The scribes and Pharisees, however, seemed only to grasp a few of the particulars, but missed the plan. Peter momentarily forgot that the gospel is inseparably linked with certain social obligations, and thus Paul had to rebuke him (cf. Start your free trial today! 37for nothing will be impossible for God.r Second, the praise of Elizabeth and Mary provide us with a model for our own worship and praise. Gabriel had informed Zacharias that the child would be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mothers womb (Luke 1:15). And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and He continued in to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51, emphasis mine). CHAPTER 22. We will begin by focusing on Elizabeth, as Luke does, and on her response to the arrival of Mary, the mother-to-be of Messiah. He stated that he had investigated "everything from the beginning" and was editing the material into . Luke 1:39-56 . 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. * [1:4655] Although Mary is praised for being the mother of the Lord and because of her belief, she reacts as the servant in a psalm of praise, the Magnificat. Elizabeth also readily acknowledged the superior blessing bestowed on Mary, and rejoiced in it. Mary is not a model for disciples in being the mother of Messiah. Just as Marys response surpasses that of Zachariah, so the greatness of the miracle of the virgin birth of Messiah will exceed the miracle which produces a son for the elderly priest and his wife. 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. 17 With the spirit and power of Elijah, he will go before him to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the good sense of the upright, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him. (5) Elizabeth praises God for much more than those things that Zachariah was told. His self-righteousness is evident in the psalm of chapter 2, which dwells on his dilemma, his danger, and his deliverance, but not on God. Mary saw her blessing as but an illustration, one instance of Gods grace, which leads her to praise God for His grace to all those who fear Him, from one generation to generation. Elizabeth already knew, believed, and rejoiced in the truth of God, spoken through Gabriel. The Wonder Of Christmas. I believe that Charles Talbert is correct in viewing Mary as a model disciple.21 Let us consider some of the ways in which Mary provides us with a model of discipleship. It is so strong that some are tempted to view Elizabeth as the composer of the Magnificat, and not Mary. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. There are many nominal Christians who are tying to live an impossible (miraculous) life, yet who have not been miraculously born again. I fear some of you may be trying to live a miraculous life, but who have not had the prerequisite new birth. May I exhort you to experience this new birth through faith in Christ this very hour. Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed. At this time the social order will under a radical and violent reversal. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Far more important to Luke is her virginity, for this is an essential element in the virgin birth. Even the church has made its concessions to the womens liberation movement. . The language of our praise should betray a continual soaking in the Scriptures and meditation on the terms and theology of the Bible. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.i These were the themes of the Old Testament prophets. 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth. 11the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. He will be called John.i 56Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. When one thinks of the women of the ancient world, our first emotional response is usually pity. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be[a] a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. 46And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;49for he who is mighty has done great things for me,and holy is his name.50And his mercy is on those who fear himfrom generation to generation.51He has shown strength with his arm,he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,52he has put down the mighty from their thrones,and exalted those of low degree;53he has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich he has sent empty away.54He has helped his servant Israel,in remembrance of his mercy,55as he spoke to our fathers,to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.[b]. Chapter 9 . 17 The term which is rendered city (a city of Judah, v. 39) is one that is very broad, and does not really indicate the size of the place. They were not, however, the themes of the scribes and Pharisees. Mary has a great breadth of understanding. b. (8) Marys theology, as reflected in her Magnificat is vastly superior to that of the scribes and Pharisees, who would become the arch enemies of our Lord. . The Nutcracker - Four Realms / Four Reminders. She would have been separated from Joseph, while at the same time being chaperoned by Elizabeth and Zachariah. 14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, When you ponder the specific results of Messiahs incarnation as outlined in Marys Magnificat they have to do with what we know of as Christs second coming, more than with His first coming. 