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Luke Chapter One

 

Luke 1

The Gospel of Luke sets the Lord before us in the character of Son of man revealing God in delivering grace among men. Hence the present operation of grace and its effect are more referred to and even the present time prophetically not the substitution of other dispensations as in Matthew but of saving heavenly grace. At first no doubt (and just because He is to be revealed as man and in grace to men) we find Him in a prefatory part in which we have the most exquisite picture of the godly remnant presented to Israel to whom He had been promised and in relationship with whom He came into this world; but afterwards this Gospel presents moral principles which apply to man whosoever he may be whilst yet manifesting Christ for the moment in the midst of that people. This power of God in grace is displayed in various ways in its application to the wants of men. After the transfiguration which is recounted earlier in the narration by Luke [1] than in the other Gospels we find the judgment of those who rejected the Lord and the heavenly character of the grace which because it is grace addresses itself to the nations to sinners without any particular reference to the Jews overturning the legal principles according to which the latter pretended to be and as to their external standing were originally called at Sinai to be in connection with God. Unconditional promises to Abraham etc. and prophetic confirmation of them are another thing. They will be accomplished in grace and were to be laid hold of by faith. After this we find that which should happen to the Jews according to the righteous government of God; and at the end the account of the death and resurrection of the Lord accomplishing the work of redemption. We must observe that Luke (who morally sets aside the Jewish system and who introduces the Son of man as the man before God presenting Him as the One who is filled with all the fulness of God dwelling in Him bodily as the man before God according to His own heart and thus as Mediator between God and man and centre of a moral system much more vast than that of Messiah among the Jews)-we must observe I repeat that Luke who is occupied with these new relations (ancient in fact as to the counsels of God) gives us the facts belonging to the Lord's connection with the Jews owned in the pious remnant of that people with much more development than the other evangelists as well as the proofs of His mission to that people in coming into the world-proofs which ought to have gained their attention and fixed it upon the child who was born to them.

In Luke I add that which especially characterises the narrative and gives its peculiar interest to this Gospel is that it sets before us that which Christ is Himself. It is not His official glory a relative position that He assumed; neither is it the revelation of His divine nature in itself; nor His mission as the great Prophet. It is Himself as He was a man on the earth-the Person whom I should have met every day had I lived at that time in Judea or in Galilee.

I would add a remark as to the style of Luke which may facilitate the study of this Gospel to the reader. He often brings a mass of facts into one short general statement and then expatiates at length on some isolated fact where moral principles and grace are displayed.

Many had undertaken to give an account of that which was historically received among Christians as related to them by the companions of Jesus; and Luke thought it well-having followed these things from the beginning and thus obtained exact knowledge respecting them-to write methodically to Theophilus in order that he might have the certainty of those things in which he had been instructed. It is thus that God has provided for the instruction of the whole church in the doctrine contained in the picture of the Lord's life furnished by this man of God; who personally moved by christian motives was directed and inspired by the Holy Ghost for the good of all believers. [2] At verse 5 the evangelist begins with the first revelations of the Spirit of God respecting these events on which the condition of God's people and that of the world entirely depended; and in which God was to glorify Himself to all eternity.

But we immediately find ourselves in the atmosphere of Jewish circumstances. The Jewish ordinances of the Old Testament and the thoughts and expectations connected with them are the framework in which this great and solemn event is set. Herod king of Judea furnishes the date; and it is a priest righteous and blameless belonging to one of the twenty-four classes whom we find on the first step of our way. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron; and these two upright persons walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord (Jehovah) without blame. All was right before God according to His law in the Jewish sense. But they did not enjoy the blessing that every Jew desired; they had no child. Nevertheless it was according we may say to the ordinary ways of God in the government of His people to accomplish His blessing while manifesting the weakness of the instrument-a weakness that took away all hope according to human principles. Such had been the history of the Sarahs the Rebeccas the Hannahs and many more of whom the word tells us for our instruction in the ways of God.

This blessing was often prayed for by the pious priest; but until now the answer had been delayed. Now however when at the moment of exercising his regular ministry Zacharias drew near to burn incense which according to the law was to go up as a sweet savour before God (type of the Lord's intercession) and while the people were praying outside the holy place the angel of the Lord appears to the priest on the right side of the altar of incense. At the sight of this glorious personage Zacharias is troubled but the angel encourages him by declaring himself to be the bearer of good news; announcing to him that his prayers so long apparently addressed in vain to God were granted. Elizabeth should bear a son and the name by which he should be called was "The favour of the Lord " a source of joy and gladness to Zacharias and whose birth should be the occasion of thanksgiving to many. But this was not merely as the son of Zacharias. The child was the Lord's gift and should be great before Him; he should be a Nazarite and filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb: and many of the children of Israel should he turn to the Lord their God. He should go before Him in the spirit of Elias and with the same power to re-establish moral order in Israel even in its sources and to bring back the disobedient to the wisdom of the just-to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

