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| 1 Seeing, indeed, that, many, had taken in hand to re-arrange for themselves a narrative, concerning the facts which have been fully confirmed amongst us,– |
Forasmuch – It would have been easy for dishonest men to have omitted these introductory words and have given the gospel the name of James, Paul, Andrew, Peter, or Nathaniel. R2816:4
Believed among us – Among us primitive Christians. R2816:3
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| 2 according as they who from the beginning became eye-witnesses and attendants of the Word delivered them unto us, |
Even as they – The apostles. R2816:3
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| 3 it seemed good, even to me, having closely traced from the outset all things accurately, to write unto thee, in order, most excellent Theophilus: |
To me – Luke, a physician. R2924:1
To write – The transition from oral to written teaching was gradual. R434:5*
Most excellent Theophilus – A friend, supposed to have been a person of considerable dignity and influence. R2924:1
Comparing this with Acts 1:1, we see that Luke is the author of that book as well. R5829:1
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| 4 that, as touching the matters which thou hadst been taught by word of mouth, thou mightest obtain full knowledge, of the certainty. |
That thou mightest know – The oral word being committed to writing by apostles and evangelists, and accredited publicly by the churches in the lifetime of the writers. R434:5*
The certainty – The unerring certainty. R434:5*
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| 5 It came to pass, in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, that there was a certain priest, by name Zachariah, of the daily course of Abia; and that he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and, her name, was Elizabeth. |
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| 6 Now they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and righteous appointments of the Lord, blameless; |
Both righteous – John was given them in answer to prayer. R1671:6
The preparation for John's ministry began before he was born, in the hearts of his parents. R1915:3
The "chosen vessel" is always a prepared vessel and this preparation from God begins long before the chosen one knows of it. R1915:6
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| 7 and they had no child, inasmuch as Elizabeth was barren, and, both, had become, advanced in their days. |
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| 8 But it came to pass, as he was doing priestly service in the order of his daily course, before God, |
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| 9 according to the custom of his priesthood, it fell to his lot to offer incense, entering into the Temple of the Lord; |
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| 10 and, all the throng of the people, was praying outside, at the hour of the incense offering. |
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| 11 And there appeared unto him a messenger of the Lord, standing on the right hand of the altar of incense; |
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| 12 and Zachariah was troubled when he beheld, and, fear, fell upon him. |
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| 13 But the messenger said unto him–Do not fear, Zachariah! Inasmuch as thy supplication hath been hearkened to,–and, thy wife Elizabeth, shall bring forth a son to thee, and thou shalt call his name, John; |
John – The Redeemer's forerunner and herald. R4940:4, 4939:2; B253; CR400:2
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| 14 And there shall be joy to thee and exulting, and, many, over his birth, shall rejoice; |
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| 15 For he shall be great before the Lord, and, wine and strong drink, in nowise may he drink, and, with Holy Spirit, shall he be filled, already, from his mother's womb; |
Shall be great – Because of favorable prenatal conditions. R1671:3, 1916:1
Most highly honored of all the prophets in that he was chosen to introduce the Son of God to Israel and the world. R1916:4
He was a great man, preacher and prophet; great in the sense that he that ruleth his own spirit, according to divine principles, is greater than he that taketh a city. (Prov. 16:32) R1916:1
At maturity he was ready for the work of introducing to Israel the long-promised Messiah. R1916:1
"He that is greatest among you, let him be as ...he that doth serve." ( Luke 22:26) R1916:5
Patiently submit to the humbling now, and joyfully wait for the glory by and by. R1916:5
Sight of the Lord – Because meek and lowly of heart. R1916:2
But not in the eyes of man; never a guest in the palace of Herod, but a prisoner; no orator, but a "voice crying in the wilderness" (Isa. 40:3); not arrayed in purples, but in camels' hair. R1916:1
The great ones of earth have passed away; they have all come to naught, and in the Millennial judgment they will come forth to shame and confusion of face. R1916:4
Wine – From Greek, oinos, grape wine, which always intoxicates when used to excess. R509:4
Filled with the Holy Spirit – God's power began to operate upon him at his birth, and even before. CR400:2
After the same manner that the other prophets throughout the Jewish age had been under that holy Spirit. R2562:3
We must not understand this to mean that he was begotten of the holy Spirit, in the sense that Christians are begotten of it. R2562:3
From his mother's womb – The Scriptures make plain the fact that children may and should be consecrated to the Lord by their parents before their birth, or even their begetting; so that the little one may ratify the covenant of consecration at a tender age. R1671:3
His prenatal influences were such that, from his birth, his heart was inclined toward God and holiness. R1916:1
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| 16 And, many of the Sons of Israel, shall he turn towards the Lord their God; |
Shall he turn – Restore harmony between Israel and "the fathers", the patriarchs, etc. R557:4
