Advanced Commentary

Texts -- Luke 1:7-80 (NET)

Context
1:7 But they did not have a child , because Elizabeth was barren , and they were both very old . 1:8 Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty , 1:9 he was chosen by lot , according to the custom of the priesthood , to enter the holy place of the Lord and burn incense . 1:10 Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering . 1:11 An angel of the Lord , standing on the right side of the altar of incense , appeared to him . 1:12 And Zechariah , visibly shaken when he saw the angel , was seized with fear . 1:13 But the angel said to him , “Do not be afraid , Zechariah , for your prayer has been heard , and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son ; you will name him John . 1:14 Joy and gladness will come to you , and many will rejoice at his birth , 1:15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord . He must never drink wine or strong drink , and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit , even before his birth . 1:16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God . 1:17 And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah , to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just , to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.” 1:18 Zechariah said to the angel , “How can I be sure of this ? For I am an old man , and my wife is old as well .” 1:19 The angel answered him , “I am Gabriel , who stands in the presence of God , and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news . 1:20 And now , because you did not believe my words , which will be fulfilled in their time , you will be silent , unable to speak , until the day these things take place .” 1:21 Now the people were waiting for Zechariah , and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the holy place . 1:22 When he came out , he was not able to speak to them . They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place , because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak . 1:23 When his time of service was over , he went to his home . 1:24 After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant , and for five months she kept herself in seclusion . She said , 1:25 “This is what the Lord has done for me at the time when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people .”
Birth Announcement of Jesus the Messiah
1:26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth , 1:27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph , a descendant descendant of David , and the virgin’s name was Mary . 1:28 The angel came to her and said , “Greetings , favored one, the Lord is with you !” 1:29 But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting . 1:30 So the angel said to her , “Do not be afraid , Mary , for you have found favor with God ! 1:31 Listen : You will become pregnant and give birth to a son , and you will name him Jesus . 1:32 He will be great , and will be called the Son of the Most High , and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David . 1:33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever , and his kingdom will never end .” 1:34 Mary said to the angel , “How will this be , since I have not had sexual relations with a man ?” 1:35 The angel replied , “The Holy Spirit will come upon you , and the power of the Most High will overshadow you . Therefore the child to be born will be holy ; he will be called the Son of God . 1:36 “And look , your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age – although she was called barren , she is now in her sixth month ! 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God .” 1:38 So Mary said , “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord ; let this happen to me according to your word .” Then the angel departed from her .
Mary and Elizabeth
1:39 In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country , to a town of Judah , 1:40 and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth . 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting , the baby leaped in her womb , and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit . 1:42 She exclaimed with a loud voice , “Blessed are you among women , and blessed is the child in your womb ! 1:43 And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me ? 1:44 For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears , the baby in my womb leaped for joy . 1:45 And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled .”
Mary’s Hymn of Praise
1:46 And Mary said , “My soul exalts the Lord , 1:47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior , 1:48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant . For from now on all generations will call me blessed , 1:49 because he who is mighty has done great things for me , and holy is his name ; 1:50 from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him . 1:51 He has demonstrated power with his arm ; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts . 1:52 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones , and has lifted up those of lowly position ; 1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things , and has sent the rich away empty . 1:54 He has helped his servant Israel , remembering his mercy , 1:55 as he promised to our ancestors , to Abraham and to his descendants forever .” 1:56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home .
The Birth of John
1:57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby , and she gave birth to a son . 1:58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her , and they rejoiced with her . 1:59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child , and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father . 1:60 But his mother replied , “No ! He must be named John .” 1:61 They said to her , “But none of your relatives bears this name .” 1:62 So they made signs to the baby’s father , inquiring what he wanted to name his son . 1:63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote , “His name is John .” And they were all amazed . 1:64 Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke , blessing God . 1:65 All their neighbors were filled with fear , and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about. 1:66 All who heard these things kept them in their hearts , saying , “What then will this child be ?” For the Lord’s hand was indeed with him .
Zechariah’s Praise and Prediction
1:67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied , 1:68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel , because he has come to help and has redeemed his people . 1:69 For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David , 1:70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago , 1:71 that we should be saved from our enemies , and from the hand of all who hate us . 1:72 He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors , and to remember his holy covenant – 1:73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham . This oath grants 1:74 that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies , may serve him without fear , 1:75 in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live . 1:76 And you , child , will be called the prophet of the Most High . For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways , 1:77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins . 1:78 Because of our God’s tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high 1:79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death , to guide our feet into the way of peace .” 1:80 And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit , and he was in the wilderness until the day he was revealed to Israel .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Elisabeth

    [ebd] God her oath, the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5). She was a descendant of Aaron. She and her husband Zacharias (q.v.) "were both righteous before God" (Luke 1:5, 13). Mary's visit to Elisabeth is described in 1:39-63.
    [isbe] ELISABETH - e-liz'-a-beth (Elisabet, Westcott and Hort Eleisdbet, from Heb 'elishebha` (Elisheba), "God is (my) oath," i.e. a worshipper of God): Wife of Zacharias the priest and mother of John the Baptist (Lk 1:5 ff). Elisa...
    [smith] (the oath of God), the wife of Zacharias and mother of John the Baptist. She was herself of the priestly family, and a relation, (Luke 1:36) of the mother of our Lord.
    [nave] ELISABETH, wife of Zacharias and mother of John the Baptist, Luke 1:5-60.

