond:

We receive these Bibles with our hands, our hearts, and our minds. Thank you. We will read and study the Bible together.

The children and leaders face the congregation.

Congregation to children:

We rejoice in this step in your journey with God. We pray God will guide you, your family, and us as you use this Holy Bible in your home, in your church school classes, and in our worship. We will learn together and grow in our love for God's Word.

Children to congregation:

The Word of God is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path. Thanks be to God.

A hymn may be sung. Suggested from UMH:

See also: Come! Come! Everybody Worship (Hymn 199)

DOWNLOAD This Document in Microsoft Word

Contact Us for Help

View staff by program area to ask for additional assistance.

February 10, 2015

February 2015

AN ORDER OF FAREWELL TO A PASTOR OR DEACON

This order may be used within a service of worship on the last Sunday before a pastor or deacon moves to another congregation or retires, or it m. . .

THE LOVE FEAST

The Love Feast, or Agape Meal, is a Christian fellowship meal recalling the meals Jesus shared with disciples during his ministry and expressing . . .

AN ORDER OF THANKSGIVING FOR THE BIRTH OR ADOPTION OF A CHILD

Following the birth or adoption of a child, the parent(s), together with other members of the family, may present the child in a service of worsh. . .

This is a bi-monthly email where you’ll receive the highest quality resources to support your disciple-making process. Everything from Helpful Articles, New Webinar Series and Podcasts, Discounted Teaching Series, and so much more!

Please confirm that you want to receive email from us.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please read our Privacy Policy page .

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

What is Exegesis? Definition and Meaning in Bible Study

Is Exegesis just for biblical scholars or all Christians seeking to better understand the Word of God? Discover Exegesis's definition and application in Christianity today!

Exegesis is a foundational practice in Christian theology, involving critically interpreting biblical texts to uncover their true meaning. This article explores the significance of exegesis, how it is conducted, and its vital role in academic study and everyday Christian living.

Exegesis Definition

Exegesis is the critical interpretation and explanation of a text, especially a religious text such as the Bible. It involves analyzing the language, context, and historical background of the text to understand its meaning as accurately as possible. The goal of exegesis is to bring clarity and insight into the text, often for the purpose of theological or scholarly study.

The Role of Exegesis in Understanding the Bible

Exegesis is essential for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Bible. It allows theologians, scholars, and believers to interpret the scripture contextually, considering historical, cultural, and linguistic factors that influence biblical writings. By doing so, exegesis provides a clearer insight into the texts, ensuring that interpretations are not merely subjective opinions but are grounded in thorough scholarly research.

Exegesis is not merely a scholarly exercise but a critical practice for anyone seeking a profound comprehension of the Bible. Exegesis involves peeling back the layers of biblical text to reveal the underlying messages, contexts, and implications. This methodical approach allows readers to grasp not just the written words but the intent and spirit behind them, often shaped by historical and cultural circumstances that may not be immediately apparent.

One of the most critical aspects of exegesis is its emphasis on context. The Bible was written over centuries by different authors and in various cultural settings. Understanding these contexts is crucial because they significantly affect how texts are composed and how they should be interpreted. For instance, knowing the historical background of the Israelites, the political climate of the Roman Empire, or the religious practices of ancient communities can transform our understanding of specific passages or prophecies.

Linguistic exegesis delves into the original languages of the Bible—Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek—to interpret meanings often lost or diluted in translation. This analysis can uncover nuanced meanings of words or phrases that resonate differently in their original form, providing a deeper insight into biblical teachings. For example, the Greek word for 'love' appears in different forms in the New Testament, each with distinct implications for understanding Christian doctrine and ethics.

Without careful exegesis, there is a risk of misinterpreting the scriptures, leading to doctrinal errors or misapplications in life. Exegesis safeguards against such mistakes by applying rigorous analytical standards to scripture interpretation. This ensures that teachings and doctrines derived from the Bible are sound and based on well-reasoned scholarly research rather than personal bias or cultural influence.

