Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 2:22

"And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord" — Luke 2:22 (ASV)

Days of her purification. Among the Hebrews, a mother was required to remain at home for about forty days after the birth of a male child and about eighty days for a female. During that time, she was considered impure—that is, she was not permitted to go to the temple or to engage in religious services with the congregation (Leviticus 12:3–4).

To Jerusalem. The place where the temple was, and where the ordinances of religion were celebrated.

To present him to the Lord. Every firstborn male child among the Jews was regarded as holy to the Lord (Exodus 13:2). By being holy unto the Lord, it was meant that the office of priests belonged to them. It was theirs to be set apart for the service of God—to offer sacrifice, and to perform the duties of religion.

It is probable that at first the duties of religion fell to the father. When he became infirm or died, that duty then fell to the eldest son. It is still clearly proper that where the father is infirm or has died, the duty of conducting family worship should be performed by the eldest son. Afterward, God chose the tribe of Levi in their place to serve him in the sanctuary (Numbers 8:13–18). Yet, it was still proper to present the child to God, and it was required that this be done with an offering.