Luk 2:34-35 | RWP | e4.org | Is set for the falling and the rising up of many in Israel ( Κειτα εις πτωσιν κα αναστασιν πολλων εν τω Ισραηλ ). Present indicative of the old defective verb appearing only in present and imperfect in the N.T. Sometimes it is used as the passive of τιθημ as here. The falling of some and the rising up of others is what is meant. He will be a stumbling-block to some ( ; , ; ; .) who love darkness rather than light ( ), he will be the cause of rising for others ( , ; ). "Judas despairs, Peter repents: one robber blasphemes, the other confesses" (Plummer). Jesus is the magnet of the ages. He draws some, he repels others. This is true of all epoch-making men to some extent. Spoken against ( αντιλεγομενον ). Present passive participle, continuous action. It is going on today. Nietzsche regarded Jesus Christ as the curse of the race because he spared the weak.

‏ Luke 2:34-35

Is set for the falling and the rising up of many in Israel ( Κειτα εις πτωσιν κα αναστασιν πολλων εν τω Ισραηλ ). Present indicative of the old defective verb appearing only in present and imperfect in the N.T. Sometimes it is used as the passive of τιθημ as here. The falling of some and the rising up of others is what is meant. He will be a stumbling-block to some (Isa 8:14; Mt 21:42, 44; Ro 9:33; 1Pe 2:16f.) who love darkness rather than light (Joh 3:19), he will be the cause of rising for others (Ro 6:4, 9; Eph 2:6). "Judas despairs, Peter repents: one robber blasphemes, the other confesses" (Plummer). Jesus is the magnet of the ages. He draws some, he repels others. This is true of all epoch-making men to some extent.

Spoken against ( αντιλεγομενον ). Present passive participle, continuous action. It is going on today. Nietzsche regarded Jesus Christ as the curse of the race because he spared the weak.

A sword ( ρομφαια ). A large sword, properly a long Thracian javelin. It occurs in the LXX of Goliath's sword (1Sa 17:51). How little Mary understood the meaning of Simeon's words that seemed so out of place in the midst of the glorious things already spoken, a sharp thorn in their roses, a veritable bitter-sweet. But one day Mary will stand by the Cross of Christ with this Thracian javelin clean through her soul, σταβατ Ματερ Δολοροσα (Joh 19:25). It is only a parenthesis here, and a passing cloud perhaps passed over Mary's heart already puzzled with rapture and ecstasy.

May be revealed ( αποκαλυφθωσιν ). Unveiled. First aorist passive subjunctive after οπως αν and expresses God's purpose in the mission of the Messiah. He is to test men's thoughts ( διαλογισμο ) and purposes. They will be compelled to take a stand for Christ or against him. That is true today.