Beyond personal understanding, exegesis is indispensable for those who teach or preach the Word. It equips pastors, teachers, and lay leaders with the tools to convey biblical truths accurately and meaningfully. By engaging in exegesis, these leaders ensure that their teachings reflect the true intent of the scriptures, thereby fostering a more knowledgeable and spiritually mature Christian community.

Historical Context of Exegesis

The practice of exegesis dates back to the early church fathers who sought to understand the scriptures beyond a literal interpretation. Over the centuries, methods of exegesis have evolved, incorporating various academic disciplines, including linguistics, archaeology, and history. This multidisciplinary approach helps scholars and pastors apply ancient scriptures to contemporary issues effectively.

Judaism : Jewish exegesis dates back to the Second Temple period and is embodied in the Midrash collections of rabbinic commentaries on the Hebrew Bible . This tradition emphasizes exploring the deeper meanings of the text through methods like pesher (interpreting scriptures in relation to current events) and Pardes (exploring different levels of meaning from literal to mystical).

Christianity : Christian exegesis began with the early Church Fathers who interpreted the Bible to address doctrinal and pastoral needs. The practice evolved through the Middle Ages when scholars like Thomas Aquinas used philosophical methods to interpret scripture. The Reformation further transformed exegesis, with figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin emphasizing scriptural clarity and direct access to the Bible for laypeople, a shift from the previously dominant allegorical methods of the medieval Church.

Islam : In Islam, the exegesis of the Quran is known as tafsir. The practice began as an effort to understand divine revelation contextually and linguistically. Early tafsir explained the Quranic text based on the Prophet Muhammad’s explanations and the context of revelations. Over centuries, it developed into a more elaborate discipline incorporating legal, theological, and philosophical perspectives.

What Are the Radical Demands of Following Jesus?

Impact of Modernity : The Enlightenment introduced historical-critical methods to biblical exegesis, focusing on the text's historical origins and authorship rather than divine inspiration. This marked a significant shift towards a more secular and scholarly scripture approach.

Throughout history, exegesis has been influenced by linguistic, cultural, philosophical, and theological shifts within societies, reflecting its practitioners' changing needs and intellectual contexts. This historical evolution shows how exegesis has been both a religious practice and a scholarly activity, adapting to new academic disciplines and broader cultural changes.

Methods of Exegesis

There are several methods of exegesis, each serving different purposes:

Literal Exegesis : Focuses on the explicit meaning of the text.

Moral Exegesis : Seeks lessons on how to live.

Allegorical Exegesis : Finds deeper spiritual meanings.

Anagogical Exegesis : Points to future events in Christian eschatology .

Each method offers unique insights and helps individuals at various levels of their spiritual journey to glean meaningful lessons from the Bible.

Exegesis vs. Eisegesis

Exegesis and Eisegesis are contrasting approaches to interpreting texts, particularly scriptural ones.

Exegesis involves a careful, objective analysis to discover the text's original meaning based on its language, context, and historical setting. This method strives to uncover the author's intent and the message intended for the original audience, using tools like linguistic analysis and historical research.

Eisegesis, on the other hand, occurs when the interpreter projects their own ideas or biases onto the text rather than drawing out its true meaning. This subjective approach often leads to interpretations that reflect the personal beliefs or desires of the interpreter rather than the text's actual message. While exegesis seeks to understand the text on its own terms, eisegesis risks distorting it to fit preconceived notions.

Exegesis and Theology

Exegesis is not just an academic task; it directly influences Christian theology. The doctrines of Christianity, such as the nature of Christ, salvation, and the Trinity, are deeply rooted in the interpretations derived from exegesis. Without it, our understanding of these doctrines would be superficial, and their application in life would be misguided.

Applications of Exegesis in Modern Christianity

In modern Christian contexts, exegesis is not confined to theologians or pastors. It is a practice that can benefit all believers by enhancing their daily walk with God. Individuals can apply biblical principles to modern-day challenges through exegesis, making the Bible a relevant and practical guide in contemporary society.

