‘As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old,’ And all this was in accordance with the promises of the prophets made long ago. Prophecy was in the process of fulfilment. The ancient records of the Jews were well known and honoured by most, even among non-Jews. Thus any fulfilment of them could only be truly significant. read more
‘Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us,’ And what was promised by the prophets was deliverance from their enemies, and from the hands of those who hated them. The idea and the words reflect Psalms 106:10. Like all in his day Zacharias saw the coming of the Messiah as very much involving the political freedom that would enable them to serve God fully. He would, of course, bring deliverance and freedom, but it would be in a different way that Zacharias was expecting.... read more
‘To show mercy towards our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath which he spoke to Abraham our father, to grant to us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.’ All Israel looked to the promises that God had made to Abraham. He had promised, no, sworn, in His holy covenant with Abraham (holy because God-initiated) that Abraham’s seed would be ‘blessed’. And this could only mean... read more
Luke 1:57-Prayer of Manasseh : . The Birth of John. The Benedictas.— In due course Elisabeth bore her son and received the congratulations of her friends. When the babe has been circumcised and named, his mother rejects the proposal to call him Zacharias and insists on John. The deaf and dumb father confirms his wife’ s wish, and his power of speech is restored. The whole incident made a great impression in the district, and people recognised that some great future was before the lad, for as... read more
God is not the God of Israel only, but of all the nations of the earth also; but he is peculiarly called the God of Israel, both here and in many other places, Psalms 41:13; Psalms 72:18; Psalms 106:48, &c., in regard of the covenant which he had specially made with them, and the special advantages they had, mentioned by the apostle; to them were committed the oracles of God, Romans 3:2; and to them pertained the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, and the service of... read more
This was that which God had told them by his prophets, that a mighty salvation should arise to them out of the house of David, by which they should be saved from their enemies. By which enemies the generality of the Jews understood their temporal enemies, made of flesh and blood. But Zacharias, speaking by the Spirit of prophecy, must needs have a truer notion of it, as it signifies our spiritual enemies. All this is attributed to God’s mercy and faithfulness, his mercy freely looking upon his... read more
God first gave Abraham his word, Genesis 18:10, then he confirmed it by his oath, Genesis 22:16. The apostle, to the Hebrews, saith, Hebrews 6:13, When God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself. read more
Thus Zacharias, by an infallible Spirit, expounds the covenants and oaths of God to Abraham and David, not as they appear to us at first view, as if they were promises of a mere temporal kingdom, and a victory for the Jews over their enemies, together with a splendid state for them, which was all the scribes and Pharisees, and the generality of the Jews, expected from the Messiah; but as confirming God’s resolution to send the Jews a Saviour, who should save them from their sins, the guilt and... read more
CRITICAL NOTESLuke 1:58. Cousins.—Rather, “kinsfolk,” which was the original meaning of “cousins.” How the Lord.—Rather, “that the Lord” (R.V.).Luke 1:59. On the eighth day.—The stated time for administering the rite of circumcision (Genesis 21:4; Luke 2:21; Philippians 3:5). The custom from the first was to give the name to the child at the time of circumcision (cf. Genesis 21:3-4); perhaps it originated in the change of names from Abram to Abraham, and from Sarai to Sarah, at the institution... read more
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Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:58-80
Zacharias Prophesies by The Holy Spirit Concerning the Coming of the Messiah, and His Own Son’s Part in Preparing the Way for the Messiah. (1:58-80). We are not told when the following prophecy took place. It may have been immediately when his tongue was loosed and he blessed God (Luke 1:64). Or it may have been much later. But meanwhile all the people were asking themselves questions about John and wondering about what he was going to turn out to be. Judaea was a very religious country, where... read more