Luke 2:24
And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
About forty days after His birth Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord and to offer the sacrifice the law allowed for the poor, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons instead of a lamb. The law required one bird for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering, and both had to be without blemish because they represented Christ, who was free from physical defect and lived in full conformity to the laws of nature as an example of what obedience was designed to make humanity. Their offering showed the poverty of His parents, who appeared no different from other simple working people, yet though He was heaven's most precious gift He could be acknowledged only by the smallest offering and shared the lot of the poor and lowly all His life. As humanity's substitute He thus conformed to the law in every particular, having already submitted to circumcision as a pledge of obedience. God expressly provided for the poor to bring a less costly offering with the same care as a costly one, and He accepts a gift according to what a person has, valuing a willing, loving and thankful heart above its monetary worth.
Presentation and Offering
About forty days after His birth, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord and to offer sacrifice according to the Jewish law. The presentation took place at the temple entrance with its tall columns and stone steps. There Mary knelt while holding the swaddled child, with Joseph standing behind her.
The law normally required a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering. Parents too poor to bring a lamb could bring a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons instead, one bird for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. As humanity's substitute, Christ had to conform to the law in every particular. He had already been subjected to circumcision as a pledge of obedience to the law.
The birds had to be without blemish because they represented Christ. This showed that Jesus Himself was free from physical deformity, with a strong and healthy body unmarked by defect. Throughout His life He lived in conformity to nature's laws, physically as well as spiritually an example of what obedience was designed to make all humanity.
Christ in Poverty Revealed
The pair of birds brought for the purification offering marks the family as poor, for the law allowed parents unable to afford a lamb to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons instead. Joseph and Mary came looking no different from the many other simple working fathers and mothers bringing their children day by day. Their appearance and their gift alike bore the visible stamp of poverty.
Though the Child was heaven's most precious gift to the world, a gift beyond all reckoning, He could be acknowledged on earth by only the smallest appointed offering. That lowly beginning foretold His whole earthly course, for through all His life He shared the lot of the poor and lowly in self-denial and sacrifice. In the temple He was dedicated to the work He had come to do.
Yet the officiating priest perceived only a helpless infant like any other child, seeing and feeling nothing unusual in Him. He did not know he was holding the Saviour of the world, the High Priest of the heavenly temple. Had he been obedient to God's word, the Lord would have taught him who the Child was.
Instead it was Simeon who, taught by the Spirit, understood that the infant being presented was the Consolation of Israel. He took the Child in his arms and lifted his face in joy, declaring that he could now depart in peace because his eyes had seen salvation, while the aged Anna stood by watching.
Accepted Giving and Thanksgiving
The law made express provision for the poor to bring a less costly offering of a dove or pigeon, and it required the same care and exactness in its preparation as for the more expensive offerings. When the parents of Jesus came to the temple with the child, they were poor and could bring only that appointed offering of two turtledoves for the Son of the living God, yet their simple gift fully met the requirement. What God requires is a gift according to what a person has, whether great or small, and He accepts it when the heart is opened to Him, valuing the willing heart and love rather than the monetary amount. Though Mary's gift of two doves was small, it was accepted and was precious to God.
Those who are poor, if willing and obedient, are as precious in God's sight as the most wealthy, and the most humble offering is accepted when it is all they can bring. The simple, humble, freewill and cheerful offering given with sacrifice is precious and fragrant to Him, more acceptable than thousands of gold and silver given grudgingly by the wealthy from their abundance without personal inconvenience. The smallest talent and the humblest service offered to Jesus with a sincere heart, in love to God and desire to serve Him, is wholly acceptable, presented by Him with His own merits to the Father. This record was placed for the encouragement of the poor, so that everyone can lay up treasure in heaven.
As the sacrifice was offered and the smoke of the altar rose, Joseph and Mary prayed with thanksgiving and gratitude because God had provided an offering for them to bring. Their example teaches gratitude to God through giving offerings in response to His goodness and care. After giving ourselves, the best offering to God is our property, with Christ regarded as first and last and best in everything, because Jesus gave Himself without reserve.