Exegesis for Personal Growth and Church Teaching

Engaging in exegesis can transform personal Bible study from a routine reading to a dynamic interaction with the text. For church leaders, exegesis is indispensable in preparing sermons that are not only informative but also transformative, encouraging congregational growth in faith.

Exegesis is a crucial tool for anyone desiring a comprehensive understanding of the Bible. It enriches our knowledge, deepens our faith, and equips us to meet the challenges of modern life with biblical wisdom. As we continue to explore the scriptures through careful and considerate exegesis, we uphold the integrity of the biblical message and its application across generations.

Photo created with AI Technology.

Christianity.com's editorial staff is a team of writers with a background in the Christian faith and writing experience. We work to create relevant, inspiring content for our audience and update timely articles as necessary.

This article is part of our Christian Terms catalog, exploring words and phrases of Christian theology and history. Here are some of our most popular articles covering Christian terms to help your journey of knowledge and faith:

The Full Armor of God The Meaning of "Selah" What Is Grace? Bible Definition and Christian Quotes What is Discernment? Bible Meaning and Importance What Is Prophecy? Bible Meaning and Examples

7 Ways Humanity Is Distinct from the Rest of Creation

Is Your Faith Just About Checking Boxes?

Morning Prayers to Start Your Day with God

7 Biblical Assurances Your Faith Is Real

Is Masturbation a Sin?

The Best Birthday Prayers to Celebrate Friends and Family

35 Prayers for Healing the Sick and Hurting

God has a plan for life. You have a sphere of influence, people whom God wants you to touch.

Bible Baseball

Play now...

Saintly Millionaire

Bible Jeopardy

Bible Trivia By Category

Bible Trivia Challenge

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

What the New Overtime Rule Means for Workers

Collage shows four professionals in business casual clothing.

One of the basic principles of the American workplace is that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. Simply put, every worker’s time has value. A cornerstone of that promise is the Fair Labor Standards Act ’s (FLSA) requirement that when most workers work more than 40 hours in a week, they get paid more. The Department of Labor ’s new overtime regulation is restoring and extending this promise for millions more lower-paid salaried workers in the U.S.

Overtime protections have been a critical part of the FLSA since 1938 and were established to protect workers from exploitation and to benefit workers, their families and our communities. Strong overtime protections help build America’s middle class and ensure that workers are not overworked and underpaid.

Some workers are specifically exempt from the FLSA’s minimum wage and overtime protections, including bona fide executive, administrative or professional employees. This exemption, typically referred to as the “EAP” exemption, applies when:

1. An employee is paid a salary,

2. The salary is not less than a minimum salary threshold amount, and

3. The employee primarily performs executive, administrative or professional duties.

While the department increased the minimum salary required for the EAP exemption from overtime pay every 5 to 9 years between 1938 and 1975, long periods between increases to the salary requirement after 1975 have caused an erosion of the real value of the salary threshold, lessening its effectiveness in helping to identify exempt EAP employees.

The department’s new overtime rule was developed based on almost 30 listening sessions across the country and the final rule was issued after reviewing over 33,000 written comments. We heard from a wide variety of members of the public who shared valuable insights to help us develop this Administration’s overtime rule, including from workers who told us: “I would love the opportunity to...be compensated for time worked beyond 40 hours, or alternately be given a raise,” and “I make around $40,000 a year and most week[s] work well over 40 hours (likely in the 45-50 range). This rule change would benefit me greatly and ensure that my time is paid for!” and “Please, I would love to be paid for the extra hours I work!”

The department’s final rule, which will go into effect on July 1, 2024, will increase the standard salary level that helps define and delimit which salaried workers are entitled to overtime pay protections under the FLSA.

Starting July 1, most salaried workers who earn less than $844 per week will become eligible for overtime pay under the final rule. And on Jan. 1, 2025, most salaried workers who make less than $1,128 per week will become eligible for overtime pay. As these changes occur, job duties will continue to determine overtime exemption status for most salaried employees.

