Matthew 1

For our monthly studies we will be looking at Matthew’s gospel. Matthew was a tax collector who found his Messiah in the Lord Jesus. Messiah means King and Matthew presents this theme many times in his gospel. He also loves to show how Jesus fulfils the prophecies of the Old Testament and will often declare it when relating a key event in his writings.

Anna

(Luke 2:36-38)

It was very encouraging to look at the life and ministry of Simeon. We saw how he waited faithfully upon the Lord and how the Lord’s promises came to be, as he held in his arms, the Messiah Jesus.

There was someone else in the temple that day with a similar mission. Perhaps she and Simeon knew each other, perhaps not! This was Anna. Anna was a prophetess and she speaks about Jesus. We have no record of any of the other prophecies she spoke but she is clearly described in this way and we can be sure of this - anyone described as a prophet is not just someone who speaks God’s word but is also someone who listens to God. We cannot speak in His name, if we have not been in His presence.