BACKGROUND FOR THE LESSON.
The events in this lesson occurred during the second month of Jesus’ earthly life. Joseph and Mary had Jesus circumcised on His eighth day in strict adherence to the law and gave Him the name Jesus as specified by Gabriel (see Luke 2:21). Now again they revealed their adherence to the law by the purification of Mary and the presentation of Jesus at the temple (see Luke 2:22). A Jewish mother had to experience purification because she was considered unclean for forty days after giving birth to a son and eighty days after the birth of a daughter (see Leviticus 12:1-5). During this time she could not enter the temple sanctuary or touch holy things. After this time expired, the mother was to bring a sacrifice of both a burnt offering and a sin offering. It was during Jesus’ presentation at the temple that our lesson begins.