Under the Law, Awaited in the Temple

Eight days later, Jesus was circumcised according to the Law of Moses (Genesis 17:12; Leviticus 12:3), and He was officially named Jesus, as Gabriel had commanded.

The wider biblical story comes into focus here. Luke explicitly emphasizes Jesus’ family acting according to the Law in circumcision, purification, and presentation of the firstborn. Simeon’s light-for-the-nations horizon anticipates Acts, where Isaiah 49:6 is explicitly applied to the mission extending to the ends of the earth. Luke begins with salvation/light for Israel and Gentiles and ends with repentance and forgiveness proclaimed to all nations from Jerusalem. Isaiah’s salvation-to-the-nations horizon provides a major canonical arc.