  • Zacharias

    [ebd] (1.) A priest of the course of Abia, the eighth of the twenty-four courses into which the priests had been originally divided by David (1 Chr. 23:1-19). Only four of these courses or "families" of the priests returned from t...
    [nave] ZACHARIAS 1. A man slain by the Jews. Referred to by Jesus, Matt. 23:35; Luke 11:51. 2. Father of John the Baptist, Luke 1:5-80; 3:2. See: Elisabeth; John the Baptist.

  • JESUS CHRIST, 4A

    [isbe] JESUS CHRIST, 4A - PART III. COURSE OF THE EARTHLY LIFE OF JESUS 1. Divisions of the History: The wonderful story of the life of the world's Redeemer which we are now to endeavor to trace falls naturally into several divisio...

  • Jonah, Book of

    [ebd] This book professes to give an account of what actually took place in the experience of the prophet. Some critics have sought to interpret the book as a parable or allegory, and not as a history. They have done so for variou...

  • Joy

    [isbe] JOY - joi (simchah; chara): 1. Terms: The idea of joy is expressed in the Old Testament by a wealth of synonymous terms that cannot easily be differentiated. The commonest is simchah (1 Sam 18:6, etc.), variously translated ...
    [nave] JOY Attributed to God, Deut. 28:63; 30:9; Jer. 32:41. In heaven, Luke 15:10-32. See: Shouting. Unclassified Scriptures Relating to Deut. 12:18; 1 Sam. 2:1; 1 Chr. 16:27; 2 Chr. 7:10; Ezra 6:22; Neh. 8:10, 12; Neh. 12:43;...

  • Miracles

    [nave] MIRACLES. Index of Sub-topics Catalog of, and Supernatural Events, Of Jesus, in Chronological Order, Of the Disciples of Jesus; Convincing Effect of; Design of; Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit; Miscellany of Minor Sub-...

  • Mary

    [ebd] Hebrew Miriam. (1.) The wife of Joseph, the mother of Jesus, called the "Virgin Mary," though never so designated in Scripture (Matt. 2:11; Acts 1:14). Little is known of her personal history. Her genealogy is given in Luke ...
    [isbe] MARY - ma'-ri, mar'-i (Maria, Mariam, Greek form of Hebrew miryam): I. DEFINITION AND QUESTIONS OF IDENTIFICATION The Name Mary in the New Testament II. MARY, THE VIRGIN 1. Mary in the Infancy Narratives 2. Mary at Cana 3. M...
    [nave] MARY 1. The mother of Jesus, Matt. 1:16; Luke 1:26-38; 2:5-19. Visits her cousin Elisabeth, Luke 1:39-56. Attends the feast at Jerusalem with her husband and her son, starts on the return, misses Jesus, seeks and finds him...

  • Jesus, The Christ

    [nave] JESUS, THE CHRIST. Index of Sub-topics History of; Miscellaneous Facts Concerning; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Ascension of; Atonement by; Attributes of; Compassion of; Confessing; Creator; Death of; Design of His...

  • Angel

    [ebd] a word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a "messenger," and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14: 1 Sam. 11:3; Luke 7:24; 9:52), of...
    [nave] ANGEL. One of the Holy Trinity Trinitarian authorities interpret the Scriptures cited under this topic as referring to Christ, who according to this view was the divine presence in the wilderness. Called Angel, Acts 7:30, ...

  • JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF MARY

    [isbe] JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF MARY - 1. References in New Testament: (For etymology, etc., of Joseph, see JOSEPH): Joseph, the carpenter (Mt 13:55), was a "just man" (Mt 1:19 the King James Version), who belonged to Nazareth (Lk 2:4). ...

  • Women

    [nave] WOMEN Creation of, Gen. 1:27; 2:21, 22. Named, Gen. 2:23. Fall of, and curse upon, Gen. 3:1-16; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:14. Promise to, Gen. 3:15. Had separate apartments in dwellings, Gen. 24:67; 31:33; Esth. 2:9, 11. Ve...

  • Poetry

    [nave] POETRY Lam. 1-5. Didactic Moses' song, Deut. 32. The Book of Job, the Proverbs, Solomon's Song, the books of prophecy. See: Psalms, Didactic. Elegy On the death of Saul, 2 Sam. 1:17, 19-27. Of Abner, 2 Sam. 3:33, 34. ...

