Church Fathers Commentary Luke 1:8-10

"Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest`s office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest`s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense." — Luke 1:8-10 (ASV)

The Venerable Bede: The Lord appointed through Moses one high priest, at whose death another was to succeed him in due order. This was observed until the time of David, who, by the Lord's command, increased the number of priests. At this time, Zacharias is said to have been performing his priestly office in the order of his course, as the Scripture continues: But it came to pass, when Zacharias was performing the Priest’s office in the order of his course before God, according to the custom of the Priesthood, his lot was, etc.

St. Ambrose of Milan: Zacharias seems here to be designated High Priest, because into the second tabernacle went the High Priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and the sins of the people.

The Venerable Bede: He was not chosen by a new lot when the incense was to be burned, but by the old lot, by which he succeeded to the course of Abia according to the order of his priesthood. As the Scripture continues, And all the multitude of the people, etc.

Incense was ordered to be carried into the Holy of Holies by the high priest while the whole congregation waited outside the temple. This was to happen on the tenth day of the seventh month, a day called the Day of Atonement or Propitiation. Explaining the mystery of this day to the Hebrews, the Apostle points to Jesus as the true High Priest, who in His own blood has entered the secret places of heaven to reconcile the Father to us and to intercede for the sins of those who still wait, praying before the doors.

St. Ambrose of Milan: This, then, is the kind of high priest who is still sought by lot, because the true High Priest is not yet known; for he who is chosen by lot is not selected by human judgment. Therefore, that high priest was sought for, and another was typified: the true and eternal High Priest, who would reconcile God the Father to mankind not by the blood of sacrificial animals, but by His own blood. In those days, there were changes in the priesthood; now, it is unchangeable.