Luke 1:73 - Printer Friendly

ESV: the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

NIV: the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

NASB: The oath which He swore to our father Abraham,

CSB: the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant that we,

NLT: the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.

KJV: The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

NKJV: The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

Israel's most treasured prophecy was the promise to send a Messiah—a Savior—to defeat evil and sin once and for all (Isaiah 9:6–7). This was the ultimate end of the "oath" mentioned here, which God established with patriarchs like Abraham (Genesis 22:16–18). Each generation since had lived and died without seeing that promise entirely fulfilled (Hebrews 11:39–40), though they did see God's work in moving towards those ends (Hebrews 12:1; Exodus 6:8; 1 Kings 1:48).

Zechariah is a priest (Luke 1:5) whose wife, Elizabeth, has just given birth to a son (Luke 1:57). This child is the fulfillment of prophecies about a herald (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; 4:6) who would prepare people for the Messiah (Luke 1:13–17). This child will soon be known as John the Baptist (Luke 3:2–3). In another confirmation of God's promises, a young virgin has learned she will give birth to this Savior (Luke 1:31–33). Zechariah's song of praise (Luke 1:67–68) recognizes these events as further proof that all God said would happen truly will occur.

Luke 1:57–80 describes the first of two births predicted by the angel Gabriel in this chapter (Luke 1:13, 31). Despite their old age, Elizabeth and Zechariah have had a son, who now needs to be named. Zechariah has been stricken mute for months, after doubting the angel's message. Elizabeth surprises her family by naming the child "John." When asked, Zechariah writes down the same name and is immediately able to speak again. Amid the awestruck reaction of family and neighbors, the legendary reputation of John the Baptist has begun. Zechariah then prophesies about the powerful ministry of his son.

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.

Accessed 5/11/2024 11:13:36 AM