Who will become eligible for overtime pay under the final rule? Currently most salaried workers earning less than $684/week. Starting July 1, 2024, most salaried workers earning less than $844/week. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, most salaried workers earning less than $1,128/week. Starting July 1, 2027, the eligibility thresholds will be updated every three years, based on current wage data. DOL.gov/OT

The rule will also increase the total annual compensation requirement for highly compensated employees (who are not entitled to overtime pay under the FLSA if certain requirements are met) from $107,432 per year to $132,964 per year on July 1, 2024, and then set it equal to $151,164 per year on Jan. 1, 2025.

Starting July 1, 2027, these earnings thresholds will be updated every three years so they keep pace with changes in worker salaries, ensuring that employers can adapt more easily because they’ll know when salary updates will happen and how they’ll be calculated.

The final rule will restore and extend the right to overtime pay to many salaried workers, including workers who historically were entitled to overtime pay under the FLSA because of their lower pay or the type of work they performed.

We urge workers and employers to visit our website to learn more about the final rule.

Jessica Looman is the administrator for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. Follow the Wage and Hour Division on Twitter at  @WHD_DOL and LinkedIn . Editor's note: This blog was edited to correct a typo (changing "administrator" to "administrative.")

Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
Fair Labor Standards Act
overtime rule

The Spiritual Meaning Of The April 23 Full Pink Moon

It’s a good day for self-care.

The spiritual meaning of the pink full moon.

If you’ve been feeling a little more emotional this week, it’s likely because there’s a full pink moon in Scorpio coming your way on the evening of April 23. It’ll rise into the night sky at sunset, fade away at sunrise, and bring a wave of water-sign energy.

In astrology, full moons are always a major celestial event. “A typical full moon graces our skies every 29 days and occurs when the earth is positioned directly between the sun and the moon,” says Astrid Bly, an astrology expert with California Psychics .

Since the full moon is the final lunar phase of this month-long journey, it traditionally represents an emotional release , she tells Bustle, and its glow is said to illuminate a new path forward. The full moon can also be found in a new zodiac sign each month, which is why there’s always a different ~vibe~ in the air.

On April 23, the full moon will be hanging out in Scorpio , the water sign ruled by transformative Pluto , so it really should be the perfect time to reassess, let go, and shed what’s no longer working for you. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming full moon, including tips for making the most of it.

The Meaning Of The April 23 Full Moon

The meaning of the pink full moon on April 23.

While it would be so pretty if the pink full moon was actually pink, chances are it won’t light up with a rosy hue. Instead, the pink full moon is named after the spring flowers that bloom this time of year, and according to Bly, it also reflects the seasonal transition and the color coming back into the world after a gloomy winter.

“The pink moon’s energy encourages people to enjoy the beauty around them,” she says, and this is especially true since the sun will be moving into Venus-ruled Taurus , which has a deep appreciation for the finer things in life. It might inspire you to get outside, get out of a rut, and get excited about the future.

When you add Scorpio into the mix things get extra mystical. According to Priscila Lima de Charbonierres , a professional astrologer and founder of the app Soulloop , the April full moon will shed light on the proverbial shadows in your life, thanks to the water sign’s intuitive nature.

Navigating The Full Moon’s Energy

How to navigate the pink full moon on April 23.

To make the most of this full moon , consider what type of baggage you might need to leave behind to move into spring with a little more pep in your step. “During a full moon, we can see more clearly where we should direct our energy in the near future, aligning ourselves with what we want to manifest ,” says Lima de Charbonierres.

Instead of getting overwhelmed by Scorpio’s intense energy, let all of your emotions bubble up, and let them transform you. “It is an especially good time to find your best mindset to align yourself with what you want to accomplish, and immerse yourself in your own self-discovery and inner strength,” she says.