51-52). 53 He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty. Mary visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56) With the time drawing near when Elizabeth would give birth, Mary travelled south to visit her. The fact that the worship of these women was more restricted than that of men is no hindrance to their spiritual growth and development. And it came about while He said these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice, and said to Him, Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts at which You nursed. But He said, On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it (Luke 11:27-28). Elizabeths words far surpass the revelation which we are told Gabriel gave to Zacharias. NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. "For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;". Geldenhuys has remarked, It strikes us that Mary in this hymn does not utter a direct word in connection with the Son promised to her. Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Marys Magnificat focuses on much more than just her own blessing in the bearing of Messiah. There is no such thing as a purely 'spiritual' love. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; 33 he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end. 14 He will be your joy and delight and many will rejoice at his birth. There are many today who seem to think that they can live according to the standards and principles of the Bible by setting their minds to it. Revelation 21 Seems To Be After The Millennium Where It Says There Will Be No Pain Or Tears. In this, Luke agrees with the Marcan parallel (Mk 3:31-35), although by omitting Mk 3:33 and especially Mk 3:20-21 Luke has softened the Marcan picture of Jesus' natural family. 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; 48 because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. The marginal references in our Bibles indicate the many other allusions and parallels. Mary is a model disciple. Luis A. Zazano May 30, 2021. How encouraging the greeting of Elizabeth must have been to Mary. Catholic Online. 1. This is a very poorly supported theory, and one which can be rather quickly set aside. 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Here we see the meeting of two mothers, eager to support and help each other at a time of major change in their lives. It is my opinion is that Mary became pregnant during the time she way staying with Elizabeth and Zachariah. All rights reserved worldwide. And the angel departed from her. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. She may have been rehearsing what she would say to Elizabeth when she first saw her. 45 Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled. The same principle applies on a different level. Mary understood that Israels hope was rooted in the Abrahamic Covenant, not in the Mosaic. ii. Luke 1:56 Catholic Bible 41 Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. John chapter 3). When we look back at Lukes report of what Zacharias was told by Gabriel, it was simply that the son God was giving him and his wife would be the forerunner of Messiah. Nevertheless, others have reacted to this error by failing to see this woman as a model disciple. 56 Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home. * [1:34] Marys questioning response is a denial of sexual relations and is used by Luke to lead to the angels declaration about the Spirits role in the conception of this child (Lk 1:35). An aged priest has less faith than a young peasant girl, and thus Elizabeths blessing of Mary for her faith in Gods promise contains a mild rebuke for her doubting husband, who did not believe Gabriels words. In all of these cases we must remember that Luke purposefully chose, under the guidance and control of the Holy Spirit, either to include or to exclude various details. Gal. 65Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. Start for FREE. 45Blessed are you who believed* that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.u, The Canticle of Mary. How, then, did Elizabeth know that Jesus would be born of a virgin, and that the virgin was none other than her relative, Mary? Marys praise was addressed to God, but in adoring God she also encouraged and edified Elizabeth, just as Elizabeths praise encouraged her. There was so much that women could not do, or at least were not allowed to do. The immediate faith and submission of Mary, a simple and very young peasant girl, to the will of God is contrasted with the hesitant request of Zachariah for a sign, a man who was a priest all his many years of life. 12 The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear. 98% of our readers don't give; they simply look the other way. Gods compassion on her has revealed both His power and His holiness (Mighty One, holy is His name, v. 49). The hungry will be fed and the well-fed will be hungry. James 2:1-13; 5:1-12). And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. In the course of performing his duty, the angel Gabriel appeared to him while he was inside the holy place. So far as Lukes account informs us, Mary was only told that her elderly relative had conceived in her old age, which testified to the fact that nothing was impossible for God (Luke 