The spirit of Elias was a stedfast and ardent zeal for the glory of Jehovah and for the establishment or re-establishment by repentance of the relations between Israel and Jehovah. His heart clung to this link between the people and their God according to the strength and glory of the link itself but in the sense of their fallen condition and according to the rights of God in connection with these relationships. The spirit of Elias-although indeed the grace of God towards His people had sent him-was in a certain sense a legal spirit. He asserted the rights of Jehovah in judgment. It was grace opening the door to repentance but not the sovereign grace of salvation though what prepared the way to it. It is in the moral force of his call to repentance that John is here compared to Elias in bringing back Israel to Jehovah. And in fact Jesus was Jehovah.

But the faith of Zacharias in God and in His goodness did not come up to the height of his petition (alas! too common a case) and when it is granted at a moment that required the intervention of God to accomplish his desire he is not able to walk in the steps of an Abraham or a Hannah and he asks how this thing can now take place.

God in His goodness turns His servant's want of faith into an instructive chastisement for himself and into a proof for the people that Zacharias had been visited from on high. He is dumb until the word of the Lord is fulfilled; and the signs which he makes to the people who marvel at his staying so long in the sanctuary explain to them the reason.

But the word of God is accomplished in blessing towards him; and Elizabeth recognising the good hand of God upon her with a tact that belongs to her piety goes into retirement. The grace which blessed her did not make her insensible to that which was a shame in Israel and which although removed left its traces as to man in the superhuman circumstances through which it was accomplished. There was a rightmindedness in this which became a holy woman. But that which is rightly concealed from man has all its value before God and Elizabeth is visited in her retreat by the mother of the Lord. But here the scene changes to introduce the Lord Himself into this marvellous history which unfolds before our eyes.

God who had prepared all beforehand sends now to announce the Saviour's birth to Mary. In the last place that man would have chosen for the purpose of God-a place whose name in the eyes of the world sufficed to condemn those who came from thence-a maiden unknown to all whom the world recognised was betrothed to a poor carpenter. Her name was Mary. But everything was in confusion in Israel: the carpenter was of the house of David. The promises of God-who never forgets them and never overlooks those who are their object-found here the sphere for their accomplishment. Here the power and the affections of God are directed according to their divine energy. Whether Nazareth was small or great was of no importance except to shew that God does not expect from man but man from God. Gabriel is sent to Nazareth to a virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph of the house of David.

The gift of John to Zacharias was an answer to his prayers-God faithful in His goodness towards His people who wait upon Him.

But this is a visitation of sovereign grace. Mary a chosen vessel for this purpose had found grace in God's sight. She was favoured [3] by sovereign grace-blessed among women. She should conceive and bring forth a son: she should call Him Jesus. He should be great and should be called the Son of the Highest. God should give Him the throne of His father David. He should reign over the house of Jacob for ever and His kingdom should have no end.

It will be observed here that the subject which the Holy Ghost sets before us is the birth of the child as He would be down here in this world as brought forth by Mary-of Him who should be born.

The instruction given by the Holy Ghost on this point is divided into two parts: first that which the child to be born should be; secondly the manner of His conception and the glory which would be its result. It is not simply the divine nature of Jesus that is presented the Word which was God the Word made flesh; but that which was born of Mary and the way in which it should take place. We know well that it is the same precious and divine Saviour of whom John speaks that is in question; but He is here presented to us under another aspect which is of infinite interest to us; and we must consider Him as the Holy Ghost presents Him as born of the virgin Mary in this world of tears.

To take first the verses 31-33.

It was a child really conceived in Mary's womb who brought forth this child at the time which God had Himself appointed for human nature. The usual time elapsed before its birth. As yet this tells us nothing of the manner. It is the fact itself which has an importance that can neither be measured nor exaggerated. He was really and truly man born of a woman as we are-not as to the source nor as to the manner of His conception of which we are not yet speaking but as to the reality of His existence as man. He was really and truly a human being. But there were other things connected with the Person of the One who should be born that are also set before us. His name should be called Jesus that is Jehovah the Saviour. He should be manifested in this character and with this power. He was so.

This is not connected here with the fact "for he shall save his people from their sins " as in Matthew where it was the manifestation to Israel of the power of Jehovah of their God in fulfilment of the promises made to that people. Here we see that He has a right to this name; but this divine title lies hidden under the form of a personal name; for it is the Son of man who is presented in this Gospel whatever His divine power might be. Here we are told "He"-the One who should be born-"should be great " and (born into this world) "should be called the Son of the Highest." He had been the Son of the Father before the world was; but this child born on earth should be called-such as He was down here-the Son of the Highest: a title to which He would thoroughly prove His right by His acts and by all that manifested what He was. A precious thought to us and full of glory a child born of a woman legitimately bears this name "Son of the Highest"-supremely glorious for One who is in the position of a man and really was such before God.