  • Psalms

    [nave] PSALMS Of Moses, celebrating the deliverance at the Red Sea, Ex. 15:1-19. Didactic songs composed by Moses, celebrating the providence, righteousness, and judgments of God, Deut. 32:1-43; Psa. 90. Song of Deborah, celebrat...

  • Readings, Select

    [nave] READINGS, SELECT. Judah's Defense Gen. 44:18-34 Joseph Revealing His Identity Gen. 45:1-15 The Deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh Ex. 14:5-30 Song of Moses When Pharaoh and His Army Were Overthrown Ex. 15:1-1...

  • Temple

    [nave] TEMPLE. Solomon's Called also Temple of the Lord, 2 Kin. 11:10; Holy Temple, Psa. 79:1; Holy House, 1 Chr. 29:3; House of God, 1 Chr. 29:2; 2 Chr. 23:9; House of the Lord, 2 Chr. 23:5, 12; Jer. 28:5; Father's House, John 2...

  • John

    [nave] JOHN 1. The Baptist: Prophecies concerning, Isa. 40:3; Mal. 4:5, 6; Luke 1:11-17. Miraculous birth of, Luke 1:11-20, 57-65. Dwells in the desert, Matt. 3:1; Mark 1:4; Luke 1:80; 3:2, 3. Mission of, Matt. 17:11; Mark 1:2-8...

  • Songs

    [ebd] of Moses (Ex. 15; Num. 21:17; Deut. 32; Rev. 15:3), Deborah (Judg. 5), Hannah (1 Sam. 2), David (2 Sam. 22, and Psalms), Mary (Luke 1:46-55), Zacharias (Luke 1:68-79), the angels (Luke 2:13), Simeon (Luke 2:29), the redeemed...

  • Praise

    [isbe] PRAISE - praz (tehillah, "psalm," "praise," todhah, "confession" "thanksgiving," shabhach, "to praise" "glorify," zamar, yadhah, "to stretch out the hand," "confess"; aineo, epaineo, (epainos): 1. Its Meaning: The word comes...
    [nave] PRAISE Song of Moses, after the passage of the Red Sea, Ex. 15:1-19. Of Miriam, Ex. 15:21. Of Deborah, after defeating the Canaanites, Judg. 5. Of Haah, 1 Sam. 2:1-10. Of David, celebrating his deliverance from the hand ...

  • Magnificat

    [isbe] MAGNIFICAT - mag-nif'-i-kat: The name given to the hymn of Mary in Lk 1:46-55, commencing "My soul doth magnify the Lord." Three old Latin manuscripts substitute the name "Elisabeth" for "Mary" in 1:46, but against this is t...
    [nave] MAGNIFICAT, of Mary, Luke 1:46-55.

  • ZACHARIAS (2)

    [isbe] ZACHARIAS (2) - (Zacharias): Father of John the Baptist (Lk 1:5, etc.). He was a priest of the course of ABIJAH (which see), of blameless life, who in his old age was still childless. But on one occasion when it was the turn...
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Arts

Hymns

(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
  • Berlutut di PalunganMu [KJ.115]
  • Bernyanyilah Merdu [KJ.106] ( Good Christian Men, Rejoice / In dulci jubilo )
  • Dalam Rumah Yang Gembira [KJ.447]
  • Dari Terbitnya Surya T'rang [KJ.137]
  • Gapuramu Lapangkanlah [KJ.87]
  • Gita Sorga Bergema [KJ.99] ( Hark! The Herald Angels Sing )
  • Hatiku Bersukaria [KJ.77]
  • Jurus'lamat, Datanglah [KJ.82]
  • Kaulah, ya Tuhan, Surya Hidupku [KJ.405] ( Be Thou My Vision )
  • Kiranya Langit Terbelah [KJ.80]
  • Kusongsong Bagaimana [KJ.85]
  • Lihat Bunda yang Berduka [KJ.172]
  • Mahaterpuji Allahku [KJ.79]
  • O, Datanglah, Imanuel [KJ.81]
  • S'lamat, S'lamat Datang [KJ.123]
  • Sebelum Semua Jadi [KJ.136]
  • Sekawanan yang Esa [KJ.272]
  • Siapakah Yang Menerima [KJ.124]
  • Sinar Fajar Yang Baka [KJ.323]
  • Terbitlah Bintang Timur [KJ.83]
  • Tuhan Melawat UmatNya [KJ.214]
  • Waktu Herodes Raja di Yudea [KJ.78]
  • Ya Anak Kecil [KJ.105]
  • Ya Yesus, Dikau Kurindukan [KJ.84]
  • Yang Mau Dibimbing oleh Tuhan [KJ.379]
  • Yesuslah Raja yang Menang [KJ.248a]
  • Yesuslah Raja yang Menang [KJ.248b]
  • [Luk 1:13] Let Thine Example
  • [Luk 1:14] In Thee Is Gladness
  • [Luk 1:26] Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came, The
  • [Luk 1:26] Gabriel, From The Heaven Descending
  • [Luk 1:28] To A Maid Engaged To Joseph
  • [Luk 1:31] God Whom Earth, And Sea, And Sky, The
  • [Luk 1:31] Hail, O Star That Pointest
  • [Luk 1:35] Now Yield We Thanks And Praise
  • [Luk 1:38] From East West, From Shore To Shore
  • [Luk 1:46] Away! With Loyal Hearts And True
  • [Luk 1:47] My Savior
  • [Luk 1:47] O What Shall I Do, My Savior To Praise
  • [Luk 1:47] Rest Of The Weary
  • [Luk 1:50] There’s A Wideness In God’s Mercy
  • [Luk 1:78] Awake, My Soul, Awake, My Tongue
  • [Luk 1:78] Dayspring Of Eternity
  • [Luk 1:78] Rise, O Salem, Rise And Shine

