2:34-35 What is Simeon prophesying here?
2:34-35 What is Simeon prophesying here?
In V34, Simeon declares that Jesus will be a stumbling block - the fall - to many of the Jews, who will reject Him (cp Psa 118:21-22; Isa 8:14-15; Mt 21:42-45; Ac 4:10-11; Ro 9:31-33; 11:7-10; 1Cor 1:21-24; 1Pe 2:6-8).
None of these scriptures teach that God had made it impossible for the Jews to believe in Christ because He had already predetermined not to save them, as some claim.
The Jews rejected the gospel of their own volition (cp Ac 13:44-49; 28:23-28). But Jesus will be the salvation - the rising again - of Israel when the remnant of the Jews who survive the Great Tribulation accept Him as Messiah (cp Isa 1:9; Zech 12:8-13:1; Ac 15:13-18; Ro 11:25-32). Simeon also predicts that there will be intense opposition to Christ's ministry - Christ would be for a sign which shall be spoken against.
The sword that shall pierce Mary's soul in V35 refers to the personal grief and anguish she would suffer as she watched her son die in agony on the cross. Finally, the rejection of Messiah would reveal the appalling truth about the apostate state of the Jews.