To zero in on what you need to let go, you can sit down with a pillow, some pink candles, a rose quartz crystal , and allow yourself to meditate. “Meditation is always a very effective way to center ourselves,” says Lima de Charbonierres. Think about where you’ve been and where you’d like to go in the coming months.

“Spiritually, we’re invited to dive into the depths of our being and bring to the surface — and to the light — themes that need to be transformed, providing profound renewal, and leading to a re-birth,” she tells Bustle. To lean into Scorpio’s watery nature, consider having a big think while taking a bath, and envision all your baggage swirling down the drain once you get out.

You can also embrace the pink full moon by spending more time outside in the days leading up to it. “Consider finding peace in exploring nature and getting in touch with the earth’s natural beauty,” says Bly. Take a thoughtful stroll in the park — and maybe look for a few pink flowers as a subtle nod to the stars.

Astrid Bly, premier astrology expert with California Psychics

Priscila Lima de Charbonierres , professional astrologer, founder of the astrological wellness app Soulloop

IMAGES

The Ultimate Bible Presentation Guide
PPT
PPT
Royal Ruby Text Presentation Bible (White Hardback)
Presentation of the Lord at the Temple
Holy Bible Spiritual Presentation

VIDEO

What is the full meaning of the Bible?
This may be a Bible presentation
SUNDAY SERVICE Preparation
The Presentation (part I)
WHAT IS BIBLE? #bible #christiannews #christiansermons #nepalinews #lifenews #oldtestament #nepali
"You Need to Make a U-Turn"

