Luke 1:59 “So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.” Though Jewish parents do ultimately decide the name of their children, this is not the only example of others doing the naming, or trying to.…
Luke 1:58 “When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.” They held off on their opinions a bit till they saw that she brought the child to birth. They may have doubted before that. Childbearing was thought of very highly, so it was…
Luke 1:57 “Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.” John was born right on time, and just as the angel had said. I’m sure that pregnancy was unique for Elizabeth. She would have to know that was the only child she would ever carry. But,…
Luke 1:56 “And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.” Luke alone records the trip to Elizabeth’s. So, he is our only source for this timeline. It seems as if Mary left just before John was born. We don’t know for sure as Luke is somewhat ambiguous on this.…
Luke 1:55 “As He spoke to our fathers,To Abraham and to his seed forever.” It would be hard to overestimate the importance of the relationship between God and men like Abraham. His relationship with just one individual can have a profound effect on many others. Heavenly Father, thank You for being gracious and willing…
Luke 1:54 “He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,” God’s work among mankind is historical. In other words, there is a direction He is moving in. It is not simply a function of His eternal state. He has a specific goal He is after with this world. In remembrance of…
Luke 1:53 “He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.” This theme is found throughout the New Testament. The poor and less fortunate are given a lot of consolation. And, this is not inconsistent with the teachings of Christ, for He clearly ministered to all of…
Luke 1:52 “He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.” Though man questions His ways, God has the final say in all things. There is no mighty one whom God is not able to bring low. He has all of the power, and He will have His way. The…
Luke 1:51 “He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.” This reference to the arm of the Lord is authentic, and very Jewish. The Old Testament reveals it is by the Lord’s arm that He brought the Israelites out of Egypt. Though God’s power…
Luke 1:50 “And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.” God has mercy on those who are sensitive to sin. Those who fear the Lord are those who actually care about how God views their actions. Many may pretend to serve God, but assume that they are good because…