For with God nothing shall be impossible - Words of the very same import with those spoken by the Lord to Sarah, when he foretold the birth of Isaac, Genesis 18:14 , Is any thing too hard for the Lord? As there can be no doubt that Mary perceived this allusion to the promise and birth of Isaac, so she must have had her faith considerably strengthened by reflecting on the intervention of God in that case. read more
Behold the handmaid of the Lord - I fully credit what thou sayest, and am perfectly ready to obey thy commands, and to accomplish all the purposes of thy grace concerning me. It appears that at the instant of this act of faith, and purposed obedience, the conception of the immaculate humanity of Jesus took place; and it was Done unto her according to his word. See Luke 1:35 . read more
In those days - As soon as she could conveniently fit herself out for the journey. Hill country - Hebron, the city of the priests, Joshua 21:11 , which was situated in the tribe of Judah, about forty miles south of Jerusalem, and upwards of seventy from Nazareth. With haste - This probably refers to nothing else than the earnestness of her mind to visit her relative Elisabeth, and to see what the Lord had wrought for her. read more
Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost - This seems to have been the accomplishment of the promise made by the angel, Luke 1:15 , He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. The mother is filled with the Holy Spirit, and the child in her womb becomes sensible of the Divine influence. read more
Blessed art thou among women - Repeating the words of the angel, Luke 1:28 , of which she had probably been informed by the holy virgin, in the present interview. read more
The mother of my Lord - The prophetic spirit, which appears to have overshadowed Elisabeth, gave her a clear understanding in the mystery of the birth of the promised Messiah. read more
Blessed is she that believed; for there shall be, etc. - Or, Blessed is she who hath believed that there shall be, etc. This I believe to be the proper arrangement of the passage, and is thus noticed in the marginal reading. Faith is here represented as the foundation of true happiness, because it receives the fulfillment of God's promises. Whatever God has promised, he intends to perform. We should believe whatever he has spoken - his own authority is a sufficient reason why we should... read more
And Mary said - Two copies of the Itala, and some books mentioned by Origen, give this song to Elisabeth. It is a counterpart of the song of Hannah, as related in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 . This is allowed by many to be the first piece of poetry in the New Testament; but the address of the angel to Zacharias, Luke 1:13-17 , is delivered in the same way; so is that to the virgin, Luke 1:30-33 , and so also is Elisabeth's answer to Mary, Luke 1:42-45 . All these portions are easily reducible... read more
My spirit hath rejoiced - Exulted. These words are uncommonly emphatical - they show that Mary's whole soul was filled with the Divine influence, and wrapped up in God. read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:36
Thy cousin Elisabeth - Thy kinswoman, συγγενης . As Elisabeth was of the tribe of Levi, Luke 1:5 , and Mary of the tribe of Judah, they could not be relatives but by the mother's side. She hath also conceived - And this is wrought by the same power and energy through which thou shalt conceive. Thus God has given thee a proof and pledge, in what he has done for Elisabeth, of what he will do for thyself; therefore, have faith in God. Who was called barren - It is probable that... read more