The Gospel of Luke, An Exposition

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; 42 and she lifted up her voice w

b for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believeth; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things

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se of the birth of a son. Elisabeth on hearing the salutation of Mary [pg 026] addressed her in high spiritual ecstasy, declaring her supremely blessed among women because of the Son to be born, and wondering at her own honor in being thus visited by the mother of h

s that of the ancient hymn sung by Hannah when her heart, like that of Mary, was rejoicing in the promised gift of a son. The verses form a perfect

pt the third stanza which contains six lines. The general movement of thought seems to be from

and rejoices in him as her Saviour. This salvation is not only for her people, but particularly for herself; it is not only political but also spiritual. It is to be wrought out by the gift God is granting to Mary. He has chosen her, an obscure village maiden betrothed to a poor carpenter, and has be

er, his holiness, his mercy are praised. In his goodness to Mary he had shown his divine power, yet in accordance with the mora

achieved. In contrast with the blessedness of those that fear the Lord, "the proud," the rebellious, and unbelieving are pictured as "scattered" like the hosts of a defeated army; the oppressed are exalted while tyrants are dethroned; the hungry are fil

of her Son. In this saving help given to Israel, God is showing that he has not forgotten the mercy "toward Abraham and his se

hn, and the "Bened

e of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62 And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and [pg 028] wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64 A

h the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

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friends the parents were about to name the child. Many supposed that the name of the father would be selected. The mother, however, intimated that the name might be "John." When Zacharias, the father, was consulted, "he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, ... His name is John." There was no hesitation, no uncertainty, no question in his mind, for this name had been predicted by the angel, and Zacharias showed by his decision and firmness that he believed absolutely in the fulfillment of all that the angel had promised concerning the career of the son who was to be regarded by his fellow men as a gift of divine

od for his boundless goodness. The poem possibly may be divided into five stanzas of four lines each; but there is a defin

the gift of the Christ who is about to be born and who is described as "a horn of salvation,"

all enemies is in fulfillment of the promises made through the prophets and cherish

e oath to Abraham; it is to be such a deliverance from political oppression as to make poss

God whose divine mission will be to announce and to define the promised salvation as in its essence not a political but a spiritual redemption consisting in the remission of si

sings Christ will bring is found in "the tender mercy of our God;" the essence is a visitation of "the dayspring from on high," when the Sun of righteousness arises

f hope, of gratitude, a song of the salvation pro

h of Jesus.

nd Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Jud?a, to the city [pg 031] of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5 to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with chi

10 And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: 11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And

among men in whom

with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 And all that heard it wondered at the things which wer

resents Jesus as the ideal Man, and the story is full of human interest. It describes two obscure peasants journeying from their northern home in Nazareth to Bethlehem and there, excluded from the inn, placing in [pg 032] a manger their newbo

ity would have made them willing to take such a journey at such a time, but thus it appears that the emperor of the world was concerned unconsciously in the fulfillment of divine prophecy concerning the Saviour of the world. According to the imperial decree, Joseph left Nazareth and with Mary, to whom according to Matthew he was not only "betrothed" but married, journeyed

e field, and keeping watch by night over their flock." Out of a blaze of heavenly glory came the tidings of great joy to Israel, "There is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord." The angel did not then disclose the larger truth, that this Christ was to be the redeemer of all men or that he was a divine Lord. However, a sign was given whereby the shepherds might be able to dist

angels it is composed of two verses, each containing three corresponding notes, "glory" and "peace," "in the highest" (heaven) and "on earth," "God," and "men." This is a hymn of praise to God who in the gift of a Saviour manifests in heaven his exce

ying which was spoken to them about this child." It is not strange that all who heard wondered, or that Mary treasured in her heart the heavenly messages, or

Jesus, and the "Nunc

ing him, his name was called JESUS, who was so call

s said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he shou

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t thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping

d strong, filled with wisdom: a

ture career and the saving work of our Lord. Thus when on the eighth day he was named "Jesus," a name often given to Jewi

first of these utterances was the song of Simeon, called from the Latin form of its opening words the Nunc Dimittis ("Now Lettest Thou Depart"). To this devout soul it had been revealed that he should not die until he had seen the Messiah, "the Lord's Christ." Led by the Spirit to the

on of the coming One; now he is about to be sent away in the peace of an accomplished task, in the peace of fulfilled hope; for his eyes have seen the Saviour according to the promise of the Lord. The rede

will be a revelation of character; some will reject him and thus condemn themselves; some will speak against him, even though he is the very token and instrument of divine salvation; this opposition will reach its climax at the cross, when bit

years of widowhood had been spent in continual worship; she, too, praised God for the salvation to be accomplished by

curity his development was normal, but unique in its symmetry and its perfection; he "grew, and waxed strong" in body, but there was just as tru

us At Jerusale

kinsfolk and acquaintance; 45 and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him. 46 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions: 47 and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother sa

wisdom and stature, and i

irements, among which were the pilgrimages to the holy city to observe the sacred feasts. On this first visit to Jerusalem, Jesus was unintentionally left behind by his parents as they started on their return journey to Nazareth. At the end of the first day they failed to find him in the long caravan which was moving northward toward Galilee. The day following, Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem, and on the third day they discovered Jesus in the Temple in

n accents of reverence and affection; and was there not involved a delicate compliment? Jesus does not reprove his parents for seeking him, but for not seeking him in the Temple first of all; and does he not seem to have implied

eived from his pious parents, that Jesus at the age of twelve was a master of the Scriptures, and had learned to reverence and adore all that was related to them and

s own Father, the true source of his being. He instantly corrected the words of Mary, "thy father," which referred to Joseph, with his o

us as the eternal Son, nor yet in the sense which can apply to all created beings, but as denoti

e, but in the sphere of life and activity of which the Temple was the great expression and symbol and sign. He had determined, that is, to devote all his thoughts and energies and powers to the definite

aining for his public career which would have been impossible amidst the formalism and the distractions of Jerusalem. His development was as natural as it was perfect; he "advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor w

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