Ngemva kwamalanga angu-40 uJesu ezelwe abazali bakhe baya laye ethempelini laseJerusalema eliseduze lalapho abahlala khona. UMthetho uthi ngemva kwamalanga angu-40, owesifazana obelethe indodana kumele alethe umnikelo wokuhlanjululwa ethempelini.​—ULevi 12:4-8.

UMariya unikela ngenyoni ezimbili ezincane. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi yena loJosefa bangabayanga. UMthetho wawusithi kumele kunikelwe ngenyoni langezinyane lemvu eliduna. Kodwa wawuvumela owesifazana obelethileyo ukuthi anikele ngamajuba amabili kumbe ngenkwilimba ezimbili nxa engelalo izinyane lenqama.