In both cases, the praise of God spoken before others was done in such a way as to edify and encourage those who heard. Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Jan 18th, 2023. After the announcement is made (Lk 1:1417, 3133) the parent objects (Lk 1:18, 34) and a sign is given to confirm the announcement (Lk 1:20, 36). In the course of performing his duty, the angel Gabriel appeared to him while he was inside the holy place. She would have been separated from Joseph, while at the same time being chaperoned by Elizabeth and Zachariah. Rather than having to try to explain to Elizabeth what the angel had said to her about the virgin birth of her son, Messiah, Mary learned that Elizabeth already knew. 11 Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense. Q. 3 Pilate put to him this question, 'Are you the king of the Jews?'. 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. 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me holy is his name. Many have observed the similarities of this Magnificat of Mary to the hymn of praise of Hanna in 1 Samuel chapter 2. 60but his mother said in reply, No. There is no mention in this account of how Messiah will come to earth. Finally, we should strive to see beyond the birth of the baby to the end for which the child cameto restore and reconcile fallen men to God and to one another. For less than $5/mo. Third, the account which Luke has provided us of Marys intimate worship, shared only with Elizabeth, should instruct and motivate us in the disciplines of discipleship. God has not just singled Mary out for blessing, leaving others in their miserable estate. . Neither, Elizabeth, Mary, nor Luke refer to the fetus in Marys womb, while we are specifically told that John leaped in his mothers womb when Elizabeth heard Marys greeting (Luke 1:41). 31n Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. Second, the praise of Elizabeth and Mary provide us with a model for our own worship and praise. 2:11-21). 8 Now it happened that it was the turn of his section to serve, and he was exercising his priestly office before God. . 39 Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah. Mary was not sinless; recognized her need for a Savior. She rejoices in God, who is her Savior (v. 47). Some may question how a simple peasant-girl may have such a grasp of the Old Testament. For less than $5/mo. Grace is the essence of true doctrine and the antidote to that which is false. Luke . We are led to the conclusion that Marys praise was spoken in the hearing of Elizabeth, just as Elizabeths praise was spoken to God, but for Marys benefit. If Catholic Online has given you $5.00 worth of knowledge this year, take a minute to donate. Chapter 23 . To all our readers, Please don't scroll past this. He continued as king until his death in 4 B.C. 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. "For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;". There were now two witnesses. There are those who have distorted the truth of Gods word about Mary, and rather than regarding her blessed above all women, have honored her as above mankind, worshipping her and praying to her as though she were on the level of deity, or even above Messiah. The book of Revelation speaks much of these themes, and prophesies their fulfillment. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. How gracious God is in what He does not tell us, as well in what He does. 27to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgins name was Mary.l (5) Elizabeth praises God for much more than those things that Zachariah was told. 39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 8-9). Used by permission. And the angel departed from her. 4 He approached the chief priests and the . 22 When he came out he could not speak to them, and they realised that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry (Luke 6:20-21a; 24-25). 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth. 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. We arent told that the angel informed Mary that the child which was to be born to Elizabeth was to be the forerunner of Messiah. Luke - Chapter 22. The nativity and circumcision of John. While this may not refer only to the saving work which Messiah will come to accomplish, surely it includes it. He is cast, moreover, in the role of the Old Testament fiery reformer, the prophet Elijah, who according to Mal 3:23 (Mal 4:5) is sent before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.. We should strive to be students of Gods Word, meditating on its terms and theology, seeking to be obedient to its imperatives and its implications. 98% of our readers don't give; they simply look the other way. The miracle of the virgin birth, which is the basis and the starting point of the praise of these two women, is analogous to the miracle of the new birth which every man, woman, and child must experience to have eternal life and to live the kind of life which our Lord requires. Thus Mary quickly prepared and left to visit her relative living in an unnamed village17 in the hill country of Judah (v. 39). ', 46 And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. Let us ponder them. Several observations concerning Elizabeths response to the arrival of Mary will help us to grasp the magnificence of this woman, as I believe Luke intended us to do. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Mary grasped the camels and the religious leaders only grasped at the gnats.. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among . 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. And the angel left her. 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. 1 a Now the feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, * was drawing near, 2 b and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a way to put him to death, for they were afraid of the people. There are a number of ways in which the worship of these two women relate to contemporary Christians. Luke 1:39-56 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition Mary Visits Elizabeth Announcement of the Birth of Jesus. It is my opinion is that Mary became pregnant during the time she way staying with Elizabeth and Zachariah. At the beginning of his two-volume work Luke shows those who play crucial roles in the inauguration of Christianity to be wholly a part of the people of Israel. