Luke 1 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 1 Review Questions on Chapter One

Review Questions on Chapter One

• How does Luke introduce his Gospel?
• Who received an angelic visitation in the Temple?
• Why was Zechariah struck dumb?
• Why was Elizabeth’s pregnancy unusual?
• What did the angel say to Mary?
• What happened when Mary visited Elizabeth?
• How does Mary magnify God?
• What is the name of Elizabeth’s child?
• What does Zechariah prophesy?
• Where does John remain?

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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 1:67-80 – Zechariah’s Prophecy

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Related

1. The Births and Infancies of St. John the Baptist and Jesus
2. The Prophets Inquire into and Testify About Salvation
3. Mary, did you know?
4. Ordinary … and Then Not
5. Taking it at Face Value
6. Grappling with God’s Calling: Mary
7. Encountering the Merciful Love of God :: Fra Angelico, “The Annunciation”
8. Magnify
9. Mother of My Lord
10. “Rejoice, favored one; the Master is with you!” ~Angel Gabriel
11. Jun 24, 2022: Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (ABC)
12. “… for the remission of sins.”

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 1:39-45 – Mary Visits Elizabeth

Luke 1:39-45 – Mary Visits Elizabeth

LK1:39 Now in those days Mary rose and traveled hastily into the hill country to a village of Judah. LK1:40 She entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. LK1:41 Now the moment Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting her baby suddenly moved in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with holy Pneuma. LK1:42 She cried out in a loud voice: “You are most blessed among women! Blessed is the fruit of your womb! LK1:43 Why am I so privileged that the mother of my Master should visit me? LK1:44 For, look, at the very moment I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb leaped with joy! LK1:45 Blessed is the one[1] who continues to believe that there will be a fulfillment to the things spoken to her by YHWH!”[2]

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[1] Blessed is the one: Or, blessed is she, happy the woman.

[2] YHWH: Or, the Lord. The Greek is 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 1:18-22 – Struck Dumb For Disbelief

Luke 1:18-22 – Struck Dumb For Disbelief

LK1:18 Now Zechariah said to the angel: “How can I be sure of this?[1] For I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”[2] LK1:19 Then the angel answered him: “I am Gabriel[3] who stands in the very presence of The God![4] I was sent to speak with you and to bring you this good news. LK1:20 Now, look, you will be unable to speak or say anything until that day when these matters will be fulfilled, because you did not believe my words that will come to completion at the proper time.” LK1:21 Now outside the worshippers waited for Zechariah and began to wonder because he was taking so long in the temple.[5] LK1:22 And when he did come out he was unable to speak to them – and as a result the people realized that he had seen a vision in the temple – because he could only gesture to them though he remained speechless.

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[1] How can I be sure of this: For this question the angel strikes the priest dumb.

[2] For I am an old man and my wife is well along in years: An echo of Abraham and Sarah. The Levitical priestly assistants had to retire at the age of 50 while the Aaronic priesthood could serve throughout their lives.

[3] I am Gabriel: The angel of Daniel 9. His name means “God’s Able One.”

[4] Who stands in the very presence of The God: This may suggest that not all angels serve in God’s Presence.

[5] He was taking so long in the temple: The service with prayers took about thirty minutes.

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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