Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1:67-80 – Zechariah’s Prophecy

Luke 1:67-80 – Zechariah’s Prophecy

LK1:67 Then the baby’s father Zechariah was filled with holy Pneuma and prophesied:[1] “Blessed [be] YHWH, The God of Israel,[2] [Psalm 41:13] LK1:68 for He visited and redeemed His People.[3] [Psalm 111:9] LK1:69 He raised up for us a horn[4] of salvation in His servant David’s House. [Psalm 132:17] LK1:70 Just as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from ages past[5] – LK1:71 that He would save us from the hand of our enemies who hated us.[6] [Psalm 106:10] LK1:72 This in order to demonstrate [His] mercy to our forefathers and to remember His holy covenant.[7] [Psalm 105:8] LK1:73 That oath He swore to our father Abraham [Genesis 22:16] – LK1:74 to grant us deliverance from the hand of our enemies [Jeremiah 30:8] – LK1:75 so that we may serve Him fearlessly all our days in holiness and righteousness. [Jeremiah 30:9] LK1:76 And so you also, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. For in the sight of YHWH you will go before to prepare His way[8] [Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1] – LK1:77 to give knowledge of salvation to His People by a forgiveness of their sins,[9] LK1:78 through the tender mercies of our God that will dawn on us from a heavenly visitation – LK1:79 to become visible to those sitting in the darkness of death’s shadow,[10] [Isaiah 9:2] to direct our feet into the way of peace.” LK1:80 And so the child continued to grow and become stronger mentally,[11] remaining in the desert until the day of his appearing to Israel.

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[1] Prophesied: Zechariah, like Mary, speaks in language borrowed from a half dozen verses in the Hebrew Bible.

[2] Blessed [be] YHWH, The God of Israel: Compare also 1 Kings 1:48; Psalm 72:18; 106:48.

[3] Redeemed His People: Compare Luke 7:16.

[4] He raised up for us a horn: From Psalm 132:17 but with echoes of Hannah again. [1 Samuel 2:10]

[5] He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from ages past: As in Jeremiah 23:5; Daniel 9:24. Compare Hebrews 1:1.

[6] He would save us from the hand of our enemies who hated us: From Psalm 106:10.

[7] To remember His holy covenant: Compare Psalm 105:8; 106:45. Several times Zechariah draws from the historical psalms. On the covenant see Genesis 17:7; Leviticus 26:42; Deuteronomy 4:31; 7:12.

[8] Prepare His way: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 3:3.

[9] Forgiveness of their sins: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark 1:4.

[10] Those sitting in the darkness of death’s shadow: From Isaiah 9:2. Compare Psalm 107:10; Isaiah 49:9; 59:9. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 4:16.

[11] So the child continued to grow and become stronger mentally: Or, strong in spirit. Compare Jesus at Luke 2:40.

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Preceding

Luke – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Introduction to the Third Gospel

Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1:1-4 – A Factual and Logical Statement

Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1:5-7 – Zechariah and Elizabeth

Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1:8-17 – An Angel Appears to a Priest

Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1:18-22 – Struck Dumb For Disbelief

Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1:23-25 – Elizabeth Pregnant

Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1:26-38 – Gabriel’s Appearance to Mary

Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1:39-45 – Mary Visits Elizabeth

Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1:46-56 – Mary Magnifies God

Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1:57-66 – Elizabeth Gives Birth To John