Questions

  • The Bible has quite a bit to say about Mary and you can read this for yourself in the gospels, especially in Luke 1-3 and some in Matthew 1-3. But Scripture does not affirm what is believed about Mary by the Catholic church. ...
  • The great songs of the Old Testament, besides the Psalms and certain metrical passages in Job, are: Lantech's Sword Song, Gen. 4:23,24; Noah's Song, Gen. 9:25-27; Moses' and Miriam's Song, Ex. 15:1-19,21; War Songs, etc., Num...
  • Mary played an important role in the life of our Lord and salvation-history. She was his mother (by virgin conception) and was indeed instrumental in his spiritual upbringing, training in the Lord, and helped him constantly d...
  • Pardon for our sins was promised to us (Is. 1:18; Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:12). There can be none without the shedding of blood and legal sacrifices and outward purifications are ineffectual as only through the blood of Christ is i...
  • While all Roman Catholics do not necessarily worship Mary, the fact that many pray to Mary (which is an act of worship and no where justified in Scripture) and give her titles which resemble those given to Jesus Christ includ...
  • He was of the priestly race by both parents, his father, Zacharias, being a priest of the course of Abijah, and Elisabeth a descendant of Aaron. Of the first thirty years of his life, the only history we have is contained in ...
  • We should be devoted to God because of his mercies (Rom. 12:1), of his goodness (I Sam. 12:24) and because of the call with which he invites us to him. The death of Christ and our redemption should be compelling forces. Our d...
  • God gives joy and Christ was appointed to give it, since the Gospels, which treat of him, are the "good tidings" (Ecc. 2:26; Is. 61:3; Luke 2:10,11) and God's Word affords joy (Neh. 8:12; Jer. 15:16). Joy is promised to saint...
  • While the Bible teaches us that "with God, all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26), and "with God nothing is impossible" (Luke 1:37), Scripture also teaches that God can and will do nothing that is inconsistent with His holy c...
  • There are several passages in the Bible which make clear statements on this subject. See Job 19:26,27; Isaiah 33:17; Matt. 5:8; Luke 1:19; Jude 1:24; I John 3:2; Rev. 5:8,11, and others....
  • The statement in the affirmative is made a number of times in the New Testament (See Matt 11:14, 17:10-12; Mark 9:12,13. See also Mal. 4:5.) But some of the ablest commentators hold that we must interpret the connection figur...
  • Yes, Jesus was the God-man while in the womb of Mary. In Hebrews 10:5, a passage that refers to Christ, we read, "So when he came into the world, he said, "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared fo...
  • Mark says it at the outset of his gospel (1:1). The angel told Mary her child would be the Son of God (Luke 1:35). John the Baptist said the same thing (John 1:34). Nathanael said it (John 1:49). Martha believed it (John ...
  • He was altogether lovely, Song of Solomon 5:16; holy, righteous, good, faithful, true, just, guileless and sinless, spotless, innocent, harmless (Luke 1:35; Acts 4:27; Is. 53:11; Matt. 19:16; Is. 11:5; John 1:14; John 7:18; Z...
  • They are whom God chooses and calls (Ps. 65:4; Isa. 51:2; Rev. 19:9); they know Christ and his Gospel, believe and are not offended at Christ (Matt 16:16,17; Ps. 89:15; Matt 11:6; Luke 1:45). Their sins are forgiven and God i...

Sermon Illustrations

Parables; Fear Not; The Covenants of Scripture:; Who Is Jesus Christ?; Outline; Psalm 18:2; Salvation; Five Kinds of Salvation; Conclusion; The Trinity, Acting in Unity; Prayer Involves…; A Title of Jesus; How to Serve

