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

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

Luke 1:57-66 – Elizabeth Gives Birth To John

LK1:57 Now Elizabeth’s time came to fulfillment for her to give birth, and so she bore a son. LK1:58 Now her neighbors and relatives heard that YHWH[1] had shown His mercy to her and they rejoiced together with her. LK1:59 Then the time arrived on the eighth day that they went to circumcise the child. They all wanted to name him Zechariah. LK1:60 But, his mother answered and said: “No! He will be called ‘John’!” LK1:61 Then they all said to Elizabeth: “No one among your relatives is called by that name.” LK1:62 So they motioned to the baby’s father and asked him what he wanted to name the boy. LK1:63 Then Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote – “John is his name.” And everyone was astonished. LK1:64 Instantly his mouth and tongue were opened and he began to speak praising The God. LK1:65 Now all those living in his neighborhood became frightened, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea everyone began talking about these matters. LK1:66 Everybody who heard about it continued to wonder inwardly about all of this, saying: “Who will this child become? For surely YHWH’s hand[2] was with him.”

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[1] YHWH: The article is missing and may suggest the Tetragram once occurred here.

[2] YHWH’s hand: The Greek is KYRIOS without the article.

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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 1:8-17 – An Angel Appears to a Priest

Luke 1:8-17 – An Angel Appears to a Priest

LK1:8 Now [something] happened while Zechariah was serving as priest before The God when it was the turn for his [priestly] division. LK1:9 Then according to the ritual of the priesthood it was his turn to burn incense[1] when he entered the temple of the LORD. LK1:10 Outside the throng of worshippers were praying at the time of the offering of incense. LK1:11 Suddenly YHWH’s angel[2] appeared on the right side of the altar of incense [in the Holy Place]. LK1:12 Now when Zechariah saw the angel he was startled and he began to tremble in fear. LK1:13 Then the angel said to him: “Do not to be frightened, Zechariah! For your prayer has been heard and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son and you will call his name ‘John’.[3] LK1:14 And you will become filled with joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. LK1:15 For he will be great in YHWH’s sight[4] and he will not drink wine or strong drink.[5] [Numbers 6:3] He will be filled with holy Pneuma even while in his mother’s womb. LK1:16 He will restore many of the children of Israel[6] to YHWH their God. LK1:17 He will be a forerunner before [the Messiah] in the inspiration and power of Elijah – to restore the hearts of fathers to their children [Malachi 4:5, 6] and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to get ready YHWH’s people[7] prepared for [Messiah].”

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[1] His turn to burn incense: Something rotated in the priestly divisions. In the first compartment of the Temple called the Holy Place there was an incense altar before the curtain to the Most Holy. [Exodus 25:1, 2, 6; 35:4, 5, 8, 27-29; 30:34-38]

[2] YHWH’s angel: A Hebraism where the Greek could suggest YHWH originally occurred here.

[3] ‘John’: Meaning “Jehovah Has Favored” or “God’s Gift.” One of the most common names in the Western world, occurring as Juan, Yves, Ivan, Sean, etc.

[4] YHWH’s sight: It is possible the Tetragram originally occurred here.

[5] He will not drink wine or strong drink: That is, a Nazarite from birth by God’s choosing like Samson. [Numbers 6:3; Judges 13:7]

[6] He will ‘restore many of the children’ of Israel: The phrase is borrowed from Malachi 4:5-6. This foretold “restoration” by Elijah was that of Israel to their God and also between Hebrew fathers and sons.

[7] To get ready YHWH’s people: The allusion to Malachi 4:5-6 gives an inspired interpretation to the prophecy. Peter alludes to a similar “restoration” at Acts 3:21. John the Baptist would go ahead of Christ by six months to prepare Israel for Messiah’s appearance by a baptism of repentance. All of Jesus’ apostles and early disciples were most likely disciples of John first.