Representing that the world shall come into a condition of harmony and peace with God. R557:4
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| 17 And, he, shall go before him, in the spirit and power of Elijah,–To turn the hearts of fathers unto children, and the unyielding, into the prudence of the righteous, and to prepare, for the Lord, a people made ready. |
Shall go before him – Jesus. R556:6
In the spirit – John the Baptist was not actually Elijah returned to earth, neither is the Church. B253
We know positively that John was not Elijah for we have his own testimony on the subject. "And they asked him, Art thou Elijah? And he said, I am not." (John 1:21) Q772:4, 817:2
And power of Elias – An uncompromising and fearless spirit, backed by the power of divine truth. R1379:2
Doing an Elijah work for fleshly Israel, introducing Christ in the flesh. B253
All who have this spirit and the power of present truth concerning the Kingdom and Christ's presence, constitute the Elias. R1379:2
As the man Christ Jesus was introduced by the man John doing an Elijah work, so the glorious Christ must be preceded by a great Elijah, making ready for the second advent. R2839:1
The Elijah class will now call attention to the present Christ. R557:2
Elijah and John represented the true and faithful witnesses of this Gospel age. R557:2
John the Baptist stood for, or represented, a multitudinous Elijah, as Jesus stood for, or represented, a multitudinous Christ. R557:1
"If ye will receive it, this is the Elias." (Matt. 11:14) R1379:1
To turn the hearts – To prepare the way of Messiah by performing a reformation work in preaching repentance and baptism for the remission of sins and declaring the Kingdom of heaven at hand. Q772:4
John's work as Elijah did not fail because of his own lack of faith, but because of the Jews' unreadiness of heart to be influenced by him. R2838:6
To the wisdom – In a word, to restore harmony between Israel and the "fathers," the patriarchs, and, in a fuller sense, the world whom Israel typified shall come into a condition of harmony with God, similar to that of the "fathers." R557:4
As a forerunner or introducer. R2838:6
Make ready a people – Preparing the way for the reign of the glorified Church and its glorious head, by making ready a people prepared, the Little Flock. R557:2
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| 18 And Zachariah said unto the messenger–Whereby, shall I know this? for, I, am, aged, and, my wife, advanced in her days. |
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| 19 And the messenger, answering, said unto him–I, am Gabriel,–he that standeth near before God; and have been sent forth to speak unto thee, and to deliver the joyful message unto thee, as touching these things. |
Gabriel – One of the most honored angels, but inferior to Michael. R490:5
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| 20 And lo! thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak until the day when these things shall come to pass; because thou didst not believe in my words,–the which shall be fulfilled for their season. |
Thou shalt be dumb – If Zacharias' faith was tested, it was found strong, and was assisted by his nine-month experience of dumbness. R4940:4
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| 21 And the people were expecting Zachariah, and began to marvel that he should tarry in the Temple; |
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| 22 and when he came forth he was not able to speak unto them, and they perceived that, a vision, he had seen in the Temple,–and, he, continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb. |
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| 23 And it came to pass, when the days of his public ministration were fulfilled, that he departed unto his house. |
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| 24 And, after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she disguised herself five months, saying– |
Elizabeth conceived – As, in the cases of Sarah (Gen. 18:9-14), Hannah (1 Sam. 1:5-27) and the Shunamite (2 Kings 4:14-17), the miraculous interposition of divine power quickened the natural forces where they had been dormant, inoperative or entirely suspended. R560:6*
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| 25 Thus, for me, hath the Lord wrought,–in the days in which he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men. |
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| 26 Now, in the sixth month, was the messenger Gabriel sent forth from God, into a city of Galilee, the name of which was Nazareth,– |
In the sixth month – Probably on Christmas day of the year 3 BC. B62
Gabriel was sent – The chiefest messenger remaining in the courts of glory. R490:5
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| 27 unto a virgin, betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and, the name of the virgin, was, Mary; |
Virgin – This child was specially begotten by divine power though Mary was still a virgin when she brought forth the child. R4964:1
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| 28 and entering in unto her, he said–Joy to thee, favoured one! The Lord, be with thee! |
The angel came in – Christmas day is more properly the annunciation day, or the date of his human begetting. R3468:2, 3114:3, 2558:4; B61
Blessed art thou – The fact that Mary was honored by the Lord above all other women, in that she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus according to the flesh, would prove her nobility of character and purity of heart. R2558:3
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| 29 And, she, at the word, was greatly troubled, and began to deliberate, of what kind, this salutation, might be. |
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| 30 And the messenger said unto her–Do not fear, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God,– |
Fear not – Not fearing reproach from Joseph or the world. E102
Found favor – Mary was full of faith and the joy of the Lord, to be an instrument in his plan. E102
