Luke 1:68-80 ESV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:76

And thou, child, etc. - Zacharias proclaims the dignity, employment, doctrine, and success of his son; and the ruin and recovery of the Jews and the Gentiles. His dignity. Thou shalt be called (constituted) a prophet of the Most High. Prophet has two acceptations: - 1st. A person who foretells future events; and; 2dly. A teacher of men in the things of God, 1 Corinthians 14:3 . John was a prophet in both senses: he proclaimed the mercy which should be communicated; announced the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:80

The child grew - Increased in stature and bodily vigor. And waxed strong in spirit - had his understanding Divinely illuminated and confirmed in the truths of God. And was in the deserts - the city of Hebron, the circumjacent hill country, and in or near Nazareth. Till the time of his showing, or manifestation - till he was thirty years of age, before which time the law did not permit a man to enter into the public ministry, Numbers 4:3 . See also Luke 3:23 . So much has already been... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:68

Verse 68 68.Blessed be the Lord God Zacharias commences with thanksgiving, and in the raptures of the prophetic spirit describes the fulfillment of the redemption formerly promised in Christ, on which the safety and prosperity of the church depended. The reason why the Lord, to whose government the whole world is subject, is here called the God of Israel, will more fully appear from what follows, that to the seed of Abraham, in a peculiar manner, the Redeemer had been promised. Since,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:69

Verse 69 69.He hath raised up the horn of salvation That is, saving power: (71) for, when the throne of David was cast down, and the people scattered, the hope of salvation had to all appearance perished. Zacharias alludes to the predictions of the prophets, which hold out that a sudden revival would take place, when the state of affairs should have become melancholy and desperate. This mode of expression is borrowed from the passage, “There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:70

Verse 70 70.As he spake That the salvation which is said to have been brought by Christ may not be thought doubtful on the score of novelty, he adduces as witnesses all the Prophets, who, though they were raised up at different times, yet with one consent teach, that salvation is to be expected from Christ alone. Nor was it the sole design of Zacharias to celebrate the truth and faithfulness of God, in performing and fulfilling what he formerly promised. His object rather was to draw the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:71

Verse 71 71.Salvation from our enemies Zacharias explains more clearly the power and office of Christ. And certainly it would be of little or no advantage to learn that Christ was given to us, unless we also knew what he bestows. For this reason he states more fully the purpose for which the horn of salvation was raised up: that believers may obtain salvation from their enemies Unquestionably, Zacharias was well aware, that the principal war of the church of God is not with flesh and blood, but... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:72

Verse 72 72.To perform the mercy Zacharias again points out the fountain from which redemption flowed, the mercy and gracious covenant of God. He assigns the reason why God was pleased to save his people. It was because, being mindful of his promise, he displayed his mercy. He is said to have remembrance of his covenant, because there might be some appearance of forgetfulness during that long delay, in which he allowed his people to languish under the weight of very heavy calamities. We must... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:73

Verse 73 73.According to the oath There is no word in the Greek original for the preposition according to: but it is a common and well understood principle of language, that when the accusative case is put absolutely, there is a preposition to be understood, by which it is governed. The oath is mentioned, for the purpose of expressing more fully the firmness and sacredness of his truth: for such is his gracious condescension, that he deigns to employ his name for the support of our weakness. If... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:74

Verse 74 74.That being delivered out of the hand of our enemies His purpose was, that, being redeemed, they might dedicate and consecrate themselves entirely to the Author of their salvation. As the efficient cause of human salvation was the undeserved goodness of God, so its final cause is, that, by a godly and holy life, men may glorify his name. This deserves careful attention, that we may remember our calling, and so learn to apply the grace of God to its proper use. We must meditate on... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:75

Verse 75 75.In holiness and righteousness As the rule of a good life has been reduced by God to two tables, (Exodus 31:18,) so Zacharias here declares, that we serve God in a proper manner, when our life has been framed to holiness and righteousness. Holiness, beyond all question, denotes—as even Plato knew the duties of godliness, (77) which relate to the first table of the law. Righteousness, again, extends to all the duties of charity: for God requires nothing more from us in the second... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:76

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:80

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:68

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:69

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:70

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:71

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:72

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:73

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:74

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:75

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