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • "As the laws increase and the constraints grow, the people seem less willing or less capable of following them. At this point in the narrative we see that the whole order of the priesthood is thrown open to direct confrontati...
  • The Angel of the Lord again appeared (cf. 6:11). This time He announced to a barren Danite woman that she would bear a son (cf. Gen. 16:11; Luke 1:26-38). Samson's birth by a barren woman indicated God's supernatural provisio...
  • Verse 13 is a key verse in the book because it records the fulfillment of Naomi and Ruth's plans to obtain rest (2:2; 3:1-5).82A son was indispensable to the continuation of the line of Boaz as well as that of Mahlon and Elim...
  • First and 2 Samuel are really one story. The translators divided them into two books for convenience, not because of subject matter.First Samuel records Israel's transition from amphictyony to monarchy.The key passage that ex...
  • Some commentators have seen Hannah's prayer as a non-essential song of praise included in the text for sentimental reasons, but this magnificent prayer provides the key to interpreting the rest of 1 and 2 Samuel. In this pray...
  • The promises Yahweh made to David here are an important key to understanding God's program for the future.God rejected David's suggestion that he build a temple for the Lord and gave three reasons. First, there was no pressin...
  • The writer cited four times when the Israelites cried out to God for deliverance and He saved them (vv. 6, 13, 19, 28; cf. Judg. 2:18; Joel 2:32; Acts. 2:21; Rom. 10:13). These situations were answers to the prayer Solomon pr...
  • Psalms 113-118 constitute the Egyptian Hallel(lit. praise, cf. Hallelujah). Hallelis the imperative singular and is a command to praise. The Hallelwas a collection of psalms the Jews sang at the three yearly feasts that all t...
  • 132:11-12 God promised David that He would raise up a dynasty of David's descendents that would follow him on Israel's throne (2 Sam. 7:12-16). If they were faithful to the Lord, He would give them an unbroken succession. Of ...
  • How is it clear that Yahweh and not the idols directs world history? Yahweh alone can predict the future and then bring it to pass (41:21-29). Since Yahweh is the God of Israel, does He have any regard for the Gentile nations...
  • Isaiah continued to show that Yahweh was both willing and able to deliver His people, a theme begun in 42:10. He confronted the gods, again (cf. 41:21-29), but this time he challenged them to bring forth witnesses to their de...
  • "The first [biographical Servant] Song was a word from the Lord to the world about his Servant: Your plight is known, my Servant will deal with it' [42:1-4]; but the second [autobiographical] Song is the Servant's testimony h...
  • The prophet emphasized the gracious character of Yahweh as the source of restoration for His people. Returning to the metaphor of the Lord's people as the his wife (51:17-20), Isaiah presented the joyful prospect of reconcili...
  • The people would need to listen to and rely on God's unconditional promise, but their salvation would cost them nothing.55:1 "The introductory particle (hoi) is mainly an attention-getting device, but it expresses a slight to...
  • 1:4 The prophet now began speaking to his readers and telling them what the Lord had said to him. Throughout this book, an indication that the Lord had told Jeremiah something is often the sign of a new pericope, as here (cf....
  • 30:4 This oracle concerns all the Israelites, those of both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.30:5-6 A time of great terror, dread, and unrest was coming. Men would behave as though they were in labor; they would hold themse...
  • The Lord's response to the prophet's prayer assured him that He would indeed restore Israel to her land. Jeremiah had not made a mistake buying the property.32:26-27 The Lord began His reply by affirming His universal deity a...
  • 8:15-16 As in the previous vision (7:16), Daniel needed help understanding what he had seen. He saw someone who looked like a man standing before him. Evidently this was an angel. Daniel also heard a voice that he could under...
  • 4:6 In "that day"the Lord also promised to assemble His people whom He had allowed the nations to abuse. This will occur when He turns the tide for Israel and begins to bless her, namely, at the beginning of the Millennium.Th...
  • The visions ended and Zechariah awoke from his dream-like state. What follows is a symbolic act that took place in Jerusalem at the Lord's command."The position of this actual ceremony after the eight visions is significant. ...
  • Like all the writing prophets, Malachi's chief revelation was the person and work of Yahweh. He presented Israel's God as sovereign over Israel and the whole world and as very patient with His wayward people.Malachi also used...
  • The final three verses of the book, which are also the final message in the Old Testament, are sufficiently different from what immediately precedes to indicate another message from Malachi. Essentially Malachi said, Be prepa...
  • Matthew concluded his selective account of the events in Jesus' childhood that demonstrated His messiahship and illustrated various reactions to Him with Jesus' return to Israel.2:19-20 God's sovereign initiative is again the...
  • It was common when Jesus lived for forerunners to precede important individuals to prepare the way for their arrival. For example, when a king would visit a town in his realm his emissaries would go before him to announce his...
  • 5:33 Jesus next gave a condensation of several commands in the Old Testament that forbade taking an oath, invoking the Lord's name to guarantee the oath, and then breaking it (Exod. 20:7; Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2; Deut. 5:11; 6:...