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| 31 And lo! thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name, Jesus: |
Jesus – Signifies Savior, or Liberator--"For he shall save his people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21) R1006:1, 270:2, 134:2
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| 32 the same, shall be great, and, Son of the Most High, shall be called, and the Lord God, will give unto him, the throne of David his father,– |
He shall be great – Naturally sustaining the misconception of the character of the first advent. This was the Messiah they were looking for, not "a man of sorrows." (Isa. 53:3) Yet he taught, by precept and example: "He that would be great, let him be the servant of all." (Mark 10:43,44) HG72:1
Son of the Highest – Fulfilling the predictions respecting the Messiah; the long-promised seed of Abraham. R5157:2, 5300:5
The title of the Son of God officially applied to the man Christ Jesus before his birth, and this title he constantly approved. NS256:6
And the Lord God – The whole gospel dispensation comes between the beginning and ending of this text. HG52:5
Throne of his father – Christ Jesus is the promised scion of David's house, the heir of his throne, referring to the dignity, power and authority of office which David exercised. C257
Not needful that he should have a human father of the Davidic line. The principle of inherited royalty through a mother is illustrated in the current (1883) heir apparent to the throne of Great Britain, the Prince of Wales, not through his father, but through his mother, the queen. R453:1
In Jewish genealogies it was customary to reckon lineage through either parent. R453:1
The throne of David is the emblem, or symbol, of David's reign, or kingdom; and David's reign, or kingdom, is a type, or figure, or shadow, of the reign, or Kingdom, of David's Son and Lord. R1283:1*
David – The throne of David is the symbol of David's reign; a type of the Kingdom of David's Son and Lord. R1283:1, 1063:1
The long-promised King of David's line, the Messiah. PD65/77; SM210:2; C257; E130, E133
Also called the "seed of Abraham" (Gal. 3:16; Rom. 4:13) and the "seed of the woman [Eve]." (Gen. 3:15) R1063:1*
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| 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob, unto the ages, and, of his kingdom, there shall be, no end. |
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| 34 But Mary said unto the messenger–How, shall this thing be, seeing that, a man, I know not? |
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| 35 And answering, the messenger said unto her–The Holy Spirit, shall come upon thee, and, the power of the Most High, shall overshadow thee; wherefore, even that which is to be born, Holy, shall be called, Son of God. |
The Holy Spirit – Jesus was begotten, not by Joseph, but by the holy Spirit. R3291:2, 4964:1, 432:4, 84:3
Come upon thee – The narrative of Jesus' miraculous conception has the very best and oldest Greek MSS. to support it--the Sinaitic, Vatican and Alexandrian in Luke; though the account is missing in Matthew--not omitted. R434:4
The life principle by which Jesus was conceived came directly from the Heavenly Father. R5064:3, 1031:1*, 432:4
That holy thing – "Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners." (Heb. 7:26) E95; R5748:2, 3710:3, 3291:6, 776:1, 453:1, 432:4
Holy, because his life did not come from Adam, the contaminated fountain. E103; R777:1,5, 432:4
He knew no sin, while all other men are sinners by nature. (2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 5:18; 1 Pet. 2:22) R776:2
He partook of the human nature without its condemnation. R1247:5
He did not partake of the condemned or forfeited life of Adam through Joseph, but of a life as directly from God as was the first Adam's; an unforfeited life which he could give for the life of Adam and all who died in him. R432:4*, 316:1*
His life came directly from heaven (Heb. 1:5) and he was therefore, though human, yet free, both from Adamic sin and its penalty, death. R1031:1*, 997:6
The only obstacle to the generation of a perfect man is the lack of a perfect father to give a perfect life-germ. In the case of Jesus a perfect life-germ was transferred by divine power from a pre-existent condition to the embryo human condition. R777:1; E103
If we can have a perfect life germ we can have a perfect child from an imperfect mother. If a breeder of stock wishes to raise the standard of his stock, he selects a fine bull, and thus improves his entire herd. And so, if we had perfect fathers, we would soon have a perfect race. R4964:1
What was needed was not merely a sacrifice for sins, but a sinless sacrifice, which would thus pay the sinner's penalty. E96
Our Lord was unlike sinners in respect to sin, imperfection; but like them in the sense of having their same nature or flesh--he, in its perfection; they, in various degrees of imperfection through sin. R997:6
Born of thee – Though retaining perfection, he partook of the nature of his mother. R777:5, 1247:5
He was the seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15), and not the seed of man. His very nature was perfectly holy, unlike our nature. R84:3*
Though life or being comes from the father, form and nature come from the mother. E103
Illustrated by the improper union between the "daughters of men" (Gen. 6:2) and those angels which kept not their proper estate or condition. The wonderful offspring were born of imperfect, dying mothers, but begotten by vigorous, unimpaired fathers. E103
The Son of God – He became man, and was a Son of God; as Adam was a son of God. R316:1*
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| 36 And lo! Elizabeth thy kinswoman, even she, hath conceived a son in, her old-age;–and, this month, is, the sixth, to her, the so-called barren one; |
The sixth month – John the Baptist was six months older than our Lord and began to preach six months before our Lord became of age and began his ministry. B58
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| 37 Because no declaration from God, shall be void of power.