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.g Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 30 but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1975 [reprint]), p. 84. One cannot read the Magnificat of Mary without realizing that she has drawn deeply from the terminology and the theology of the Old Testament. 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. (4) In verses 51-55, Marys praise focuses on the faithfulness of God to His promises and His purposes, especially His covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Bridgeway Bible Commentary. Mary has a great breadth of understanding. 9 when it fell to him by lot, as the priestly custom was, to enter the Lord's sanctuary and burn incense there. Mary Visits Elizabeth. THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO LUKE [22:14-23:56] The people may sit for the first part of the . Mary was totally free to share the details of the angels revelation, without any hesitation. This is not so. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. New International Version (NIV). * [1:6879] Like the canticle of Mary (Lk 1:4655) the canticle of Zechariah is only loosely connected with its context. Bible. [1:48] 11:27; 1Sm 1:11; 2Sm 16:12; 2Kgs 14:26; Ps 113:7. z. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. While this is certainly true, Mary chose to focus on what the child would be and accomplish as an adult, and not what her child would be as a child. * [1:19] I am Gabriel: the angel of the Lord is identified as Gabriel, the angel who in Dn 9:2025 announces the seventy weeks of years and the coming of an anointed one, a prince. c. [1:52] 1Sm 2:7; 2Sm 22:28; Jb 5:11; 12:19; Ps 147:6; Sir 10:14; Jas 4:6; 1Pt 5:5. f. [1:55] Gn 13:15; 17:7; 18:18; 22:1718; Mi 7:20. k. [1:68] 7:16; Ps 41:13; 72:18; 106:48; 111:9. n. [1:7273] Gn 17:7; Lv 26:42; Ps 105:89; Mi 7:20. r. [1:76] Is 40:3; Mal 3:1; Mt 3:3; 11:10. 14 He will be your joy and delight and many will rejoice at his birth. 53The hungry he has filled with good things; 55according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.f. 25So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.k. Nevertheless she assumes throughout that He has indeed been promised her. 1 Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have reached their fulfilment among us. 63He asked for a tablet and wrote, John is his name, and all were amazed. Mary understood the great themes of the Old Testament, such as Gods mercy and compassion, Gods concern for the poor and the helpless. She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. At this time the social order will under a radical and violent reversal. Colossians 4:10-11 and 4:14 show that he wasn't Jewish, because he was not included in the group who are of the circumcision. 59 Now it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother spoke up. I believe that Elizabeth knew from the Scriptures that Messiah would be both human and divine, and that He would be born of a virgin. I believe that Elizabeth is a prototype of her son in this regard. The point I wish to make here is that the restrictions which the New Testament makes on women and their role in public worship are not detrimental to the spiritual life and development of women. This is why the Lord Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again, even though he was a prominent teacher in Israel (cf. The births of Abraham (Genesis 12-21), Samuel (1 Samuel 1 & 2), and Samson (Judges 13), are examples of such miraculous births. 41When Elizabeth heard Marys greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 56Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. It is my personal opinion, however, that she is no just a mere mouthpiece for the Holy Spirit, who has had no knowledge of what God was doing. We must seek to dwell much more on the character of God, of His covenant promises, and of His working in history, as well as in the future. Is Divorce And Remarriage After Abuse, Neglect, Financial, Or Emotional Issues Okay. 62 and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. (6) Mary is a model disciple in her evident reflection and meditation on the things of God. We might suspect that the limitations of biblical revelation, compounded by those of the culture, would have made womanhood a curse. And he lived in the desert until the day he appeared openly to Israel. * [1:17] He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah: John is to be the messenger sent before Yahweh, as described in Mal 3:12. 3 He said to them, 'Take nothing for the journey: neither staff, nor haversack, nor bread, nor money; and do not have a spare tunic. Luke 1:39-56: Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. * 76 And you, little child, you shall be called Prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare a way for him. There is no hint that she thinks God has chosen her to be the mother of Messiah due to her blessedness, but rather that her blessedness is the result of Gods sovereign and gracious choice to use her as His instrument. (O)53He has filled the hungry with good things(P)but has sent the rich away empty.54He has helped his servant Israel,remembering to be merciful(Q)55to Abraham and his descendants(R) forever,just as he promised our ancestors.. 43And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. n. [1:31] Gn 16:11; Jgs 13:3; Is 7:14; Mt 1:2123. 70even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: 71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,m, 73and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father,p. 50 and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him. She is a woman who had a good grasp of what God was doing in history and in society. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones. Before we begin to deal with our text, there are some introductory comments which may prove to be helpful. 3 c Then Satan entered into Judas, * the one surnamed Iscariot, who was counted among the Twelve, d 4 and he went to the chief priests and temple guards to . Daily Bible Readings, Podcast Audio and Videos and Prayers brought to you by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.. We know now that this includes both His first and His second comings. Mary and Elizabeths praise of God went much further than just gratitude for the gift of a child. 