  • 27:51a The inner veil of the temple is undoubtedly in view here, the one separating the holy place from the holy of holies (cf. Heb. 4:16; 6:19-20; 9:11-28; 10:19-22). The tearing happened at 3:00 p.m., the time of the evenin...
  • The writer pointed out that the ministry of Jesus' forerunner fulfilled prophecy. It made a significant impact on those whom John contacted. Then Mark recorded the essence of John's message.1:2-3 Mark began with a quotation f...
  • This topic sentence summarizes Jesus' whole ministry in Galilee. It identifies when it started, where it happened, and the essence of what Jesus' proclaimed that was the basis of His ministry.1:14 Jesus began His Galilean min...
  • Experts in Greek literary styles acknowledge Luke's style and structure as superb.14No one knows Luke's educational background, but clearly he had training in Greek composition as well as medicine and a talent for writing. Lu...
  • I. Introduction 1:1-4II. The birth and childhood of Jesus 1:5-2:52A. The announcement of John the Baptist's birth 1:5-251. The introduction of John's parents 1:5-72. The angel's announcement to Zechariah 1:8-233. The pregnanc...
  • This section contains material unique in Luke. The only repeated statement occurs in Luke 2:39 and Matthew 2:23. Other unique features are Luke's alternating the reader's attention between John and Jesus, and the joy that sev...
  • 1:5 Herod the Great ruled over Judea, the large Roman province that included all of Israel, from 37 B.C. to 4 A.D.Luke pointed out that both of John's parents had a priestly heritage. The priests in Israel had the great privi...
  • 1:8-9 Zechariah was serving God faithfully by discharging some temple function as a member of his priestly division. There were so many priests then that the great privilege of offering incense on the golden incense altar in ...
  • The angel's announcement of John's birth occurred even before Elizabeth conceived him (cf. Matt. 1:18-25). This is further evidence of his being a special provision from the Lord. Elizabeth's self-imposed five-month period of...
  • This section parallels the one immediately preceding (vv. 5-25). Their forms are so similar that Luke must have arranged them to bring out the similarities between them. Gabriel announced the birth of Jesus as he had John's b...
  • The time reference and the same angel connect this incident directly with what precedes (v. 24). Luke presented God as taking direct action not only here but throughout his Gospel and Acts. He may have generously called Nazar...
  • 1:28 The fact that Gabriel greeted Mary as he did and did not greet Zechariah the same way shows Mary's favored position. Gabriel's greeting was customary: Hail! or Greetings! (Gr. chaire). Mary was highly "favored"(Gr. kecha...
  • This section brings the parallel stories of John's birth and Jesus' birth together. The two sons had their own identities and individual greatness, but Jesus was superior. John began his ministry of exalting Jesus in his moth...
  • As in the first part of this major section of the Gospel (1:5-56), Luke arranged his material in this one to compare and contrast John the Baptist and Jesus (1:57-2:52). In that section there was prediction, but in this one t...
  • 1:57-58 Luke passed over the birth of John quickly (cf. Gen. 25:24). It occasioned great joy for his parents and for all who knew them. Elizabeth's neighbors and relatives shared in the joy of John's birth as the shepherds di...
  • This is the second major song of praise in Luke, the "Benedictus."This title also comes from the first word in the Latin version translated "blessed"(Gr. eulogetos). The first part of the song praises God for messianic delive...
  • In narrating John's birth, Luke stressed his naming, but in his account of Jesus' birth, he concentrated on its setting.Luke's brief account of Jesus' birth emphasizes three things. He described the political situation to exp...
  • There is great theological significance in this familiar passage. It comes through mainly in the angel's words and in the symbolism of what happened."In 2:8-14 we have a third annunciation scene, which follows the same patter...
  • The record of this incident, similar as it is to the account of John's circumcision and naming (1:59-66), shows Jesus' identification with John specifically, and with humankind generally. Jesus' name was very significant, mea...
  • The emphasis in this section is Simeon's prediction of Jesus' ministry (cf. 1:67-79). He pointed out the universal extent of the salvation that Jesus would bring and the rejection that He would experience.2:22-24 Under Mosaic...
  • Luke again noted Mary and Joseph's careful obedience to God's will as revealed in the Mosaic Law. He omitted their flight to Egypt that Matthew recorded. It illustrated another fulfillment of messianic prophecy. However the f...
  • Jesus' obedience to His heavenly Father included obedience to His earthly parents (Exod. 20:12; cf. Col. 3:20). Luke balanced the former revelation of Jesus' deity with this indication of His humanity. His second reference to...
  • 3:1-2 Luke made detailed reference to the time when John commenced his ministry to document the reliability of his Gospel.116Only the reference to Tiberius is necessary to date the beginning of John's ministry that shortly pr...
  • Luke's account of this significant event is shorter than the parallel passages. At His baptism, Jesus received the anointing of the Holy Spirit for His ministry. It was also the occasion for the Father to authenticate Jesus a...
  • Why did Luke place his genealogy of Jesus at this point in his Gospel? Probably he did so because this was the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. Matthew recorded Jesus' genealogy to show that He had a legitimate right by b...
  • Luke again drew his readers' attention to the fact that Jesus was under the control of the Holy Spirit as He began His public ministry (cf. 1:35; 3:22; 4:1). The Spirit empowered and enabled Jesus in His words and deeds. Luke...