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| 38 And Mary said–Lo! the handmaid of the Lord! Might it come to pass unto me, according to thy declaration. And the messenger departed from her. |
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| 39 And Mary, arising, in these days, journeyed into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,– |
A city of Judah – Ain-Karim, marked by tradition as the birthplace of John the Baptist. R1381:6
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| 40 and entered into the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth. |
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| 41 And it came to pass that, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit,– |
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| 42 and lifted up her voice with loud exclamation, and said–Blessed, art thou among women, and, blessed, is the fruit of thy womb; |
Blessed art thou – The hope to be the mother of the long promised "seed of the woman" (Gen. 3:15) seems to have filled the heart of Eve's daughters through the line of the family of godly Seth, all the way down to and including Mary. R1175:3
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| 43 And, whence, to me is, this, That the mother of my Lord should come, unto me? |
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| 44 For lo! as the sound of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe in my womb, leapt in exultation. |
The babe leaped – "Filled with the holy Spirit even from his mother's womb." ( Luke 1:15) R1671:6
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| 45 And, happy, is she who hath believed, that there shall be a perfecting of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord! |
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| 46 And Mary said–My soul doth magnify the Lord, |
And Mary said – Compare the language and sentiment of her poetic-prayer-prophecy with that of Hannah in 1 Sam. 2:1-10. R1813:2
My soul – Being; life and body combined. R205:1
Magnify the Lord – Not fearing the reproaches of Joseph or others. E103
The mind of Jesus' mother, instead of being antagonistic to his perfect development, cooperated to that result. E103
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| 47 And my spirit hath exulted upon God my saviour; |
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| 48 Because he hath looked upon the humbling of his handmaid; for lo! from the present time, all the generations, will pronounce me happy. |
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| 49 Because he that is mighty hath done for me great things, and, holy, is his name; |
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| 50 And his mercy is unto generations and generations, to them who revere him; |
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| 51 He hath wrought strength with his arm, He hath scattered men arrogant in the intention of their heart; |
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| 52 He hath deposed potentates from thrones, and uplifted the lowly; |
Put down the mighty – Solomon's line; from being Messiah's ancestors. E133
Exalted – The crown and diadem were removed from Zedekiah, and from the line of Solomon, to be given to him whose right it is--the Righteous Branch of the Davidic root. E133
Them of low degree – Nathan's line. E133
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| 53 The hungry, hath he filled with good things, and, the wealthy, hath he sent empty away; |
Filled the hungry – Referring to the restitution blessings to be granted to all the meek of the earth through the Millennial reign of Christ. R1754:6
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| 54 He hath laid hold of Israel his servant, to be mindful of mercies: |
His servant Israel – The whole twelve tribes. C293; R1341:1
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| 55 According as he spake unto our fathers,–To Abraham, and to his seed,–Unto times age-abiding. |
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| 56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house. |
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| 57 And, to Elizabeth, was the time fulfilled, that she should be bringing forth,–and she gave birth to a son. |
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| 58 And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard, that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they were rejoicing with her. |
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| 59 And it came to pass, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and were calling it, after the name of its father, Zachariah. |
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| 60 And his mother, answering, said–Nay! but he shall be called, John. |
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| 61 And they said unto her–There is, no one from among thy kindred, who is called by this name! |
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| 62 And they began making signs unto his father, as to what he might be wishing it to be called. |
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| 63 And, asking for a small tablet, he wrote, saying–John, is his name! and they marveled all. |
John – Signifying, "the favor of God." R4940:2
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| 64 And his mouth was opened instantly, and his tongue [loosed], and he began to speak, blessing, God. |
His tongue loosed – His faith had been helped. He had triumphed over all doubts and manifested this by giving him the name mentioned by Gabriel. R4940:2
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| 65 And fear came upon all the neighbours themselves; and, throughout all the hill-country of Judaea, were all these matters being much talked of; |