But other things still were connected with the One that should be born. God would give Him the throne of His father David. Here again we plainly see that He is considered as born as man in this world. The throne of His father David belongs to Him. God will give it Him. By right of birth He is heir to the promises to the earthly promises which as to the kingdom appertained to the family of David; but it should be according to the counsels and the power of God. He should reign over the house of Jacob-not only over Judah and in the weakness of a transitory power and an ephemeral life but throughout the ages; and of His kingdom there should be no end. As indeed Daniel had predicted it should never be taken by another. It should never be transferred to another people. It should be established according to the counsels of God which are unchangeable and His power which never fails. Until He delivered up the kingdom to God the Father He should exercise a royalty that nothing could dispute; which He would deliver up (all things being fulfilled) to God but the royal glory of which should never be tarnished in His hands.

Such should be the child born-truly though miraculously born as man. To those who could understand His name it was Jehovah the Saviour.

He should be King over the house of Jacob according to a power that should never decay and never fail until blended with the eternal power of God as God.

The grand subject of the revelation is that the child should be conceived and born; the remainder is the glory that should belong to Him being born.

But it is the conception that Mary does not understand. God permits her to ask the angel how this should be. Her question was according to God. I do not think there was any want of faith here. Zacharias had constantly asked for a son-it was only a question of the goodness and the power of God to perform his request-and was brought by the positive declaration of God to a point at which he had only to trust in it. He did not trust to the promise of God. It was only the exercise of the extraordinary power of God in the natural order of things. Mary asks with holy confidence since God thus favoured her how the thing should be accomplished outside the natural order. Of its accomplishment she has no doubt (see verse 45; "Blessed " said Elizabeth "is she that believed.") She inquires how it shall be accomplished since it must be done outside the order of nature. The angel proceeds with his commission making known to her the answer of God to this question also. In the purposes of God this question gave occasion (by the answer it received) to the revelation of the miraculous conception.

The birth of Him who has walked upon this earth was the thing in question-His birth of the virgin Mary. He was God He became man; but here it is the manner of His conception in becoming a man upon the earth. It is not what He was that is declared. It is He who was born such as He was in the world of whose miraculous conception we here read. The Holy Ghost should come upon her-should act in power upon this earthen vessel without its own will or the will of any man. God is the source of the life of the child promised to Mary as born in this world and by His power. He is born of Mary-of this woman chosen by God. The power of the Highest should overshadow her and therefore that which should be born of her should be called the Son of God. Holy in His birth conceived by the intervention of the power of God acting upon Mary (a power which was the divine source of His existence on the earth as man) that which thus received its being from Mary the fruit of her womb should even in this sense have the title of Son of God. The holy thing which should be born of Mary should be called the Son of God. It is not here the doctrine of the eternal relationship of the Son with the Father. The Gospel of John the Epistle to the Hebrews that to the Colossians establish this precious truth and demonstrate its importance; but here it is that which was born by virtue of the miraculous conception which on that ground is called the Son of God.

The angel announces to her the blessing bestowed on Elizabeth through the almighty power of God; and Mary bows to the will of her God-the submissive vessel of His purpose and in her piety acknowledges a height and greatness in these purposes which only left to her their passive instrument her place of subjection to the will of God. This was her glory through the favour of her God.

It was befitting that wonders should accompany and bear a just testimony to this marvellous intervention of God. The communication of the angel was not without fruit in the heart of Mary; and by her visit to Elizabeth she goes to acknowledge the wonderful dealings of God. The piety of the virgin displays itself here in a touching manner. The marvellous intervention of God humbled her instead of lifting her up. She saw God in that which had taken place and not herself; on the contrary the greatness of these marvels brought God so near her as to hide her from herself. She yields herself to His holy will: but God has too large a place in her thoughts in this matter to leave any room for self-importance.

The visit of the mother of her Lord to Elizabeth was a natural thing to herself for the Lord had visited the wife of Zacharias. The angel has made it known to her. She is concerned in these things of God for God was near her heart by the grace that had visited her. Led by the Holy Ghost in heart and affection the glory that belonged to Mary in virtue of the grace of God who had elected her to be the mother of her Lord is recognised by Elizabeth speaking by the Holy Ghost. She also acknowledges the pious faith of Mary and announces to her the fulfilment of the promise she had received (all that took place being a signal testimony given to Him who should be born in Israel and among men).

