Matthew Henry Commentary Luke 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Luke 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Luke 1
"Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus; that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed." — Luke 1:1-4 (ASV)
Luke will not write about things about which Christians may safely differ from one another and hesitate within themselves; but rather about the things that are, and ought to be surely believed.
The doctrine of Christ is what the wisest and best of men have ventured their souls upon with confidence and satisfaction.
And the great events on which our hopes depend have been recorded by those who were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word from the beginning, and whose understanding of these events was perfected through Divine inspiration.
"There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years. 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. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of altar of incense. And Zacharias was troubled when he saw [him], and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother`s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord their God. And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient [to walk] in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared [for him]. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb. And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house. And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon [me], to take away my reproach among men." — Luke 1:5-25 (ASV)
The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners, as all are, and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were distinguished by their piety and integrity. They had no children, and it could not be expected that Elisabeth would have any in her old age. While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying outside.
All the prayers we offer to God are acceptable and successful only through Christ's intercession in the temple of God above. We cannot expect a share in it if we do not pray, pray with our spirits, and are not earnest in prayer. Nor can we expect that even the best of our prayers will be accepted and bring an answer of peace, except through the mediation of Christ, who lives forever, making intercession. The prayers Zacharias often made received an answer of peace.
Prayers of faith are recorded in heaven and are not forgotten. Prayers made when we were young and entering the world may be answered when we are old and leaving the world. Mercies given in answer to prayer are doubly sweet. Zacharias will have a son in his old age, who will be instrumental in converting many souls to God and in preparing them to receive Christ's gospel. He will go before Him with courage, zeal, holiness, and a mind indifferent to earthly interests and pleasures.
The disobedient and rebellious would be brought back to the wisdom of their righteous ancestors, or rather, brought to pay attention to the wisdom of that Just One who was coming among them. Zacharias heard all that the angel said, but his unbelief spoke. In striking him mute, God dealt justly with him, because he had objected to God's word. We can admire God's patience toward us.
God dealt kindly with him, for in this way He prevented him from speaking any more distrustful, unbelieving words. In this way, God also confirmed his faith. If, through the rebukes we are under for our sin, we are brought to give more credit to God's word, we have no reason to complain. Even real believers are prone to dishonor God by unbelief; and their mouths are silenced in confusion when they otherwise would have been praising God with joy and gratitude.
In God's gracious dealings with us, we should observe His gracious regard for us. He has looked on us with compassion and favour, and therefore has dealt with us in this way.
"Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin`s name was Mary. And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord [is] with thee. But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God. And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren. For no word from God shall be void of power. And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her." — Luke 1:26-38 (ASV)
We have here an account of the mother of our Lord. Although we are not to pray to her, we ought to praise God for her. Christ had to be born miraculously. The angel's address means only, "Hail, you who are especially chosen and favored by the Most High, to attain the honor Jewish mothers have so long desired." This wondrous salutation and appearance troubled Mary.
The angel then assured her that she had found favor with God and would become the mother of a son whose name she was to call Jesus, the Son of the Highest, one in nature and perfection with the Lord God. JESUS! The name that refreshes the fainting spirits of humbled sinners; sweet to speak and sweet to hear, Jesus, a Savior! We do not know His riches and our own poverty, therefore we do not run to Him. We do not perceive that we are lost and perishing, therefore a Savior is a word of little appeal to us.
If we were convinced of the huge mass of guilt that lies upon us, and the wrath that hangs over us for it, ready to fall upon us, it would be our continual thought: "Is the Savior mine?" And so that we might find Him to be ours, we would trample on everything that hinders our way to Him. Mary's reply to the angel was the language of faith and humble admiration, and she asked for no sign to confirm her faith.
Undoubtedly, great was the mystery of godliness: God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). Christ's human nature had to be brought forth in such a way as was fitting for that which was to be united with the Divine nature. And we must, like Mary, guide our desires by the Word of God. In all conflicts, let us remember that with God nothing is impossible. As we read and hear His promises, let us turn them into prayers: Behold, the willing servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your word.
"And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me? For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed [is] she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name. And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him. He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. He hath put down princes from [their] thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree. The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house." — Luke 1:39-56 (ASV)
It is very good for those who have the work of grace begun in their souls to share with one another. On Mary's arrival, Elisabeth was conscious of the approach of her who was to be the mother of the great Redeemer. At the same time, she was filled with the Holy Spirit, and under his influence declared that Mary and her expected child were most blessed and happy, as peculiarly honoured by and dear to the Most High God.
Mary, animated by Elisabeth's address, and being also under the influence of the Holy Spirit, broke out into joy, admiration, and gratitude. She knew herself to be a sinner who needed a Saviour, and that she could rejoice in God in no other way than as one interested in his salvation through the promised Messiah. Those who see their need of Christ, and are desiring righteousness and life in him, he fills with good things, with the best things; and they are abundantly satisfied with the blessings he gives.
He will satisfy the desires of the poor in spirit who long for spiritual blessings, while the self-sufficient will be sent empty away.
"Now Elisabeth`s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue [loosed], and he spake, blessing God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him." — Luke 1:57-66 (ASV)
In these verses, we have an account of the birth of John the Baptist and the great joy among all the relatives of the family. He was to be called Johanan, or “Gracious,” because he would bring in the gospel of Christ, in which God's grace shines most brightly.
Zacharias recovered his speech. Unbelief had closed his mouth, and believing opened it again: he believed, and therefore he spoke. When God opens our lips, our mouths must declare his praise; indeed, it is better to be without speech than not to use it in praising God.
It is said that the hand of the Lord was working with John. God has ways of working with children in their infancy that we cannot explain. We should observe God's dealings and await the outcome.
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