And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,Hid herself — She retired from company, that she might have the more leisure to rejoice and bless God for his wonderful mercy. read more
5. Days of Herod Herod, surnamed the Great. See note on Matthew 2:1. Course of Abia Abijah. See 1Ch 24:3 ; 1 Chronicles 24:10; 1 Chronicles 24:19; also, Nehemiah 12:1; Nehemiah 12:4; Nehemiah 12:17. When the sons of Aaron became too numerous, David divided them into twenty-four courses, or classes. Each class had supervision of the daily service of the temple for a week. The priests for each day of the week were selected from the class by lot. On the return from the captivity but four... read more
§ 3. ELISABETH’S CONCEPTION, Luke 1:5-25 . Luke now opens his gospel history with the striking scene which announced the approaching birth of John, the harbinger of Jesus. During the 400 years preceding the account now to be narrated, neither vision nor miracle had been vouchsafed by God to his people. As the old canon closed with the prediction by Malachi that the coming of Elijah should precede the advent of the Messiah, so the first action of the new is to announce the true Elijah’s... read more
6. Commandments and ordinances Commandments refer to the moral law, ordinances to the ritual. Blameless Blameless even before God. Not blameless, indeed, as tried by the Christless law, which makes no allowance for infirmities; but blameless as living, through grace, under the atonement, in the undiminished approbation of God. So perfect was their faith, and so pure their life, that God imputed no blame unto them. This was their ordinary spiritual state; yet it excluded not... read more
8. While he executed the priest’s office In order to understand the scene, which now so solemnly opens our Christian history, let the reader compare our Temple Plan in vol. i, p. 247. At the hour (probably of the Click image for full-size versionSabbath, when all the congregation of Israel attended) the people are in the Court of Israel, and the Court of the Women, in front of the Great Altar, on which the bleeding lamb is about being placed. In the so-called HOLY PLACE is the Altar of... read more
9. To burn the incense The composition of the sacred incense for the altar ( which the Jews were forbidden to make for private use) is given in Exodus 30:34-38. It was in the performance of the service placed in a vase or cup, called the censer, upon the Golden Altar in the Holy Place, with burning coals beneath, producing by its smoke a powerful perfume, filling the Temple with its fragrance. As it was within the MOST HOLY, on the Sacred Ark, between the Cherubim, that God the King... read more
10. People were praying When the priest within the Holy Place, sprinkles the incense in the censor upon the burning altar, as the column of incense rises, the prayers of the people also ascend, of which the incense was the sacred type; and while the incense is ascending the bleeding victim is on the altar. Just so, when our prayers ascend, the great atoning victim avails in our behalf. So does the scene which introduces the new dispensation typify the results for which the new... read more
11. Angel of the Lord See note on Matthew 1:20. The appearance of this angel is the opening of the miraculous dispensation of grace. On the right side of the altar Zacharias at the proper signal ascending the steps behind the Great Altar, passes through the Porch, and walking the gilded floor, (for ceiling, walls, and probably floor, were sheeted with a complete overlay of gold,) approaches the altar upon which the censer has been placed. In this sanctuary no glare of day ever penetrates;... read more
12. Fear fell Wonderful is the fear which curdles the blood of even the bravest of mortals at the thought of meeting a messenger from God, or an apparition from the world of spirits. It seems to indicate that such beings do exist, and that such is their relation to us that their approach, by way of manifestation, must shock the very foundations of our being. So when the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and to Manoah, both gave themselves up for dead. Judges 6:12; Judges 6:22; Judges... read more
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Luke 1:21
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.The people were waiting — For him to come and dismiss them (as usual) with the blessing. read more