The heart of Mary is then poured out in thanksgiving. She owns God her Saviour in the grace that has filled her with joy and her own low estate-a figure of the condition of the remnant of Israel-and that gave occasion to the intervention of God's greatness with a full testimony that all was of Himself. Whatever might be the piety suitable to the instrument whom He employed and which was found indeed in Mary it was in proportion as she hid herself that she was great; for then God was all and it was through her that He intervened for the manifestation of His marvellous ways. She lost her place if she made anything of herself but in truth she did not. The grace of God preserved her in order that His glory might be fully displayed in this divine event. She recognises His grace but she acknowledges that all is grace towards her.

It will be remarked here that in the character and the application of the thoughts that fill her heart all is Jewish. We may compare the song of Hannah who prophetically celebrated this same intervention; and see also verses 54 55. But observe she goes back to the promises made to the fathers not to Moses and she embraces all Israel. It is the power of God which works in the midst of weakness when there is no resource and all is contrary to it. Such is the moment that suits God and to the same end instruments that are null that God may be all.

It is remarkable that we are not told that Mary was full of the Holy Ghost. It appears to me that this is an honourable distinction for her. The Holy Ghost visited Elizabeth and Zacharias in an exceptional manner. But although we cannot doubt that Mary was under the influence of the Spirit of God it was a more inward effect more connected with her own faith with her piety with the more habitual relations of her heart with God (that were formed by this faith and by this piety) and which consequently expressed itself more as her own sentiments. It is thankfulness for the grace and favour conferred on her the lowly one and that in connection with the hopes and blessing of Israel. In all this there appears to me a very striking harmony in connection with the wondrous favour bestowed upon her. I repeat it Mary is great inasmuch as she is nothing; but she is favoured by God in a way that is unparalleled and all generations shall call her blessed.

But her piety and its expression in this song being more personal an answer to God rather than a revelation on His part it is clearly limited to that which was necessarily for her the sphere of this piety-to Israel to the hopes and promises given to Israel. It goes back as we have seen to the farthest point of God's relations with Israel-and they were in grace and promise not law-but it does not go outside them.

Mary abides three months with the woman whom God had blessed the mother of him who was to be the voice of God in the wilderness; and she returns to follow humbly her own path that the purposes of God may be accomplished.

Nothing more beautiful of its kind than this picture of the intercourse between these pious women unknown to the world but the instruments of God's grace for the accomplishment of His purpose glorious and infinite in their results. They hide themselves moving in a scene into which nothing enters but piety and grace; but God is there as little known to the world as were these poor women yet preparing and accomplishing that which the angels desire to fathom in its depths. This takes place in the hill country where these pious relatives dwelt. They hid themselves; but their hearts visited by God and touched by His grace responded by their mutual piety to these wondrous visits from above; and the grace of God was truly reflected in the calmness of a heart that recognised His hand and His greatness trusting in His goodness and submitting to His will. We are favoured in being admitted into a scene from which the world was excluded by its unbelief and alienation from God and in which God thus acted.

But that which piety recognised in secret through faith in the visitations of God must at length be made public and be fulfilled before the eyes of men. The son of Zacharias and Elizabeth is born and Zacharias (who obedient to the word of the angel ceases to be dumb) announces the coming of the Branch of David the horn of Israel's salvation in the house of God's elect King to accomplish all the promises made to the fathers and all the prophecies by which God had proclaimed the future blessing of His people. The child whom God had given to Zacharias and Elizabeth should go before the face of Jehovah to prepare His ways; for the Son of David was Jehovah who came according to the promises and according to the word by which God had proclaimed the manifestation of His glory.

The visitation of Israel by Jehovah celebrated by the mouth of Zacharias embraces all the blessing of the millennium. This is connected with the presence of Jesus who brings in His own Person all this blessing. All the promises are Yea and Amen in Him. All the prophecies encircle Him with the glory then to be realised and make Him the source from which it springs. Abraham rejoiced to see the glorious day of Christ.

The Holy Ghost always does this when His subject is the fulfilment of the promise in power. He goes on to the full effect which God will accomplish at the end. The difference here is that it is no longer the announcement of joys in a distant future when a Christ should be born when a child should be brought forth to bring in their joys in days still obscured by the distance at which they were seen. The Christ is now at the door and it is the effect of His presence that is celebrated. We know that having been rejected and being now absent the accomplishment of these things is necessarily put off until He returns; but His presence will bring their fulfilment and it is announced as being connected with that presence.

