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A Layman's Commentary on the Gospel of Luke: Lesson I, Part III
By: T.O.D. Johnston

Verse 34. Mary believes what the angel says will happen, although she does not understand how this is to come to pass. She acknowledges that she has had no physical relationship with a man.

Verse 35. The angel replied by stating the miraculous conception was divine in origin. The Holy Spirit will overshadow her and by His power, she will conceive. She receives the power of the Most High. Wherefore that which is to be born shall be called Holy, the Son of God.

Through His humanity, He will reveal His divinity. He will be free from all sin, therefore called holy. He had to be born of a woman to be human. It was just as important that He be perfectly holy, since, no sinful being could gain redemption for others. Gabriel emphasized that both of these circumstances would be present in Jesus.

Verse 36. Gabriel now informs her that Elisabeth, her kinswoman, though barren and advanced in age, has conceived a son. This confirms the miraculous power of God, further strengthening Mary’s faith. Elisabeth, who was called barren, was already six months pregnant.

Verse 37. Gabriel emphasizes the true power of God: “For no word from God shall be void of power.” To state the same thing positively “Every word of God is full of power.” Both mean that whatever God says will come to pass, because God has the omnipotent power to bring it to pass.

Verse 38. Mary submits herself completely to God’s will. “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy Word.” The highest honor ever conferred upon a woman was this - to become the mother of the Son of God.

This did put Mary in an awkward and potentially dangerous position in reference to her betrothal to Joseph. Mary chose not to tell Joseph. How could he believe such an extraordinary explanation for her becoming pregnant before their marriage?

Mary left the whole matter in God’s hands. From Matthew 1:15 we are told of God communicating with Joseph the miraculous event that was to take place. The angel left, his commission being accomplished. Mary had accepted and submitted to God’s will.

Only Jesus was born without sin, and He shall be called the only-begotten of the Father, The Holy One. He will be the King of all those who believe as citizens in His spiritual kingdom unto eternity.

Verses 39-45. Mary visits Elisabeth.

Verses 39,40. After the angel left, Mary must have thought a lot about the news concerning Elisabeth being already six months pregnant. Within a few days, she felt compelled to go and see her. We are later told that Mary returned to Nazareth just before John’s birth (verse 57), and stayed with Elisabeth three months.

After her return, she would likely have been showing enough to be obviously with child. Joseph then began making plans to sequester her so she would not be publicly accused of infidelity and punished. During her stay with Elisabeth, God sent Gabriel to Joseph to explain the miraculous truth about Mary’s pregnancy (Matthew 1:13-25). Mary would not be prepared to share her sacred experience with anyone. She had no proof, and who would believe her?

Elisabeth, on the other hand, would be the most understanding person in the world, being the only other person that also had been visited by the angel - and the promises made to her had miraculously already begun and she was in her sixth month. After a journey of about 4 days, Mary came to the home of Zacharias in the village of the hilly region south of Jerusalem.

Verses 41,42. When Mary enters their home, she greets Elisabeth. At the sound of her voice, Elisabeth’s unborn child leaps for joy. This was an incomprehensible reaction except that it was the work of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit in John saluting the Son of God already conceived within Mary by the power of that same Spirit.

This reaction within Elisabeth brings her to realize that the holy child was reacting to someone also divinely blessed by God. The Holy Spirit inspired her to recognize that Mary was the mother of the promised Messiah. She calls out excitedly, “Blessed art thou above all other women.”

Elisabeth acknowledges also that, although conceived by the Holy Spirit, yet this child would be fully human, being born of the flesh and blood of Mary.

Verses 43-45. Elisabeth also acknowledges that Mary’s honor greatly exceeds her own. In humility she expressed the great privilege that she has been blessed by this visit by the mother of her Lord. She also praised Mary for ready acceptance of the word of God, having faith that what was promised, He would most certainly deliver. Elisabeth experienced exceeding great joy and expressed it with sincere thanksgiving.

Verses 46-56. Mary’s praise to the God.
When Mary was called the mother of Elisabeth’s Lord, inspired by the Holy Spirit, she uttered a series of praises for what God was bringing to pass. Many of the verses are quotations from the Old Testament. It must be kept in mind that from their childhood, the devout Jews were taught the scriptures, especially Psalms, which were sung on special occasions and during worship, even in their homes.

Mary’s praise has been described as a hymn. From the Vulgate translation in Latin, it has been called the “Magnificat”, and has been used as part of Christian worship from the earliest days.

Verses 46-48. Mary begins by describing her personal feelings and experience, in an elegant and direct manner. She expresses her respectful gratitude for God’s choosing her for such a great blessing. Though an unimportant, humble woman from the small town of Nazareth, from henceforth she will be called blessed.

Verses 49,50. Here Mary praised God’s might and holiness; He is The One who has done great things for her. His mercy has been shown continually from generation to generation on those that have respect and reverence, and honor Him by trying to follow His commandments.

Verses 51-53. Here Mary extols the great principle of reversing the expectations of sinful men: the proud are scattered; princes have been taken from their thrones; on the opposite side He has lifted up those of low degree; filled the hungry, while the rich are sent away empty.

Verses 54,55. He has kept mercy toward Israel, His servant, He promised Abraham from whose seed all the world would be blessed, through the coming of the Messiah. Mary speaks of these things as past, but that will continue until fulfilled completely.

Verse 56. After spending 3 months with Zacharias and Elisabeth, she returned to Nazareth. We can only imagine the conversations of these two ladies, discussing the miraculous blessings they had both received from God, as well as their thoughts about the future and the great things that will be accomplished by their God-given children. Zacharias probably also communicated with them through writing.

The fact that Mary leaves before the birth of John seems natural, because that event would involve a crowd of people and great celebrations and excitement. Only now were the Old Testament prophecies and revelations concerning God to be understood through the incarnation of Christ.

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The author taught from the Gospel of Luke at Paran Baptist Church on Highway 341 / Johnsonville Hwy in Lake City, South Carolina. This commentary is based on the notes he took in preparation for the lessons. He now enjoys spending his time with his family, and at his art studio on 118 Sauls St., Lake City, South Carolina. The above lesson was excerpted from his online Holy Bible Commentaries.

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