COMMENTS

Presentation of Jesus
The Presentation of Jesus is an early episode in the life of Jesus Christ, describing his presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem.It is celebrated by many churches 40 days after Christmas on Candlemas, or the "Feast of the Presentation of Jesus".The episode is described in chapter 2 of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament. Within the account, "Luke's narration of the Presentation in the ...
The Deeper Meaning of the Presentation in the Temple
All of this helpsus to see that the Presentation in the Temple was about two important things: (1) the purification of Mary and (2) the redemption of baby Jesus. So far so good. But there are two other elements here which are worth paying attention to. For one thing, the Mosaic Law nowhere demanded that the purification or the redemption take ...
Gospel presentations
Gospel presentations If you were to die today, do you know for sure if you would go to Heaven? If you arrived in Heaven and God asked you, "Why should I let you in?" - what would you say? Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If you are uncertain about the answers to any of these questions, please read any of the articles listed below.
Luke 2:22-35 NET
Jesus' Presentation at the Temple - Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male will be set apart to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two ...
The Presentation of Jesus
Upon the eighth day following His birth, the Lord was Luke ii. 21. circumcised, and the name Jesus given Him. Forty days after the birth, Mary presented herself with the child Luke ii. 22-38. at the Temple in accordance with the law, and after the presentation returned again to Bethlehem.. The order of events following Christ's birth to the time He went to reside at Nazareth, is much disputed.
Luke 2:22-40 NIV
Jesus Presented in the Temple. 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"[ a]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in ...
Luke 2:22-38 NABRE
The Presentation in the Temple. When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord," and to offer the sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons," in accordance with the ...
The Real Meaning of the Presentation of the Lord
The verb paristanai, here translate as 'to present,' also means 'to offer' in the way that sacrifices in the Temple were 'offered.'. The language of sacrificial offering and priesthood is evoked here. Luke has nothing to say regarding the act of 'redemption' prescribed by the law. In its place we find the exact opposite: the ...
Reflections for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Introduction: This feast commemorates how Jesus, as a baby, was presented to God in the Temple in Jerusalem.This presentation finds its complete and perfect fulfillment in the mystery of the passion, death and Resurrection of the Lord. The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a combined feast, commemorating the Jewish practice of the purification of the mother after childbirth and the ...
The Significance of the Presentation of the Lord
In old days, the Presentation was often referred to as "Candlemas" and was celebrated by a candle-lit procession into the church, signifying Christ as the "light of nations.". Known originally as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a relatively ancient celebration.
Why We Celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
The Presentation of the Lord is portrayed in mosaic in the Rosary Walk and Garden Living a Consecrated Life. On this day, we also reflect on the gift of consecrated life. While the momentary satisfaction of selfish living ultimately leads to emptiness, living a life of holiness, dedicated to God's service, will give true contentment and peace.
What Does the Bible Say About Presentation?
Bible verses about Presentation. 1 Peter 3:18-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of ...
The presentation of Jesus in the temple in Luke 2
The lectionary reading for Epiphany 4 in Year C is Luke 2.22-40 as we celebrate the Presentation of Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem; this is also celebrated as the feast of Candlemas(s) and in many churches it marks the formal end of the Christmas season. (In the Church of England lectionary, we have this reading both for Epiphany 4 and the Presentation, though other versions of the RCL ...
What's Happening at the Presentation of the Lord?
Here is what Luke (2:22-24) actually says about the event: And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ...
Presentation of the Lord
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 529) teaches, The presentation of Jesus in the temple shows him to be the firstborn Son who belongs to the Lord. With Simeon and Anna, all Israel awaits its encounter with the Savior-the name given to this event in the Byzantine tradition. Jesus is recognized as the long-expected Messiah, the ...
What Does the Bible Say About The Presentation Of Jesus?
And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.". He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is ...
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas)
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. "A Light of Revelation to the Gentiles". Known originally as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a relatively ancient celebration. The Church at Jerusalem observed the feast as early as the first half of the fourth century, and likely earlier.
Presentation in the Bible (33 instances)
Tools. He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and waved them before the Lord as a presentation offering. HCSB. Verse Concepts. Lev 8:29. Tools. He also took the breast and waved it before the Lord as a presentation offering; it was Moses' portion of the ordination ram as the Lord had commanded him.
What Does the Bible Say About Presenting?
Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 4 helpful votesHelpfulNot Helpful. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
3. The Bridge
Purpose: The purpose of this session is to introduce the disciple to the Bridge presentation of the Gospel. Objectives 1. The disciple will familiarize himself with the Bridge as an evangelism tool. 2. The disciple will memorize important verses associated with the Bridge. 3. The disciple will become confident in his use of the Bridge. Agenda 1.
PRESENT
1. Being in a certain place; opposed to absent. 2. Being before the face or near; being in company. Inquire of some of the gentlemen present. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. John 14. 3. Being now in view or under consideration.
Pontius Pilate: His Role and Significance in the Bible
Pontius Pilate is best known for presiding over Jesus' trial and ordering his crucifixion. He was an officer of the Roman empire, serving as procurator, or prefect, of Judea, managing the financial affairs and flexing administrative powers on behalf of the emperor. Pilate was the heir of the Roman family of Pontii.
An Order for The Presentation of Bibles to Children
A Bible may be handed to each child by a pastor, parent, teacher, or friend in the congregation. Luke 2:41 -52 may be read prior to the giving of the Bibles, preferably by an older child. Pastor, parents, teachers, and friends, facing the children, say: Receive the Word of God. Learn its stories and study its words. Its stories belong to us ...
What is Exegesis? Definition and Meaning in Bible Study
Exegesis Definition. Exegesis is the critical interpretation and explanation of a text, especially a religious text such as the Bible. It involves analyzing the language, context, and historical background of the text to understand its meaning as accurately as possible. The goal of exegesis is to bring clarity and insight into the text, often ...
What the New Overtime Rule Means for Workers
Starting July 1, most salaried workers who earn less than $844 per week will become eligible for overtime pay under the final rule. And on Jan. 1, 2025, most salaried workers who make less than $1,128 per week will become eligible for overtime pay. As these changes occur, job duties will continue to determine overtime exemption status for most ...
The April 23 Full Moon's Spiritual Meaning Explained
Maskot/Maskot/Getty Images. If you've been feeling a little more emotional this week, it's likely because there's a full pink moon in Scorpio coming your way on the evening of April 23. It ...