Luke 1:75 - Printer Friendly

ESV: in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

NIV: in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

NASB: In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

CSB: in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days.

NLT: in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.

KJV: In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

NKJV: In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

God made promises to patriarchs of Israel like Abraham (Genesis 22:16–18). Later generations saw God working to assure these prophecies would come true (Exodus 6:8). Zechariah, a priest (Luke 1:5, 67–68) is celebrating fulfilled prophecy, seen in the birth of his son, John (Luke 1:13–17, 57; Isaiah 40:3). He is also anticipating the birth of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:31–33), the Messiah guaranteed in other Old Testament prophecies (Isaiah 9:6–7).

One of the end results of the Messiah's arrival would be the end of sin, evil, and fear (Luke 1:73–74; Zephaniah 3:14–17). The first arrival of Jesus on earth would establish human salvation, and the freedom from the eternal penalty of sin (Hebrews 6:17–20). His second coming will lead to the complete defeat of death and wickedness (Revelation 19:11–15; 21:1–5). This will allow those saved by God to be freed from the slavery of sin (Romans 7:14–20), completely and eternally (1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 15:52–57).

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 5/4/2024 3:36:24 AM