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| 66 and all who heard laid [them] up in their hearts, saying–What then shall his child be? for, even the hand of the Lord, was with him. |
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| 67 And, Zachariah his father, was filled with Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:– |
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| 68 Blessed, be the Lord, the God of Israel! Because he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people, |
Blessed be the Lord – Praise to God, the Fountain of every good and perfect gift, comes first. R4940:3
In verses 68 to 70, of this prophecy praise to God comes first. R4940:3
God of Israel – The whole twelve tribes. C293; R1341:1
He hath visited – After the usual manner of prophecies, the thing about to be accomplished is spoken of as though it had been done. R4940:3
In fulfillment of his gracious promises of old. R4940:3
Redeemed his people – Greek, poieolutrosin, to make a loosing, i.e., to set at liberty, to deliver, occurring only once. Literally, wrought redemption for his people. E433
This word should not have been translated redeemed but rather delivered, as a guard against confusion of thought by the English readers. E433
Things not completed are here mentioned as though they had been accomplished: the first step toward Israel's deliverance had been taken, and it was spoken of joyously as though the entire matter were already accomplished. E433
Applies not only to the redeeming work accomplished by Jesus at baptism, but is comprehensive enough to take in the entire work of reclaiming humanity. R4940:5
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| 69 And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us, In the house of David his servant: |
Raised up an horn – Symbol of power. T42
The begetting of Jesus had already taken place. The holy Spirit spoke of the things begun, but not yet accomplished, as though finished. R4940:5
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| 70 According as he hath spoken by mouth of his holy ancient prophets,– |
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| 71 Of salvation from among our foes, and out of the hand of all them that hate us: |
We should be saved – Verses 71 to 75, relate to the deliverance of God's people from the power of their enemies. R4940:5
None but God's people will ever be delivered from the enemies here referred to. R4940:5
From our enemies – Enemies through wicked works, blinded by the god of this world. R4940:6
Satan is an enemy. Sin is an enemy. And "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (1 Cor. 15:26) R4940:6
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| 72 To perform mercy with our fathers, and to be mindful of his holy covenant,– |
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| 73 The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, To grant us, |
The oath – The church are the children of the oath, the Abrahamic Covenant. R5300:5
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| 74 without fear, from the hand of enemies rescued, to be rendering divine service unto him, |
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| 75 in lovingkindness and righteousness before him, all our days. |
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| 76 And, even thou, child, prophet of the Most High, shalt be called,–for thou shall march on before the Lord, to prepare his ways, |
And thou – Verses 76 to 79 tells of a work to be accomplished before the destruction of all enemies and the lifting up of those worthy to be sons of God. R4941:1
Shalt go before – Be the forerunner of Jesus. R4941:1
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| 77 Giving a knowledge of salvation unto his people, by a remission of their sins. |
To give knowledge – To show them the "high calling" of this present age. R4941:4
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| 78 Because of the yearning compassion of the mercy of our God, wherein shall visit us a day-dawn from on high,– |
The dayspring – The "Morning Star" or "Day Star," before the Sun of Righteousness arises to scatter the darkness of mankind during Messiah's reign. R4941:4
This "Day Star" guides the feet of the saints, even while still in the time of trouble, before the new dispensation is ushered in. R4941:4
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| 79 To shine on them who, in the darkness and shade of death, are sitting, to guide our feet into a way of peace. |
To give light – Truth. A20, A25
Shining into the hearts of believers with sanctifying power and setting them afire with zeal for the truth. R4941:4
All shall have at least 100 years of opportunity under the clear light of "the Sun of Righteousness." (Mal. 4:2) R1772:5
Sit in darkness – Ignorance. A18, A25; B163
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| 80 And, the child, went on growing, and being strengthened in spirit, and was in the deserts, until the day he was pointed out unto Israel. |
The child grew – Probably as a forester. R2562:5
Strong in spirit – Greek, pneuma--mind, character. E318
In the deserts – Not in the sandy deserts, but more properly in the wilds, the uncultivated regions, perhaps in the "hill country" where his parents resided. R2562:5
Possibly the Lord's providences ordered the affairs of his parents so that they were forced to reside in such a wilderness where they would have comparatively little intercourse with others. R2562:5
Till the day – The period, not the 24-hour day. R2836:1
When he was 30 years of age. R2563:1
Unto Israel – No longer regarded by our Lord and the apostles as the "ten tribes" merely, but, as it is expressed, "All Israel." R1341:1; C293
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