We may remark here that this chapter confines itself within the strict limits of the promises made to Israel that is to say to the fathers. We have the priests the Messiah His forerunner the promises made to Abraham the covenant of promise the oath of God. It is not the law; it is the hope of Israel-founded on the promise the covenant the oath of God and confirmed by the prophets-which has its realisation in the birth of Jesus of the Son of David. It is not I again say the law. It is Israel under blessing not indeed yet accomplished but Israel in the relationship of faith with God who would. accomplish it. It is only God and Israel who are in question and that which had taken place in grace between Him and His people alone.

Footnotes

[1] That is as to the contents of the Gospel. In the ninth chapter His last journey up to Jerusalem begins; and thence on to the latter part of the eighteenth where (v. 31) His going up to that city is noticed the evangelist gives mainly a series of moral instructions and the ways of God in grace now coming in. In verse 35 of chapter 18 we have the blind man of Jericho already noticed as the commencement of His last visit to Jerusalem.

[2] The union of motive and inspiration which infidels have endeavoured to set in opposition to each other is found in every page of the word. Moreover the two things are only incompatible to the narrow mind of those who are unacquainted with the ways of God. Cannot God impart motives and through these motives engage a man to undertake some task and then direct him perfectly and absolutely in all that he does? Even if it were a human thought (which I do not at all believe) if God approved of it could not He watch over its execution so that the result should be entirely according to His will?

[3] The expressions "found favour" and "highly favoured" have not at all the same meaning. Personally she had found favour so that she was not to fear: but God had sovereignly bestowed on her this grace this immense favour of being the mother of the Lord. In this she was the object of God's sovereign favour.

── John DarbySynopsis of Luke

 

Luke 1

Chapter Contents

The Preface. (1-4) Zacharias and Elisabeth. (5-25) Christ's birth announced. (26-38) Interview of Mary and Elisabeth. (39-56) The birth of John the Baptist. (57-66) The song of Zacharias. (67-80)

Commentary on Luke 1:1-4.

(Read Luke 1:1-4.)

Luke will not write of things about which Christians may safely differ from one another and hesitate within themselves; but the things which are and ought to be surely believed. The doctrine of Christ is what the wisest and best of men have ventured their souls upon with confidence and satisfaction. And the great events whereon our hopes depend have been recorded by those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and ministers of the word and who were perfected in their understanding of them through Divine inspiration.

Commentary on Luke 1:5-25

(Read Luke 1:5-25)

The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners as all are and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were eminent for piety and integrity. They had no children and it could not be expected that Elisabeth should have any in her old age. While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple the whole multitude of the people were praying without. All the prayers we offer up to God are acceptable and successful only by Christ's intercession in the temple of God above. We cannot expect an interest therein if we do not pray and pray with our spirits and are not earnest in prayer. Nor can we expect that the best of our prayers should gain acceptance and bring an answer of peace but through the mediation of Christ who ever lives making intercession. The prayers Zacharias often made received an answer of peace. Prayers of faith are filed in heaven and are not forgotten. Prayers made when we were young and entering into the world may be answered when we are old and going out of the world. Mercies are doubly sweet that are given in answer to prayer. Zacharias shall have a son in his old age who shall be instrumental in the conversion of many souls to God and preparing them to receive the gospel of Christ. He shall go before Him with courage zeal holiness and a mind dead to earthly interests and pleasures. The disobedient and rebellious would be brought back to the wisdom of their righteous forefathers or rather brought to attend to the wisdom of that Just One who was coming among them. Zacharias heard all that the angel said; but his unbelief spake. In striking him dumb God dealt justly with him because he had objected against God's word. We may admire the patience of God towards us. God dealt kindly with him for thus he prevented his speaking any more distrustful unbelieving words. Thus also God confirmed his faith. If by the rebukes we are under for our sin we are brought to give the more credit to the word of God we have no reason to complain. Even real believers are apt to dishonour God by unbelief; and their mouths are stopped in silence and confusion when otherwise they would have been praising God with joy and gratitude. In God's gracious dealings with us we ought to observe his gracious regards to us. He has looked on us with compassion and favour and therefore has thus dealt with us.

Commentary on Luke 1:26-38

(Read Luke 1:26-38)

We have here an account of the mother of our Lord; though we are not to pray to her yet we ought to praise God for her. Christ must be born miraculously. The angel's address means only Hail thou that art the especially chosen and favoured of the Most High to attain the honour Jewish mothers have so long desired. This wondrous salutation and appearance troubled Mary. The angel then assured her that she had found favour with God and would become the mother of a son whose name she should call Jesus the Son of the Highest one in a nature and perfection with the Lord God. JESUS! the name that refreshes the fainting spirits of humbled sinners; sweet to speak and sweet to hear Jesus a Saviour! We know not his riches and our own poverty therefore we run not to him; we perceive not that we are lost and perishing therefore a Saviour is a word of little relish. Were we convinced of the huge mass of guilt that lies upon us and the wrath that hangs over us for it ready to fall upon us it would be our continual thought Is the Saviour mine? And that we might find him so we should trample on all that hinders our way to him. Mary's reply to the angel was the language of faith and humble admiration and she asked no sign for the confirming her faith. Without controversy great was the mystery of godliness God manifest in the flesh 1 Timothy 3:16. Christ's human nature must be produced so as it was fit that should be which was to be taken into union with the Divine nature. And we must as Mary here guide our desires by the word of God. In all conflicts let us remember that with God nothing is impossible; and as we read and hear his promises let us turn them into prayers Behold the willing servant of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word.