1:36-37). And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him. The gospel in Luke 1:39-56 is a clear manifestation that Mary during he life supported her Son to the very end. 22 When he came out he could not speak to them, and they realised that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. Luke's two-part narrative, his Gospel and his Acts of the Apostles, gives a somewhat different perspective on Jesus' final days from the narratives of Matthew, Mark, or John. 16and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. These things are still future for us, as they were for Mary, for they will be accomplished at the second coming of our Lord. Mary may not be all that some have held her to be, but she is a magnificent model of discipleship. Luke is not only interested in the words and deeds of Jesus, but also in the larger context of the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus as the fulfillment of the promises of God in the Old Testament. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. If a woman past the childbearing age could become pregnant, why, the angel implies, should there be doubt about Marys pregnancy, for nothing will be impossible for God. I am an old man and my wife is getting on in years.'. h. [1:17] Sir 48:10; Mal 3:1; 3:2324; Mt 11:14; 17:1113. 35And the angel said to her in reply, The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Since you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time, you will be silenced and have no power of speech until this has happened.'. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. I will not pursue this in any detail here, but let me point out several areas of contrast between Marys theology, her understanding of the Old Testament, and that of the scribes and Pharisees. Matt. Cancel. And they were all astonished. This principle may be stated in this way: A MIRACULOUS PERSON BEGINS WITH A MIRACULOUS BIRTH. Our salvation comes about in the same way that Marys baby was conceivedtotally by the sovereign work of God, apart from any effort which Mary might make. * [1:13] Do not be afraid: a stereotyped Old Testament phrase spoken to reassure the recipient of a heavenly vision (Gn 15:1; Jos 1:9; Dn 10:12, 19 and elsewhere in Lk 1:30; 2:10). Our praise during this Christmas season should especially be patterned after that of Mary, who did not focus on the tiny baby that she would soon hold in her arms, but in the God who sent Messiah and in the goal of His coming earth. 19 The angel replied, 'I am Gabriel, who stand in God's presence, and I have been sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. First, it should be noted that there are several things which Luke has not told us, which we might like to know, but will not find in this inspired account. How shallow our prayers and praise seem when compared with that of these two godly women. Ps 18:46; Isa 17:10; 61:10; Hab 3:18; 1Ti 1:1; 2:3; 4:10, Ge 11:8; Ex 18:11; 2Sa 22:28; Jer 13:9; 49:16, NIV, Journal the Word Bible, Double-Column, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Reflect, Take Notes, or Create Art Next to Your Favorite Verses, NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow Gods Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Revelation, Paperback, Comfort Print, NIV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation, NIV, Story of Jesus: Experience the Life of Jesus as One Seamless Story. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry (Luke 6:20-21a; 24-25). Thank you. Let us ponder them. The prophecy of Zachariah, both of Jesus, 76. and of John. Ignatius Catholic Bible (RSV): Compact Edition - Imitation leather, Burgundy with Zipper, The Revised Standard Version Catholic Bible, Compact Ed. The naming of the child John and Zechariahs recovery from his loss of speech should be understood as fulfilling the angels announcement to Zechariah in Lk 1:13, 20. For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years. The Conspiracy Against Jesus. In His ministry the Lord Jesus would expand on he social themes of Marys Magnificat: And turning His gaze on His disciples, He began to say, Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. It is my opinion that the town in which Elizabeth and her husband lived was merely a village, too. 1 The feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was now drawing near, 2 and the chief priests and the scribes were looking for some way of doing away with him, because they were afraid of the people. 13:9). This includes the immediate goal of redemption and salvation, but it especially includes the setting right of those things which are unjust and evil. They strained the gnats but they swallowed the camels. * [1:59] The practice of Palestinian Judaism at this time was to name the child at birth; moreover, though naming a male child after the father is not completely unknown, the usual practice was to name the child after the grandfather (see Lk 1:61). Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. 34But Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?* From now on all generations will call me blessed. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. 75 to serve him in holiness and uprightness in his presence, all our days. * She knows the true mystery beyond His death so she bear it. