Luke 1:6

This verse shows that Elizabeth’s childless condition was not the result of her sin. In the Old Testament, God normally blessed the godly with children (cf. Genesis 1:28; Psalms 127; Psalms 128). She and her husband were right with God and followed Him faithfully. "Blameless" (Gr. amemptos) means that they dealt with sin in their lives quickly and as God required, not that they were sinless (cf. Philippians 2:15; Philippians 3:6; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Hebrews 8:7). This Greek word is the equivalent of the Hebrew tam that describes Noah (Genesis 6:9) and Job (Job 1:8). The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was typically superficial and hypocritical, but Zechariah and Elizabeth were truly godly.

"Sometimes we are deprived of something because God has better things awaiting us down the road. When we wait patiently on the Lord, he often gives us more than we imagined possible. Zechariah and Elizabeth wanted a child; what they got was a prophet." [Note: Bock, Luke, p. 55.]