Luke 1:72-74

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 1:57-80

C. The birth and early life of John the Baptist 1:57-80As in the first part of this major section of the Gospel (Luke 1:5-56), Luke arranged his material in this one to compare and contrast John the Baptist and Jesus (Luke 1:57 to Luke 2:52). In that section there was prediction, but in this one there is fulfillment. Luke’s emphasis in his record of John’s birth was his naming and his father’s prediction of his future ministry. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 1:67-79

2. Zechariah’s song of praise 1:67-79This is the second major song of praise in Luke: the "Benedictus." This title also comes from the first word in the Latin version, translated "blessed" (Gr. eulogetos). The first part of the song praises God for messianic deliverance (Luke 1:68-75), and the second part rejoices in John’s significant role in this deliverance (Luke 1:76-79). The chiastic structure of the song emphasizes the words "covenant" and "oath" (Luke 1:72-73). God’s faithfulness to His... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 1:71-73

God’s redeeming work would involve salvation, mercy, and covenant fulfillment. Messiah’s salvation would be political and spiritual (cf. Psalms 106:10). God would be merciful to the fathers by fulfilling His promises to them (cf. Malachi 4:6). The oath God swore to Abraham refers to Genesis 22:16-18 that included promises of victory over enemies and universal blessing (cf. Genesis 26:3; Psalms 106:45). The words "covenant" and "oath" are central in the chiasm, as mentioned earlier. Note the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 1:74-75

God’s deliverance through Messiah did not mean that Israel could become passive but active in another form of His service. They could do so without fear of enemy persecution negatively and in holiness toward God and righteousness toward man positively forever. read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Luke 1:72

1:72 fulfil (c-2) 'To work,' or 'accomplish.' what the fathers had lived on by faith as promised mercy. 'Your father Abraham saw my day and was glad.' read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:1-80

Birth of John. The Annunciation1-4. Preface. To write a preface to a history is not a Jewish, but a classical custom, and by following it St. Luke shows himself a true Gentile, trained in Greek culture and imitating classical models. Here he affects classical elegance and correctness of expression, but in the course of his Gospel he generally imitates the simpler synoptic style.This Preface contains all that is really known as distinguished from what is guessed about the sources of the Synoptic... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Luke 1:72

(72) To perform the mercy.—The verse has been thought, and with apparent reason, to contain a reference, after the manner of the ancient prophets (comp. Isaiah 8:3; Micah 1:10-15), to the name of the speaker, of his wife, and of his child. In “performing mercy,” we find an allusion to John or Jochanan (= “The Lord be merciful”); in “remembering His holy covenant,” to the name Zacharias (= “Whom Jehovah remembers”); in the “oath” of Luke 1:73, to that of Elizabeth or Elisheba (= “The oath of my... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Luke 1:73

(73) The oath.—The noun is in apposition to the “covenant” of the preceding verse, though not grammatically in the same case with it. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Luke 1:74

(74) That he would grant unto us . . .—The form of the Greek indicates even more definitely than the English that this was the end to which the “covenant” and the “oath” had all along been pointing.Might serve him without fear.—The service is that of worship as well as obedience. This was the end for which deliverance from enemies was but a means. Here, again, the form of the hope points to its early date. What prospect was there, when St. Luke wrote his Gospel, of any deliverance of the Jews... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Luke 1:1-80

St. Luke's Gospel Luke 1:3-4 Our information concerning St. Luke is scanty. It is conjectured by some that he was one of the seventy disciples sent forth by our Lord, in addition to the twelve Apostles (Luke 10:1 ). There seems no reason to doubt that he was the companion of St. Paul in his travels, and that he was a 'physician' (Colossians 4:14 ). Some have thought that his profession as a physician may be traced in his manner of describing our Lord's miraculous cures of diseases, and his... read more

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