Background (Lesson 1)
By Patsy Norwood © 2026. All rights reserved. Any and all commercial use of this study is prohibited. Permission is given for use in ladies Bible classes as long as there are no changes made in the study and no monetary gain involved. This Bible study is written for women.
Luke 2: 36-38 (NASB)
And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
In order to get a better understanding of the account of Anna we need to start by doing a little background research… The Mosaic Law stated that all male Jews were to be circumcised when they were eight days old.
Genesis 17:10-12a (NASB) … “This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations ….”
The Mosaic Law also stated that a thirty-three-day period of ‘purification’ followed the circumcision and then a sacrifice was required at the temple.
Leviticus 12: 1-8 (NASB)… Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying: When a woman gives birth and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean for seven days, as in the days of her menstruation she shall be unclean. On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Then she shall remain in the blood of her purification for thirty-three days; she shall not touch any consecrated thing, nor enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification are completed. But, if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as in her menstruation; and she shall remain in the blood of her purification for sixty-six days. When the days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting a one-year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. Then he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, whether a male or a female. But if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.”
It was for this reason that Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus, were at the temple in Jerusalem where we encounter Anna.
Luke 2:21-24 (NASB) … And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.’), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Notice that Mary and Joseph are being obedient to the Mosaic Law, which the Jews lived under in the Old Testament, even though our text is found in the New Testament. Christ had not yet died on the cross which meant that the Mosaic Law was still in force.
Questions:
In Genesis 17: 10-12a, the word covenant means an agreement between two parties. In this case, it was an agreement between God and the children of Israel. What was the covenant/agreement?
How old were baby boys to be when they were circumcised?
Looking at Leviticus 12: 1-8 we see the instructions for a woman’s ‘purification’ after she has given birth. What is she to do after her thirty-three days of ‘purification’ (for a male child) are completed?
What is she to do if she cannot afford a lamb?
Notice in Luke 2:21-24 which sacrifice Joseph and Mary brought to the Temple. What does this say about their financial status?
LOOK IT UP! We can know approximately how old baby Jesus was when Anna saw Him in the Temple by looking at Leviticus 12:1-8 and Luke 2:21-22. We see that according to these passages of Scripture, under Mosaic Law, Jesus was circumcised when He was eight days old. Add the thirty-three days that they were required to wait for Mary’s purification plus travel time and we can assume that Jesus was between 6 – 8 weeks old.
LET'S SUM UP TODAY'S LESSON AND LOOK FOR A 'TAKE-AWAY!': Anna was an elderly woman and a prophetess. She was someone who had dedicated her life to God and was completely devoted to living and working for Him. Enter Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus and suddenly she is reinvigorated by their presence and all that it means ... and she can't keep from telling anyone and everyone. Are we as excited about telling others about Jesus as Anna was? Am I as excited about telling others about Jesus as Anna was?
Anna was at least 84 years old, possibly older and she was teaching, telling, praying, fasting and worshiping God. Let that sink in, Anna didn't let her age stop her from doing what she could for God. Do I let my age (regardless of what it is) and or ailments stop me from working for the Lord?
Do you have questions about today's lesson, if so put them in the comments. I'll do my best to answer them according to what God's Word says. If it's something we'll address in a future lesson in this study, I'll mention that and let you know that we will answer the question in a future lesson.
Note: Throughout this study you will see the names Hebrew, Children of Israel and Jews used interchangeably. ‘Hebrew, Children of Israel and Jews’ are all referring to the same race of people. God’s chosen people began with Abraham and were called Hebrews. Later, in Abraham’s lineage, when Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, Jacob/Israel’s descendants were called the children of Israel. Even later when the kingdom divided and the ten tribes went to the north; they were referred to as Israel and the two tribes that became the southern kingdom became known as Judah and were referred to as Jews. We know from reading the Old Testament that the ten tribes known as Israel were wiped out leaving Judah. We also know that Judah was also carried away into captivity for their disobedience to God’s Word but that a remnant was able to return to their homeland, hence, the name Jews. Sometime after Christ’s death, burial and resurrection God’s chosen people, those who chose God and were obedient to the teachings of Christ, became known as Christians (Acts 11:26) which means Christ-like.
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I love reading your comments, so don't be shy and don't forget to ask any questions you might have pertaining to today's lesson.
I'll meet you back here next Thursday for lesson 2.
May you be blessed by this study!
patsy @ From This Heart of Mine
~ a place for women to gather and study God's Word ~
