John Calvin Commentary Luke 1:30

"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God." — Luke 1:30 (ASV)

Fear not, Mary. He bids her lay aside fear.

Let us always remember—what arises from the weakness of the flesh—that whenever the feeblest ray of the Divine glory bursts upon us, we cannot avoid being alarmed. When we become truly aware of the presence of God, we cannot think of it apart from its effects.²⁵ Accordingly, as we are all accountable to His judgment, fear gives rise to trembling until God manifests Himself as a Father.

The holy virgin saw in her own nation such a mass of crimes that she had good reason for dreading heavier punishments. To remove this fear, the angel declares that he has come to certify and announce an inestimable blessing.

The Hebrew idiom, You have found favor, is used by Luke instead of, “God has been merciful to you:” for a person is said to find favor, not when he has sought it, but when it has been freely offered to him. Instances of this are so well known that it would be of no use to quote them.

²⁵ “Neque otiosam imaginari licet.” — “.” — “Car nous ne pouvons point apprehender à bon escient la presence de Dieu, sinon avec ses effects.”.”