_THE PREFACE OF ST. LUKE TO HIS WHOLE GOSPEL. THE CONCEPTION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, AND OF CHRIST. THE PROPHESY OF ELISABETH, AND OF MARY CONCERNING CHRIST. THE NATIVITY AND CIRCUMCISION OF JOHN. THE PROPHESY OF ZACHARIAS CONCERNING BOTH CHRIST AND JOHN._ _Year of the world 4004._... [ Continue Reading ]
FORASMUCH, &C.— _Forasmuch as many have undertaken to compose a narrative of those things which have been accomplished amongst us,_ Luke 1:2 _as they who were from the beginning eye witnesses, and afterwards ministers of the word, delivered them to us;_ Luke 1:3. _I have also determined, having exac... [ Continue Reading ]
MINISTERS OF THE WORD;— Some have supposed, that by _the word,_ St. Luke meant Christ himself. See John 1:1. Others however underhand by _the word,_ the transactions of our Lord's public life or the gospel; called _the word,_ as being the great subject of the preaching of the apostles, who were eye... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING HAD PERFECT UNDERSTANDING—FROM THE VERY FIRST, &C.— _By tracing them from their first rise._ Παρηκολουθηκοτι πασιν ακριβως, plainly signifies that accuracy of investigation, on which the perfect understanding of his subject was built. To _write in order,_ may signify to give a particular deta... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREIN THOU HAST BEEN INSTRUCTED.— Κατηχηθης, the original word, expresses with great accuracy the instructions given to those whowere training up for admission into the Christian church, whose name of_catechumens_ was derived hence, and applied without any particular regard to the age of the perso... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE DAYS OF HEROD, &C.— See on Matthew 2:1. The descendants of Aaron multiplied to such a degree, that they could not all do duty in the temple at once; David therefore divided them into twenty-four courses, who ministered weekly in their turns. The time of their ministration was, called εφημερια... [ Continue Reading ]
IN ALL THE COMMANDMENTS AND ORDINANCES— The critics are generally agreed that these words signify, the one the moral, the other the ceremonial precepts of the law; butthey are greatly divided in fixing the particular sense of each. The truth is, undoubted examples may be produced, to prove that both... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS LOT— Because some parts of the sacred service were more honourable than others, both the priests and Levites divided the whole among them by lot. The Jews tell us, that there were three priests employed about the service of the incense; one carried away the ashes left on the altar at the precedi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WHOLE MULTITUDE, &C.— Because it sometimes happened, that, on ordinary week-days, few or none of the people attended the morning and evening sacrifices, there were four and twenty men employed to attend this service, as representatives of the people of Israel, to lay their hands on the heads of... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE APPEARED UNTO HIM AN ANGEL— It is altogether uncertain whether this happened at the morning or evening sacrifice. Grotius thinks it was in the morning; others fancy it was in the evening; but neither opinion is properly supported. It is observable from the rabbinical writings, that these divin... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS TROUBLED, &C.— That is, according to the Hebrew idiom, _he was exceedingly afraid._ The angel's form was such, as shewed him plainly to be a being of a superior nature. See Judges 13:6. But Zacharias knew not on what errand he was come: no wonder then that he was exceedingly terrified.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY PRAYER IS HEARD;— We cannot imagine that this holy man, at so advanced an age, and on such an occasion, would pray for the pregnancy of his wife, who was very old. The priests in this office considered themselves as the mouth of the people, and made the welfare of the nation the subject of their... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL BE GREAT, &C.— By this some understand that true greatness, whereof God is the sovereign judge, in opposition to that greatness which men acknowledge, who very often err in their opinion of things. "He shall be great in the sight of God, not of man." But _great in the sight of God_ seems to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL GO BEFORE HIM, &C.— That is, before Jesus Christ, here stiled _the Lord their God._ The son of Zacharias had the _spirit of Elijah,_ equalling if not exceeding him in severity of manners, in courage, and in sustaining persecutions; for he was clad in a garment of camel's hair, fed on lo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ZACHARIAS SAID, &C.— In the Old Testament there are instances of holy men, who, on occasions like this, spake as Zacharias is said to have done; and who, instead of being reproved, are greatly commended for their faith. (Compare Genesis 15:8 with Romans 4:19.) Nevertheless, the treatment which h... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM GABRIEL, THAT STAND, &C.— As much as to say, "I am the angel Gabriel, the same _servant of God_ (so the name signifies, being by interpretation _vir Dei,_—a _man_ or _servant of God_) who, as the Scripture informs thee, appeared anciently to the prophet Daniel, with a message concerning the Mes... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT BE DUMB, AND NOT ABLE TO SPEAK,— The affirmation of a thing joined with the denial of its contrary, is an idiom peculiar to the Jewish language, and is the strongest affirmation possible. The style of St. John is remarkable for the frequency of this idiom. See on Luke 1:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE WAITED FOR ZACHARIAS,— They waited for his blessing, and could not imagine what had detained him so much longer than usual. See Numbers 6. 