Commentary on Luke 1:39-56

(Read Luke 1:39-56)

It is very good for those who have the work of grace begun in their souls to communicate one to another. On Mary's arrival Elisabeth was conscious of the approach of her who was to be the mother of the great Redeemer. At the same time she was filled with the Holy Ghost and under his influence declared that Mary and her expected child were most blessed and happy as peculiarly honoured of and dear to the Most High God. Mary animated by Elisabeth's address and being also under the influence of the Holy Ghost broke out into joy admiration and gratitude. She knew herself to be a sinner who needed a Saviour and that she could no otherwise rejoice in God than as interested in his salvation through the promised Messiah. Those who see their need of Christ and are desirous of righteousness and life in him he fills with good things with the best things; and they are abundantly satisfied with the blessings he gives. He will satisfy the desires of the poor in spirit who long for spiritual blessings while the self-sufficient shall be sent empty away.

Commentary on Luke 1:57-66

(Read Luke 1:57-66)

In these verses we have an account of the birth of John the Baptist and the great joy among all the relations of the family. He shall be called Johanan or "Gracious " because he shall bring in the gospel of Christ wherein God's grace shines most bright. Zacharias recovered his speech. Unbelief closed his mouth and believing opened it again: he believers therefore he speaks. When God opens our lips our mouths must show forth his praise; and better be without speech than not use it in praising God. It is said The hand of the Lord was working with John. God has ways of working on children in their infancy which we cannot account for. We should observe the dealings of God and wait the event.

Commentary on Luke 1:67-80

(Read Luke 1:67-80)

Zacharias uttered a prophecy concerning the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah. The gospel brings light with it; in it the day dawns. In John the Baptist it began to break and increased apace to the perfect day. The gospel is discovering; it shows that about which we were utterly in the dark; it is to give light to those that sit in darkness the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. It is reviving; it brings light to those that sit in the shadow of death as condemned prisoners in the dungeon. It is directing; it is to guide our feet in the way of peace into that way which will bring us to peace at last Romans 3:17. John gave proofs of strong faith vigorous and holy affections and of being above the fear and love of the world. Thus he ripened for usefulness; but he lived a retired life till he came forward openly as the forerunner of the Messiah. Let us follow peace with all men as well as seek peace with God and our own consciences. And if it be the will of God that we live unknown to the world still let us diligently seek to grow strong in the grace of Jesus Christ.

── Matthew HenryConcise Commentary on Luke

 

Luke 1

Verses 1-2

[1] Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us [2] Even as they delivered them unto us which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word;

This short weighty artless candid dedication belongs to the Acts as well as the Gospel of St. Luke.

Many have undertaken — He does not mean St. Matthew or Mark; and St. John did not write so early. For these were eye witnesses themselves and ministers of the word.

Verse 3

[3] It seemed good to me also having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write unto thee in order most excellent Theophilus

To write in order — St. Luke describes in order of time; first The Acts of Christ; his conception birth childhood baptism miracles preaching passion resurrection ascension: then The Acts of the Apostles. But in many smaller circumstances he does not observe the order of time.

Most excellent Theophilus — This was the appellation usually given to Roman governors. Theophilus (as the ancients inform us) was a person of eminent quality at Alexandria. In Acts 1:1 St. Luke does not give him that title. He was then probably a private man. After the preface St. Luke gives us the history of Christ from his coming into the world to his ascension into heaven.

Verse 5

[5] There was in the days of Herod the king of Judaea a certain priest named Zacharias of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elisabeth.

The course of Abia — The priests were divided into twenty - four courses of which that of Abia was the eighth 1 Chronicles 24:10. Each course ministered in its turn for seven days from Sabbath to Sabbath. And each priest of the course or set in waiting had his part in the temple service assigned him by lot.

Verse 6

[6] And they were both righteous before God walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Walking in all the moral commandments and ceremonial ordinances blameless — How admirable a character! May our behaviour be thus unblamable and our obedience thus sincere and universal!