  • In contrast to most people, the inhabitants of Jesus' hometown did not praise Him. When Jesus began to speak of God extending salvation to the Gentiles, a particular interest of Luke's, the Jews there opposed Him violently. P...
  • 6:20 Clearly Jesus' disciples were the primary objects of His instruction in this sermon (cf. vv. 13-19)."Blessed"(Gr. makarios) in this context describes the happy condition of someone whom God has blessed with His special f...
  • 6:24 The woes contrast with the beatitudes in content and in the structure of the passage (cf. 1:53). They address those disciples who refuse to give up all to follow Jesus or who face temptation to draw back from following H...
  • This incident shows Jesus extending grace to a Gentile. It would have helped Luke's original Gentile readers to appreciate that Jesus' mission included them as well as the Jews. It is another case in which Jesus commended the...
  • This miracle raised the popular appreciation of Jesus' authority to new heights. Luke also continued to stress Jesus' compassion for people, in this case a widow whose son had died, by including this incident in his Gospel. T...
  • The raging of this demoniac was even worse than the raging of the waters of Galilee (cf. Ps. 65:7). Demonic power was evident in the Hellenistic world of Luke's original readers. The fact that this incident happened in predom...
  • Luke stressed the joy that the Seventy experienced because they participated in God's program. As we have noted before, Luke often referred to the joy that Jesus brought to people (cf. 1:14, 46; 24:52; et al.). In view of Jes...
  • This incident followed the preceding one immediately (v. 21). The subject of joy continues, and the section on the responsibilities and rewards of discipleship reaches its climax here. Jesus expressed His joy to the Father in...
  • This is another incident involving women who became disciples of Jesus (cf. 8:1-3; et al.). Like the parable of the good Samaritan it shows Jesus overcoming prejudice. As the former parable illustrated the meaning of the seco...
  • Instead of attacking Jesus' works His critics should have received and obeyed His words. A woman's comment, called out from the crowd, triggered this response from Jesus that forms a fitting conclusion to the previous inciden...
  • In this parable the rich man and his brothers who did not listen to Moses and the prophets (vv. 29-31) represent the Pharisees (vv. 16-17). The Pharisees believed in a future life and a coming judgment, but they, as the rich ...
  • Jesus continued talking with His disciples about the preceding conversation. However, Luke did not identify the disciples as those to whom Jesus spoke. This gives the impression that what Jesus said has relevance to all peopl...
  • Luke's primary purpose for including this incident in his narrative seems to have been to show that God, through Jesus, can give insight to those who humbly call on Him for mercy. Here was another humble outcast similar to th...
  • Luke stressed the rejection and hostility of the Jewish leaders toward Jesus as He taught daily in the temple precincts. The common people, however, were very receptive to His instruction. This contrast between popular accept...
  • Luke's account of the events following Jesus' resurrection stresses the reality of that event and the reactions of the witnesses to it. All these people felt depressed because of Jesus' death, but when they learned of His res...
  • This is another of Luke's exquisite and unique stories. Various students of it have noted its similarity to the stories of the feeding of the 5,000 (9:10-17), the appearance in Jerusalem (vv. 36-49), and the Ethiopian eunuch ...
  • The emphasis here is on the physical reality of Jesus' body after His resurrection whereas in the previous pericope the stress was on His supernatural nature. The incident clarifies that the One who rose from the dead was ind...
  • All the Gospels contain instances of Jesus giving the Great Commission to His disciples, but evidently He did not just give it once. The contexts are different suggesting that He repeated these instructions on at least four s...
  • Jesus' ascension was already in view in 9:51. There Luke presented it as the ultimate goal of Jesus' first advent ministry. Jesus' ascension would have happened even if the Jews had accepted Him as their Messiah. Prophecies o...
  • Alford, Henry. The Greek Testament. New ed. 4 vols. London: Rivingtons, 1880.Bailey, Kenneth E. Poet and Peasant: A Literary-Cultural Approach to the Parables in Luke. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1977.Bishop...
  • John the Apostle introduced John the Baptist because John the Baptist bore witness to the light, namely Jesus. John the Baptist was both a model evangelist pointing those in darkness to the light and a model witness providing...
  • John the Baptist continued his witness to Jesus' identity by identifying Him publicly as the Lamb of God. This witness is a crucial part of the writer's purpose of promoting faith in Jesus.1:29 The very next day John saw Jesu...
  • As the other evangelists, John alternated his account of the events surrounding Jesus' religious trial. He described what was happening in the courtyard (vv. 15-18), then what was happening inside (vv. 19-24), then what happe...
  • This pericope is another of Luke's summaries of conditions in the church that introduces what follows (cf. 2:42-47; 4:32-35). It also explains why the Sadducees became so jealous that they arrested not only Peter and John but...
  • Luke recorded this incident to show the method and direction of the church's expansion to God-fearing Gentiles who were attracted to Judaism at this time. This man had visited Jerusalem to worship, was studying the Old Testam...