23-27. Leviticus 9:22. All that is here recorded, might have passed in a few minutes; it seems probable therefore, that, since the people took notice... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE BECKONED UNTO THEM,— _He made signs to them._ The word Κωφος, rendered _speechless,_ signifies _deaf,_ as well as _dumb,_ the latter being generallythe consequence of the former; and accordingly it is concluded from Luke 1:62 that Zacharias lost his hearing with his speech during that interva... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HID HERSELF FIVE MONTHS,— The meaning is, either that she saw no company, judging it proper to spend most of her time in the duties of devotion, and in meditating silently on the wonderful goodness of God; or that she concealed her pregnancy for awhile, lest she should expose herself to ridicule... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SIXTH MONTH— Namely, of Elisabeth's pregnancy. Galilee was the most northern part of Palestine. It was bounded on the north by Lebanon and Syria, on the west by Phoenicia, on the south by Samaria, and on the east, according to Josephus, by Jordan and the sea of Tiberias; yet from the gospel i... [ Continue Reading ]
TO A VIRGIN ESPOUSED, &C.— I should render the verse thus: _to a virgin of the house of David, betrothed to a man, whose name was Joseph; and the virgin's name was Mary._ The original will bear this translation: and what makes for this interpretation is, that this and the preceding verse refer wholl... [ Continue Reading ]
HAIL, THOU THAT ART HIGHLY FAVOURED,— _Thou who hast found favour,_ or _mercy with God,_ as it is expounded, Luke 1:38. It follows, _Blessed art thou among women:_ so it is said of Jael, Joshua 5:24 of Ruth 3:10. See also 1 Samuel 25:33. Again, _the Lord is with thee,_ is said to Gideon, Joshua 6:12... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE WAS TROUBLED, &C.— _She was disturbed at his discourse, and reasoned with herself,_ or _revolved in her mind, what this salutation should mean._ Heylin, and Doddridge.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF HIS KINGDOM THERE SHALL BE NO END.— So the prophet Isaiah 9:6. _Unto us a child is born,_ &c. _of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end._ The kingdom of Christ is twofold. 1. His _spiritual_ kingdom, or the dominion of righteousness in the minds of men. 2. His tempora... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID MARY UNTO THE ANGEL, &C.— When Mary heard Gabriel say that she was to conceive the Messiah, being conscious of her virginity, she found the matter above her comprehension, and therefore desired him to explain it. Being young and unexperienced, it was not to be expected that she could have... [ Continue Reading ]
THY COUSIN ELISABETH,— Mary and Elisabeth might be _cousins,_ as the text affirms, although the former was a descendant of David, and the latter a daughter of Aaron: because the law, Numbers 36:6 forbidding women to marry out of their own tribes, related only to heiresses, and consequently did not i... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD THE HANDMAID, &C.— Mary expressed in this answer both great faith and great resignation. She believed what the angel had told her concerning her conception, and wished for it, not regarding the inconveniences to which she might be exposed thereby; as well knowing that the power of God could e... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT INTO THE HILL COUNTRY— This was a very wise determination, as it was very probable that by communicating the vision she had seen, and perhaps also describing the form in which the angel appeared, she might convince Zacharias and Elisabeth that there was something singular in her case, and so br... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOMEN,— It is remarkable, that this is the salutation wherewith Gabriel had addressed Mary. The words, _and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,_ probably allude to the child's being the promised Seed, in whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed, and who for that rea... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE MOTHER OF MY LORD SHOULD COME, &C.— If Elisabeth had not spoken by inspiration, as we are told, Luke 1:41 she could not so much as have suspected that Mary was to be mother of the Messiah; but it being revealed to her, she was greatly struck with the honour that was done her, and expressed... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BLESSED IS SHE THAT BELIEVED, &C.— Dr. Heylin, in agreement with the margin of our English version, renders it, _And blessed is she who believed that there shall be,_ &c. Elisabeth in these words plainly commended the faith and humility which Mary had expressed when the angel assured her that sh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MARY SAID, &C.— The virgin, having heard Elisabeth speak thus, was likewise filled with the Holy Ghost; so that being inspired she expressed the deepest sense of her own unworthiness, and of the infinite goodness of God, in choosing her to the high honour of being the Messiah's mother. This she... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SPIRIT HATH REJOICED— When a person, speaking of himself, mentions his _soul_ or _spirit_ as doinga thing, it is the strongest expression in human language, and intimates his doing the thing mentioned with the utmost energy of all his faculties: Mary, therefore, by saying, that _her soul magnifie... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE HATH REGARDED— 'Επεβλεψεν; "he hath looked with a distinguishing regard, and wonderful condescension. Though I am a person in the lowest station, and had not the least reason to expect that any thing extraordinary should arise from me; yet God hath put such honour on my condition, as to make... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH DONE TO ME GREAT THINGS;— Μεγαλεια, _miracles._ So Μεγαλα and Μεγαλεια often signify in the Old Testament, being often applied to the miracles wrought in Egypt, and in the wilderness. See Deuteronomy 10:21; Deuteronomy 11:7; Deuteronomy 34:12. Doubtless, Mary had now in her thoughts the miracul... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS MERCY IS ON THEM THAT FEAR HIM— "So great is the goodness of God, that he rewards the piety of his servants upon their posterity to the thousandth generation." Exodus 20:6. By making this observation, the virgin modestly insinuated, that she imputed the great honour that was done her, not to any... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH SHEWED STRENGTH, &C.— It is an observation of Grotius, that God's great power is represented by his _finger;_ his greater, by his _hand;_ and his greatest by his _arm._ The production of _lice_ was the _finger of God,_ Exodus 8:19 and the other miracles in Egypt were done by his _hand,_ Exod... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH PUT DOWN THE MIGHTY, &C.— Δυναστας απο θρονων, _the rulers from their thrones._ The kings who sprung from David had, no doubt, one after another expected to be the parents of the Messiah; and when the kingdom was taken from them, such of the royal progeny as were in the highest station would... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH FILLED THE HUNGRY, &C.— Both the poor and the rich are here beautifullyrepresented as waiting at God's gate in the condition of beggars; the rich, in expectation to receive the honour of giving birth to the Messiah; the poor, in expectation, not of that blessing, but of such small favours as... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH HOLPEN— 'Αντελαβετο, here translated _He hath holpen,_ signifies properly "supporting a thing that is falling, by taking hold of it on the falling side." The virgin's meaning therefore was, that God had now remarkably supported the Jewish nation, andhindered it from utterly falling, by raisi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CALLED HIM ZACHARIAS,— The law did not enjoin that the child should have his name given him at circumcision; it was an incidental circumstance, which custom had added; possibly because at the institution of the rite God changed the names of Abraham and Sarah, Genesis 17:5; Genesis 17:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE ASKED FOR A WRITING-TABLE— Πινακιδιον, _a writing-tablet,_ or little book.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS TONGUE LOOSED, &C.— _And his tongue also spake, praising God._ Elsner. Zacharias had no sooner done writing than he recovered his speech, the angel's prediction being then fully accomplished. Accordingly, with an audible articulate voice, _he praised God;_ probably, by acknowledging the just... [ Continue Reading ]
ZACHARIAS—PROPHESIED,— Some imagine that by Zacharias's prophesying, St. Luke means only that he celebrated the praises of God with great elevation and affection of soul. And it must be acknowledged, that the word has this sense in other passages of Scripture, particularly 1 Chronicles 25:1 where As... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL;— "Let all honour and glory be ascribed to the Possessor and Governor of the world, the God of Israel, _because he hath visited and redeemed his people."_ For God to _visit his people,_ is a metaphorical expression, signifying to shew them great favour: it is taken... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HAVE BEEN SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN:— 'Απ αιωνος : "from the beginning of the world." By _the world,_ in this passage, some understand the Jewish dispensation, because, before the giving of the law, no prophet spake either of God's raising up a Horn of Salvation in the house of David, or of perfor... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WE SHOULD BE SAVED FROM, &C.— _Salvation from,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT FEAR,— Αφοβως,— without a slavish fear, or that _spirit of bondage,_ mentioned Romans 8:15. For the whole of this promise, both as it was originally made to Abraham, and as it is here applied to the coming of the Messiah, respected a spiritual deliverance; though the Jews generally understoo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE.— _Serving God in holiness and righteousness,_ as well as _deliverance from enemies,_ being spoken of as in the merciful grant of God, we may reasonably conclude that it refers to those passages, in which God promised to pour out extraordinary degrees of a pious spirit on hi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU, CHILD,— Zacharias here either pointed to John, or took him in his arms: the _messenger_ or forerunner in Malachi was to be a prophet; Zacharias says of his son, _Thou shalt be called the prophet of the Most High;_ and our Saviour declares, that John was _more than a prophet;_ that is, he w... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TENDER MERCY— Σπλαγχνα ελεους, _the bowels of mercy._ These two words are often used in Scripture both jointly and separately. They signify _pity,_ because that passion is commonly attended with a motion in the bowels, especially when the object of it is one we have an interest in. See Isaiah 63... [ Continue Reading ]
THEM THAT SIT IN DARKNESS, &C.— These phrases, with peculiar propriety, describe the ignorant and miserable state of the _Gentile world,_ and perhaps the former part of the verse may refer to them. But as Christ's preaching to the Jews in Galilee; (for it was almost entirely to Jews that he preached... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WAS IN THE DESERTS— Though the mother of Jesus was related to Elisabeth, the mother of John; though she visited her in the hill-country about the time of her own conception, and before the birth of John; it does not appear, nor is it probable, that there was any intimacy, or any correspondence b... [ Continue Reading ]