Verse 10

[10] And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

The people were praying without at the time of the incense — So the pious Jews constantly did. And this was the foundation of that elegant figure by which prayer is in Scripture so often compared to incense. Perhaps one reason of ordaining incense might be to intimate the acceptableness of the prayer that accompanied it; as well as to remind the worshippers of that sacrifice of a sweet - smelling savour which was once to be offered to God for them and of that incense which is continually offered with the prayers of the saints upon the golden altar that is before the throne Revelation 8:3 4.

Verse 12

[12] And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled and fear fell upon him.

Zacharias was troubled — Although he was accustomed to converse with God yet we see he was thrown into a great consternation at the appearance of his angelical messenger nature not being able to sustain the sight. Is it not then an instance of the goodness is well as of the wisdom of God that the services which these heavenly spirits render us are generally invisible?

Verse 13

[13] But the angel said unto him Fear not Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son and thou shalt call his name John.

Thy prayer is heard — Let us observe with pleasure that the prayers of pious worshippers come up with acceptance before God; to whom no costly perfume is so sweet as the fragrancy of an upright heart. An answer of peace was here returned when the case seemed to be most helpless. Let us wait patiently for the Lord and leave to his own wisdom the time and manner wherein he will appear for us.

Thou shalt call his name John — John signifies the grace or favour of Jehovah. A name well suiting the person who was afterward so highly in favour with God and endued with abundance of grace; and who opened a way to the most glorious dispensation of grace in the Messiah's kingdom. And so Zacharias's former prayers for a child and the prayer which he as the representative of the people was probably offering at this very time for the appearing of the Messiah were remarkably answered in the birth of his forerunner.

Verse 15

[15] For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb.

He shall be great before the Lord — God the Father: of the Holy Ghost and the Son of God mention is made immediately after.

And shall drink neither wine nor strong drink — Shall be exemplary for abstemiousness and self-denial; and so much the more filled with the Holy Ghost.

Verse 16

[16] And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn — None therefore need be ashamed of "preaching like John the Baptist".

To the Lord their God — To Christ.

Verse 17

[17] And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

He shall go before him Christ in the power and spirit of Elijah — With the same integrity courage austerity and fervour and the same power attending his word: to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children - To reconcile those that are at variance to put an end to the most bitter quarrels such as are very frequently those between the nearest relations: and the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just - And the most obstinate sinners to true wisdom which is only found among them that are righteous before God.

Verse 18

[18] And Zacharias said unto the angel Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man and my wife well stricken in years.

Zacharias said Whereby shall I know this? — In how different a spirit did he blessed virgin say How shall this be? Zacharias disbelieved the fact: Mary had no doubt of the thing; but only inquired concerning the manner of it.

Verse 19

[19] And the angel answering said unto him I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee and to shew thee these glad tidings.

I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God — Seven angels thus stand before God Revelation 7:2; who seem the highest of all. There seems to be a remarkable gradation in the words enhancing the guilt of Zacharias's unbelief. As if he had said I am Gabriel a holy angel of God: yea one of the highest order. Not only so but am now peculiarly sent from God; and that with a message to thee in particular. Nay and to show thee glad tidings such as ought to be received with the greatest joy and readiness.

Verse 20

[20] And behold thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.

Thou shalt be dumb — The Greek word signifies deaf as well as dumb: and it seems plain that he was as unable to hear as he was to speak; for his friends were obliged to make signs to him that he might understand them Luke 1:62.

Verse 21

[21] And the people waited for Zacharias and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

The people were waiting — For him to come and dismiss them (as usual) with the blessing.

Verse 24

[24] And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived and hid herself five months saying

Hid herself — She retired from company that she might have the more leisure to rejoice and bless God for his wonderful mercy.

Verse 25

[25] Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me to take away my reproach among men.

He looked upon me to take away my reproach — Barrenness was a great reproach among the Jews. Because fruitfulness was promised to the righteous.

Verse 26

[26] And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth

In the sixth month — After Elisabeth had conceived.

Verse 27

[27] To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

Espoused — It was customary among the Jews for persons that married to contract before witnesses some time before. And as Christ was to be born of a pure virgin so the wisdom of God ordered it to be of one espoused that to prevent reproach he might have a reputed father according to the flesh.

Verse 28

[28] And the angel came in unto her and said Hail thou that art highly favoured the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Hail thou highly favoured; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women — Hail is the salutation used by our Lord to the women after his resurrection: thou art highly favoured or hast found favour with God Luke 1:30 is no more than was said of Noah Moses and David. The Lord is with thee was said to Gideon Judges 6:12; and blessed shall she be above women of Jael Judges 5:24. This salutation gives no room for any pretence of paying adoration to the virgin; as having no appearance of a prayer or of worship offered to her.

Verse 32

[32] He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

He shall be called the Son of the Highest — In this respect also: and that in a more eminent sense than any either man or angel can be called so.