  • 1:2 Paul next began to exalt the gospel that God had called him to proclaim. It was a message that God had promised, not just prophesied, in the Old Testament Scriptures. The words "his"and "holy"stress the unique origin of t...
  • Paul introduced the first of the two subjects he dealt with in this chapter, the Corinthian women's participation in church worship, with praise. He did not introduce the second subject this way (vv. 17, 22). As with the othe...
  • Paul turned next to show that the resurrection of Christ makes the resurrection of believers both necessary and inevitable. The consequences of this fact are as glorious as the effects of His not being raised are dismal. Thos...
  • 1:7 The "Him"in view is the beloved Son (v. 6).Redemption (Gr. apolytrosin) means release from slavery (cf. v. 14; 4:30; Luke 21:28; Rom. 3:24; 8:23; 1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:15; 11:35). It involves buying back and sett...
  • Paul began this section with a basic admonition (vv. 15-21). Then he applied this instruction to various groups of Christians (5:22-6:9).5:15 The word order and usage in the Greek text suggest that "careful"modifies "walk"rat...
  • First, Paul thanked his brethren for their recent gift that Epaphroditus had delivered to him (vv. 10-14).4:10 The "But"(Gr. de) that opens this section in the NASB is a bit misleading. It does not imply a contrast with what ...
  • A. Women served in the doorway of the Tabernacle (Exod. 38:8; 1 Sam. 2:22).The same word (saba) is used of their work as that of the Levites. These women were probably widows who devoted themselves to the service of God.B. Mi...
  • The writer proceeded to explain the exaltation of Jesus Christ to help his readers appreciate the fact that He fulfilled Old Testament prophecy concerning the Son of David. He did this so they would appreciate Him properly an...
  • This section on the superior high priestly ministry of Christ (7:1-10:18) concludes with this pericope in which the writer emphasized the perfecting effect of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on New Covenant believers. He wrote this ...
  • James' three questions in these verses all expect positive answers, as is clear in the construction of the Greek text.2:5 Since God has chosen the poor of this world to be the recipients of His blessings it is inconsistent fo...
  • 3:13 This statement carries on what the psalmist said in the quotation just cited. If God will punish those who do evil (v. 12), who will harm those who do good? God will not, and under normal circumstances no other person wi...
  • The Apostle John wrote these opening verses to introduce to his readers the main subject dealt with in this book and his purpose for writing it.1:1 "The revelation of Jesus Christ"is the subject of this book. "Revelation"mean...
  • John turned to see the person who had given him his commission. These verses describe what he saw.1:12 When John turned to see the person who spoke to him he saw a majestic figure clothed in a long robe standing among seven l...
  • Philadelphia (lit. brotherly love; cf. Rom. 12:10; 1 Thess. 4:9; Heb. 13:1; et al.) lay about 30 miles southeast of Sardis. A Pergamenian king, Attalus II (159-138 B.C.), founded it. The town received its name from his nickna...
  • 5:6 As with our dreams, John's vision contained some unusual features. John saw the Messiah as a Lamb.229The Lamb is a symbol of Jesus Christ at His first advent, meek and submissive to a sacrificial death as our substitute (...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • The final exhortation and promise point backwards and forwards, summing up duty in obedience to the law, and fixing hope on a future reappearance of the leader of the prophets. Moses and Elijah are the two giant figures which...
  • There was, in the days of Herod the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6. And they were both righteous before God, w...
  • The devoutest heart is conscious of shrinking dread when brought face to face with celestial brightness that has overflowed into our darkness. So Fear not' is the first word on the messenger's lips, and one can fancy the acce...
  • He shall be groat in the sight of the Lord.'--Luke 1:15.So spake the angel who foretold the birth of John the Baptist. In the sight of the Lord '--then men are not on a dead level in His eyes. Though He is so high and we are ...
  • And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48. For He hath regarded the low estate of His hand-maiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. ...
  • It contains three turnings or strophes, the first two of which have two clauses each, and the third three. The first is Luke 1:46-47, the purely personal expression of the glad emotions awakened by Elisabeth's presence and sa...
  • The second part of the song is a lyric anticipation of the historical consequences of the appearance of the Messiah, cast into forms ready to the singer's hand, in the strains of Old Testament prophecy. The characteristics of...
  • And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost,, and prophesied, saying, 68. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for the bath visited and redeemed His people, 69. And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the ...
  • If we remember that four hundred dreary years, for the most part of which Israel had been groaning under a foreign yoke, had passed since the last of the prophets, and that during all that time devout eyes had looked wearily ...
  • The day-spring from on high hath visited us, 79. To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.'--Luke 1:78-79.As the dawn is ushered in by the notes of birds, ...
  • Luke tells his fate out of its proper place, in order to finish with him, and, as it were, clear the stage for Jesus. Similarly the Baptist's desert life is told by anticipation in Luke 1:80. That treatment of his story marks...
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