63 The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, 'His name is John.' 69 and he has established for us a saving power in the House of his servant David. In other words, Marys praise does not focus on the immediate blessedness of her having this child, but on the ultimate outcome of the coming of Messiah. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. 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. To press the matter further, I doubt that Mary understood that the redemptive purpose of Christs first coming would be accomplished by His death on a cross, death at the hands of wicked men. 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. She did not have any social standing due to her parentage or class, nor even the dignity of Elizabeth and Zacharias age. Catholic Public Domain Version . 16and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 65Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. Mary may not be all that some have held her to be, but she is a magnificent model of discipleship. Even this is a manifestation of Gods grace, for at this early point in time such knowledge would only have caused Mary unnecessary and premature pain. 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. How many Apostles were there? Perhaps there is a hint here that the words of Marys hymn are divinely inspired, but that the work is her composition, her work of praise and devotion, in response to the revelation of the angel. John will go before the Lord (Lk 1:1617); Jesus will be Lord (Lk 1:43; 2:11). 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. Copyright 2019-2023 USCCB, please review our Privacy Policy. You shall name him John: the name means Yahweh has shown favor, an indication of Johns role in salvation history. Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to Luke 1:39-56. One wonders how much that Elizabeth came directly from the Spirit of God, and how much originated from her own grasp of the Scriptures. Zacharias returned home to his wife, who kept herself in seclusion for five months (vv. Today, we humbly ask you to defend Catholic Online's independence. 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. 1 The whole assembly then rose, and they brought him before Pilate. Mary viewed all of Gods dealings in the light of His grace; the religious leaders only thought in terms of human works. Our praise tends to be based almost exclusively on our pleasant and pleasurable experiences. 57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son; 58 and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had lavished on her his faithful love, they shared her joy. Study Notes - Luke 1 39-56. 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. 39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 44For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. Luke - Chapter 1. 39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,(A) 40where she entered Zechariahs home and greeted Elizabeth. 2 as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word. According to Luke, the virginal conception of Jesus takes place through the holy Spirit, the power of God, and therefore Jesus has a unique relationship to Yahweh: he is Son of God. Women may be limited so far as their public ministry is concerned, but not so far as their spirituality and intimacy with God is concerned. 67. How shallow our prayers and praise seem when compared with that of these two godly women. 23 When his time of service came to an end he returned home. Like mother, like son. 13-17). Zachariah was told that his prayer (a prayer, I assume, for the coming of Messiah) had been answered, and that he and his wife would have the privilege and pleasure of bearing the son who would prepare the way for Messiahs appearance (vv. Women seemed only fit for fixing meals and bearing children. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, Getting Spiritually Fit 1 ( Corinthians 9:24-27), Steps to Biblical Reconciliation (Luke 17:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21). Here and in Lk 3:12 he connects his narrative with events in Palestinian history; in Lk 2:12 and Lk 3:1 he casts the Jesus story in the light of events of Roman history. Holy is his name. Elizabeths words far surpass the revelation which we are told Gabriel gave to Zacharias. 24 Some time later his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept to herself, saying, 25 'The Lord has done this for me, now that it has pleased him to take away the humiliation I suffered in public.'. Marys praise was addressed to God, but in adoring God she also encouraged and edified Elizabeth, just as Elizabeths praise encouraged her. Perhaps a few women, blessed by financial prosperity and social standing, may have been able to enjoy some of the benefits of the male world. 78 because of the faithful love of our God in which the rising Sun has come from on high to visit us. Mary was steeped in the poetical literature of her nation, and accordingly her hymn also bears the unmistakable signs of it.19. The Magnificat is based on the Song of Hannah (1 Sam 2.1-10), and other Old Testament passages that describe Gods favor toward Israel and especially toward the poor and lowly. (K)50His mercy extends to those who fear him,from generation to generation. The connection of the phrase with the house of David gives the title messianic overtones and may indicate an allusion to a phrase in Hannahs song of praise (1Sm 2:10), the horn of his anointed.. [1:51] Ps 89:10; 118:15; Jer 32:17 (39:17 LXX). Apart from Lk 1:7677, the hymn in speaking of a horn for our salvation (Lk 1:69) and the daybreak from on high (Lk 1:78) applies more closely to Jesus and his work than to John. Elizabeth was the wife of an obscure priest. 22But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. 55 -according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever. Salvation is Gods miraculous work in us, producing new life. To those who lived far away from the Holy Land, the name of this unknown place was unimportant. . Mary understood that the good news of Messiahs coming would result in great social reversals. Bible. Mary is a model disciple. 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.'.

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