The Lord shall give him the throne of his father David — That is the spiritual kingdom of which David's was a type.

Verse 33

[33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

He shall reign over the house of Jacob — In which all true believers are included.

Verse 35

[35] And the angel answered and said unto her The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee — The power of God was put forth by the Holy Ghost as the immediate Divine agent in this work: and so he exerted the power of the Highest as his own power who together with the Father and the Son is the most high God.

Therefore also — Not only as he is God from eternity but on this account likewise he shall be called the Son of God.

Verse 36

[36] And behold thy cousin Elisabeth she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

And behold thy cousin Elisabeth — Though Elisabeth was of the house of Aaron and Mary of the house of David by the fathers side they might be related by their mothers. For the law only forbad heiresses marrying into another tribe. And so other persons continually intermarried; particularly the families of David and of Levi.

Verse 38

[38] And Mary said Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

And Mary said Behold the handmaid of the Lord — It is not improbable that this time of the virgin's humble faith consent and expectation might be the very time of her conceiving.

Verse 39

[39] And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda;

A city of Judah — Probably Hebron which was situated in the hill country of Judea and belonged to the house of Aaron.

Verse 41

[41] And it came to pass that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

When Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary — The discourse with which she saluted her giving an account of what the angel had said the joy of her soul so affected her body that the very child in her womb was moved in an uncommon manner as if it leaped for joy.

Verse 45

[45] And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Happy is she that believed — Probably she had in her mind the unbelief of Zacharias.

Verse 46

[46] And Mary said My soul doth magnify the Lord

And Mary said — Under a prophetic impulse several things which perhaps she herself did not then fully understand.

Verse 47

[47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour — She seems to turn her thoughts here to Christ himself who was to be born of her as the angel had told her he should be the Son of the Highest whose name should be Jesus the Saviour. And she rejoiced in hope of salvation through faith in him which is a blessing common to all true believers more than in being his mother after the flesh which was an honour peculiar to her. And certainly she had the same reason to rejoice in God her Saviour hat we have: because he had regarded the low estate of his handmaid in like manner as he regarded our low estate; and vouchsafed to come and save her and us when we were reduced to the lowest estate of sin and misery.

Verse 51

[51] He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath wrought strength with his arm — That is he hath shown the exceeding greatness of his power. She speaks prophetically of those things as already done which God was about to do by the Messiah.

He hath scattered the proud — Visible and invisible.

Verse 52

[52] He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree.

He hath put down the mighty — Both angels and men.

Verse 54

[54] He hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy;

He hath helped his servant Israel — By sending the Messiah.

Verse 55

[55] As he spake to our fathers to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

To his seed — His spiritual seed: all true believers.

Verse 56

[56] And Mary abode with her about three months and returned to her own house.

Mary returned to her own house — And thence soon after to Bethlehem.

Verse 60

[60] And his mother answered and said Not so; but he shall be called John.

His mother said — Doubtless by revelation or a particular impulse from God.

Verse 66

[66] And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts saying What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

The hand of the Lord — The peculiar power and blessing of God.

Verse 67

[67] And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied saying

And Zacharias prophesied — Of things immediately to follow. But it is observable he speaks of Christ chiefly; of John only as it were incidentally.

Verse 69

[69] And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

A horn — Signifies honour plenty and strength.

A horn of salvation — That is a glorious and mighty Saviour.

Verse 70

[70] As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began:

His prophets who have been since the world began — For there were prophets from the very beginning.

Verse 74

[74] That he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear

To serve him without fear — Without any slavish fear. Here is the substance of the great promise. That we shall be always holy always happy: that being delivered from Satan and sin from every uneasy and unholy temper we shall joyfully love and serve God in every thought word and work.

Verse 76

[76] And thou child shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

And thou child — He now speaks to John; yet not as a parent but as a prophet.

Verse 77

[77] To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins

To give knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins — The knowledge of the remission of our sins being the grand instrument of present and eternal salvation Hebrews 8:11 12. But the immediate sense of the words seems to be to preach to them the Gospel doctrine of salvation by the remission of their sins.

Verse 78

[78] Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us

The day spring — Or the rising sun; that is Christ.

── John ‘WesleyExplanatory Notes on Luke

 

Chapter 1.

Glorify the Lord
Rejoice in God

I. The Zechariah Couple

  1. Both Are Righteous
  2. Have No Child
  3. Your Prayer Is Answered

II. Mary of Nazareth

  1. Favored Virgin
  2. Sharing and Fellowship
  3. Sing and Praise

III. The Praise of Zechariah

  1. The Birth of John
  2. The Song of Salvation
  3. Serve All His Life
── Chih-Hsin ChangAn Outline of The New Testament