Church Fathers Commentary Luke 2:25-28

"And behold, 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 unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord`s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law, then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said," — Luke 2:25-28 (ASV)

St. Ambrose of Milan: Not only did Angels, Prophets, the shepherds, and His parents bear witness to the birth of the Lord, but also the old and the righteous. As it says, And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and he was a just man, and one who feared God. For righteousness is scarcely preserved without fear. I do not mean the fear that dreads the loss of worldly goods (which perfect love casts out), but that holy fear of the Lord which abides forever. By this fear, the more ardent a righteous man's love for God, the more careful he is not to offend Him.

He is rightly called righteous who did not seek his own good, but the good of his nation, as it follows: Waiting for the consolation of Israel.

Gregory of Nyssa: Surely, it was not worldly happiness that the prudent Simeon was waiting for as the consolation of Israel, but a true happiness: that is, a passing over from the shadow of the law to the beauty of truth.

For he had learned from the sacred Scriptures that he would see the Lord’s Christ before he departed from this present life. Hence it follows, And the Holy Spirit was in him (by which he was indeed justified), and he received an answer from the Holy Spirit.

St. Ambrose of Milan: He indeed desired to be released from the chains of bodily weakness, but he waited to see the promise, for he knew, Happy are the eyes that will see it.

St. Gregory the Great: From this we also learn with what desire the holy men of Israel longed to see the mystery of His incarnation.

The Venerable Bede: To see death means to undergo it. He will be happy to see the death of the flesh who has first been enabled to see the Lord Christ with the eyes of his heart, living his life in the heavenly Jerusalem and frequently entering the doors of God’s temple—that is, following the examples of the saints, in whom God dwells as in His temple.

By the same grace of the Spirit by which he foreknew Christ would come, he now acknowledges that He has come, as it follows: And he came by the Spirit into the temple.

Origen of Alexandria: If you wish to touch Jesus and grasp Him in your hands, strive with all your strength to have the Spirit as your guide and to come into the temple of God. For it follows: And when his parents brought in the child Jesus—that is, Mary His mother and Joseph His reputed father—to do for him according to the custom of the law, then he took him up in his arms.

Gregory of Nyssa: How blessed was that holy entrance to holy things, through which he hastened to the end of his life! Blessed were the hands that handled the Word of life, and the arms that were held out to receive Him!

The Venerable Bede: Now the righteous man, according to the law, received the Child Jesus in his arms to signify that the legal righteousness of works—symbolized by the hands and arms—was to be exchanged for the humble yet saving grace of Gospel faith.

The old man received the infant Christ, signifying by this that this world, now worn out as if with old age, should return to the childlike innocence of the Christian life.