Luke 1:48 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

NIV: for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,

NASB: For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant; For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.

CSB: because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,

NLT: For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.

KJV: For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

NKJV: For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

This is part of Mary's extended song of praise, sometimes called "The Magnificat" (Luke 1:46–55). She is rejoicing along with her relative, Elizabeth (Luke 1:39–42), over the impending birth of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:31–33). Mary began this praise by extolling God (Luke 1:46). She also made a clear, humble profession of God's role as her Savior (Luke 1:47). Much of her speech reflects Old Testament passages and themes.

Psalmists and other writers often celebrate God for paying attention to weak, broken, hurting people (Psalm 136:23; 138:6). Though the world pays attention to the rich and influential, God notices those the world ignores. Mary's reference to herself as a servant echoes the prayer of Hannah (1 Samuel 1:11), who would become the mother of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 2:1–10).

Both the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:30) and Elizabeth (Luke 1:42) noted that Mary was specially blessed by God through her role in His incarnation. Mary seems to understand that bearing the Son of God is a profound honor, and responsibility. As she predicts here, generations ever since have noted that privilege. Even in Mary's own earthly life, those who valued the ministry of Jesus noted that she had been blessed by her role as His mother (Luke 11:27).

Luke 1:39–56 contains Mary's visit with her relative, Elizabeth, and her resulting praise of God. Both women are miraculously pregnant. Despite her old age, Elizabeth is several months pregnant with a boy who will one day be known as John the Baptist (Luke 1:13). Mary, a virgin, has recently learned that God has conceived in her the Messiah, to be named Jesus (Luke 1:31). The unborn John reacts when he hears Mary's voice. Mary responds to this with extensive praise of God, calling Him her "Savior." After staying for a while—possibly until the birth of John—Mary returns home.

The angel Gabriel predicts two miraculous births. The first is a son born to Zechariah and Elizabeth: an older, childless priest and his wife. Because Zechariah initially doubts this message, he is temporarily made unable to speak. Their child will be known as John the Baptist, a powerful herald of the Messiah. The Promised One whom John will proclaim is the second birth predicted by Gabriel. He tells an engaged virgin, Mary, that God will miraculously conceive His Son in her. The two women meet and rejoice over their blessings. John's arrival sets the stage for Luke's familiar account of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Luke was a travelling companion of the apostle Paul (Acts 16:10); his book of Acts is a direct "sequel" to the gospel of Luke (Acts 1:1–3). Those two books make up more than a quarter of the New Testament. Luke begins by explaining how his orderly approach is meant to inspire confidence in Christian faith. His work is based on eyewitness interviews and other evidence. The first chapter details the miraculous conceptions of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Chapter 2 continues with Jesus' birth.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.