You have a nice website. Can you tell me why the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed through the piercing of Mary’s soul with a sword? Luke 2:35 ~ Love from Lisa
The statement to which the querist refers occurs in a passage where a prophet named Simeon met Joseph and Mary as they brought baby Jesus to the Temple for dedication (Luke 2:25-35). The statement regarding the Christ in verses 34 and 35 is interrupted with a parenthetical expression (enclosed in parentheses) addressed to the mother of Jesus.
“34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35)
The words, “Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,” forewarn the mother of Jesus of the turmoil through which she, too, will go as the events unfold regarding the Christ child through his torturous death on the cross. The commentator Albert Barnes succinctly stated the meaning of these words to Mary this way.
The sufferings and death of thy Son shall deeply afflict thy soul. And if Mary had not been thus forewarned and sustained by strong faith, she could not have borne the trials which came upon her Son; but God prepared her for it, and the holy mother of the dying Saviour was sustained. (Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)
The balance of the words in verse 35 pertains to verse 34 and completes the thought begun there. The life and ministry of Jesus Christ would variously affect the Jews (and really all of humanity through the present). While some would and do obey the Gospel, which Jesus inaugurated in his ministry, many reject the Christ and his Gospel. Therefore, the figurative reference to piercing Mary’s soul is not what reveals the thoughts of people’s hearts, but rather the ministry of Christ does that. Nestled within the statement about Christ’s ministry that would cause people to react, favorably and unfavorably, is a short statement about sorrow that would visit the mother of Jesus.
