Luke
1:39-56
Lesson 103
1:39-56
Lesson 103
Luke 1:39-56
The visitation 39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. 56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. |
Margin notes:
"Into a city of Juda." (1:39) - Many Bible scholars believe Elisabeth lived in Hebron. Elisabeth was a Levi and Hebron was a Levitical city in Judah (Joshua 21:10-11). This would have been about a seventy-mile walk from Mary's home in Nazareth. "Saluted Elisabeth." (1:40) - "Greeted Elisabeth." "The mother of my Lord." (1:43) - Apparently, Elisabeth knew that Mary was pregnant with the Messiah. "There shall be a performance." (:45) - "It will be fulfilled." "My soul doth magnify the Lord." (1:46) - "My soul praises the Lord." Notice the similarity of this verse and Psalm 34:2-3. "Low estate." (1:48) - "Humble state." The same sentiment is expressed by Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:11-13 when she asked God for a baby. "Holy is his name." (1:49) - The same praise as found in Psalm 111:9. "Them that fear him." (1:50) - "Those that revere Him." The same thought is expressed in Psalm 103:13 and 103:17. "He hath scattered the proud." (1:51) - "He has scattered the proud (Genesis 11:8). See also 2 Samuel 22:28 and 1 Peter 5:5. "He hath put down the mighty from their seats." (1:52) - "He has brought down the mighty from their Thrones." The same sentiment as expressed in Job 12:19. "Exalted them of low degree." (1:52) - "Exalted those in humble standings." "He hath filled the hungry." (1:53) - As prophesied in Psalm 107:9. "He hath holpen his servant Israel." (1:54) - "He has helped His servant, Israel." Means, God kept His promise to Abraham and blessed Israel (Genesis 22:16-18; 2 Samuel 22:50-51; Psalm 89:2-4; 98:3; 103:17-18; Micah 7:18-20). "He spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever." (1:55) - "He promised our forefathers, Abraham, and Abraham's descendants." To read the promise, see Genesis 17:7 and 22:17. "Mary abode with her about three months." (1:56) - "Mary stayed with her for about three months." Mary arrived when Elisabeth was six months pregnant (Luke 1:36-39). |