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. Your wife Elizabeth is to bear you a son and you shall name him John. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. As a second- or third-generation Christian, Luke acknowledges his debt to earlier eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, but claims that his contribution to this developing tradition is a complete and accurate account, told in an orderly manner, and intended to provide Theophilus (friend of God, literally) and other readers with certainty about earlier teachings they have received. In contrast to the psalm of Jonah in Jonah chapter 2, which we have recently considered,18 the psalm of Mary is a magnificent masterpiece. That which she speaks far surpasses what we are told Gabriel said to Zacharias. There is no mention as to whether or not Mary was pregnant when she first arrived at the home of Elizabeth and Zachariah. (N)52He has brought down rulers from their thronesbut has lifted up the humble. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. Lk 1:76 where John is described as prophet of the Most High. Most High is a title for God commonly used by Luke (Lk 1:35, 76; 6:35; 8:28; Acts 7:48; 16:17). Read the Bible, discover plans, and seek God every day. Since Hannahs circumstances more closely parallel those of Elizabeth, some have drawn the hasty conclusion that it was she, rather than Mary, who composed this hymn of praise. 79 to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow dark as death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. The Israelites felt that their physical link with Abraham was sufficient to save them, but they were wrong, and John would later challenge this false belief (Luke 3:8). The women seemed only fit for fixing meals and bearing children. (39) The hill country . 28And coming to her, he said, Hail, favored one! She looks at the long range, not the short term. 66All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. Marys praise began with her own experience, but quickly linked this with Gods character and actions in the past (His ways) and then with His covenant and promises regarding the future. 21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were surprised that he stayed in the sanctuary so long. 5 In the days of King Herod of Judaea there lived a priest called Zechariah who belonged to the Abijah section of the priesthood, and he had a wife, Elizabeth by name, who was a descendant of Aaron. Mary grasped the camels and the religious leaders only grasped at the gnats.. (:48a) State of Elevation from Humble Standing. gain access to 50+ premium resources to enhance your study of Scripture. 21 Charles H. Talbert, Reading Luke: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the Third Gospel (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1982), p. 22. Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. The Birth of John. Mary dwells on the character of God, particularly His grace, which is bestowed on the humble and the oppressed. Nevertheless, it is our conviction that the principles of the New Testament church are as relevant and binding today as they were in Pauls day. 29But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. * [1:14] The Gospel according to Luke is the only one of the synoptic gospels to begin with a literary prologue. get to know the Bible better! * [1:43] Even before his birth, Jesus is identified in Luke as the Lord. She views this event in terms of the distant past, in terms of the covenant promises of God, in terms of the history of Israel, where Gods mercy was shown on generation after generation, and in terms of the distant future, when at His second coming Messiah will set things straight. They forget that all pious Israelites from their childhood days knew by heart songs from the Old Testament and often sang them in the home circle and at celebrations. 69 and he has established for us a saving power in the House of his servant David. Priestly division of Abijah: a reference to the eighth of the twenty-four divisions of priests who, for a week at a time, twice a year, served in the Jerusalem temple. But the textual evidence in support of Mary is overwhelming. Leon Morris, The Gospel According To St. Luke, The Tyndale Bible Commentary Series, R. V. G. Tasker, General Editor (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1974), p. 75. 67. For less than $5/mo. Let us bear in mind, however, that Luke has not told us this was the case. (H)From now on all generations will call me blessed,(I)49for the Mighty One has done great things(J) for meholy is his name. a city of Juda.--The description is too vague to be identified with any certainty. Salvation does not result from our efforts, which God miraculously blesses. (3) In verse 50 Marys praise broadens, viewing Gods grace to her as a reflection of His gracious purposes for His chosen people, Israel. 40 She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. I believe that the similarity of the Magnificat to Hannas praise has the effect of encouraging Elizabeth, whose personal praise focuses on Mary, and not on her own joy in having a son in her old age. Study Notes - Luke 1 39-56. get to know the Bible better! 8 Now it happened that it was the turn of his section to serve, and he was exercising his priestly office before God.

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