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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

Matthew 9:14-17 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Bridegroom and Fasting

Matthew 11:2-6 Encouragement for John and Reproach for cities 2 Imprisoned Baptist Encouraged

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Additional reading

Truth, doubt or blindness

Mark 9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 9:9-13 – Elijah Has Come

Mark 9:9-13 – Elijah Has Come

|| Matthew 17:14-21;[1] Luke 9:34-42

MK9:9 Now as the descended the mountain Jesus ordered the disciples never to tell anyone[2] what they had seen until the Son of Humankind [Daniel 7:13] was raised up from the dead. MK9:10 So they kept this to themselves,[3] discussing with one another what this ‘rising up again from the dead’[4] meant. MK9:11 Then they asked Jesus: “Why do the Bible Copyists say that Elijah must come first?” MK9:12 Now Jesus answered them:[5] “For a certainty Elijah must come first [Malachi 4:1] and will restore everything. [Malachi 4:5, 6] How is it written regarding the Son of Humankind [Daniel 7:13] suffering many things [Psalm 22:6; Isaiah 53:3] and then being rejected? [Isaiah 53:3; Psalm 118:22] MK9:13 But, I tell you: Elijah has already come![6] And they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it was written.”

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[1] Matthew 17:14-21: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Never to tell anyone: Something like Paul’s own experience. [2 Corinthians 12:4] Peter writes of the experience at 2 Peter 1:16-19.

[3] So they kept this to themselves: This silence on where they went with the Nazarene could have caused the following argument of who was the greatest.

[4] Rising up again from the dead: The subject of the resurrection of Messiah in the Hebrew Bible is obscure and it is only until after Pentecost that Psalm 16:10 is used as the main proof of such. It is likely Isaiah 53:10, 12 also could be used.

[5] Jesus answered them: In his answer, Jesus alludes to several verses from the Hebrew Bible, though these probably escaped the disciples at the time, as it would most Christians today.

[6] Elijah has already come: Jesus’ own inspired interpretation of Malachi applies it to John the Baptist.

 

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Preceding

Mark 9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 9:1-8 – The Transfiguration

Matthew 17:14-21 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed

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Additional reading

1. When you believe Jesus is God, do you think he died?
2. When you believe Jesus is God: who do you think is the mediator? #2 Firstborn from the dead our advocate
3. The resurrected Lord

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Related

1. Aug 6, 2021: Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (B)
2. Coming Down the Mountain
3. A Glimpse of Glory

Mark 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 6:21-29 – A Birthday Beheading

Mark 6:21-29 – A Birthday Beheading

|| Matthew 14:3-12;[1] Luke 3:19, 20

MK6:21 When an opportune day arrived, Herod held a feast on his birthday[2] for his officials, commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. MK6:22 Now the daughter of Herodias entered and danced, and she pleasured Herod and all his guests. So the king said to the young girl: “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” MK6:23 Herod made an oath to her: “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my realm.” MK6:24 Now the young girl left and went to her mother Herodias, asking: “What shall I ask for?” Her mother said: “The head of John the Baptist!” MK6:25 So right away the young girl returned to the king, asking: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a plate.” MK6:26 Now this caused the king to be sorry about his oath, not only because of his guests, but also he did not want to break his word to her. MK6:27 Right away the king sent the captain of his bodyguards and commanded the head be brought to him. The captain left and beheaded John in his prison cell. MK6:28 Then he brought his head on a plate and gave it to the young girl, and she gave it to her mother. MK6:29 Now when John’s disciples heard of this they came and removed the body and put it in a tomb.

[1] Matthew 14:3-12: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Birthday: Herod was a circumcised Jew. [See history on this matter.] He celebrates his birthday, the second of two such mentioned in the Bible. [Genesis 40:20]

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Preceding

Mark 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 6:1-6 – A Prophet Without Honor

Mark 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 6:7-13 – Apostles Sent Out by Twos

Mark 6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 6:14-20 – King Herod Marvels About Jesus

Matthew 14:1-13 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: John Beheaded