Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 2:30

"For mine eyes have seen thy salvation," — Luke 2:30 (ASV)

Simeon’s psalm begins by emphasizing the fact that the Messiah has indeed come. “Dismiss” here means “allow to die”; peace is again stressed (cf. 2:14). On “as you promised,” see comment on v.15.

Simeon does not say that he has seen the Messiah but rather that his eyes have seen God’s salvation. To see Jesus is to see salvation embodied in him, a theme already noted as prominent in Luke (cf. 1:69, 71, 77; 19:9). Luke’s concern for the universal application of the Gospel finds support in the words “in the sight of all people” (cf. Psalms 98:3; Isaiah 52:10). In v.32, not only are Gentiles and Jews put in contrast, but the same light (Isaiah 49:6) that brings “revelation” to pagans (cf. 1:78–79) brings “glory” to Israel (cf. 1:77).