Study of Luke
Chapter 1
(Luke 1:1) Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set
forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed
among us,
(Luk 1:2) Even as they delivered them unto us, which from
the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
(Luk 1:3) It seemed good to me also, having had perfect
understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order,
most excellent Theophilus,
(Luk 1:4) That thou mightest know the certainty of those
things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
So many seemed to have been writing about the life of Jesus Christ that Luke
being zealous of truth wanted to write about these things also to make sure
everything was accurate. There were multitudes of witnesses to the events in the
life of Jesus Christ. God made sure that we had an accurate inspired account of
the things that pertain to eternal life and salvation.
(Luk 1:5) There was in the days of Herod, the king of
Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife
was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
(Luk 1:6) And they were both righteous before God, walking
in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
God chose people who feared Him and loved His word to bring forth the
forerunner of the Messiah. God will use us today if we are determined to seek
Him and make ourselves available to Him. We do not choose what we want to do
though, God will decide what is best for our capabilities. God does the calling
but we must be willing vessels.
(Luk 1:7) And they had no child, because that Elisabeth
was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
Nothing is impossible to God. This was not the only time God used a woman
past child-bearing to show forth His power. Sarah the wife of Abraham also
conceived after she had passed menopause. Both women also were unable to have
children even when they were at the child-bearing age which made the miracles
even more spectacular.
(Luk 1:8) And it came to pass, that while he executed
the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
(Luk 1:9) According to the custom of the priest's office,
his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
Zacharias was performing his normal duties as a priest when an angel came to
him.
(Luk 1:10) And the whole multitude of the people were
praying without at the time of incense.
Faithful worshippers were praying not knowing that this was going to happen
so they were going about what they normally did on this occasion.
(Luk 1:11) And there appeared unto him an angel of the
Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
(Luk 1:12) And when Zacharias saw him, he was
troubled, and fear fell upon him.
If we saw an actual angel, we would fear too.
(Luk 1:13) But the angel said unto him, Fear not,
Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a
son, and thou shalt call his name John.
It seems that Zacharias has been praying for years for a son but when God
finally answered the prayer, he couldn't really believe what was happening.
(Luk 1:14) And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and
many shall rejoice at his birth.
(Luk 1:15) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord,
and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the
Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
This child was special and would not be as other children. He was not
supposed to drink strong beverages but be filled with the Holy Ghost while still
in the womb of his mother.
This Holy Ghost is available to all now because of Jesus Christ.
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(Luk 1:16) And many of the children of Israel shall he
turn to the Lord their God.
Many were following the teachings of John the Baptist before Jesus came on
the scene. After Jesus started His ministry, John sent his followers to Jesus
knowing that his (John's) days were ending and what he accomplished was done.
(Luk 1:17) And he shall go before him in the spirit and
power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the
Lord.
John made people aware of their need to repent of sin. We must repent of sin
before we receive Jesus Christ. It is part of salvation. We can't believe in
Jesus and remain in sin. When Jesus comes in sin must leave. That is the whole
reason for His coming to free us from sin so that we can inherit eternal life.
Sin cannot enter the future kingdom of God. To enter His kingdom, we must turn
away from sin. There is no power outside of Jesus Christ to free a soul from
sin. Without Jesus we are still in our sins.
(Luk 1:18) And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby
shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
This was not just asking a question but was unbelief.
(Luk 1:19) And the angel answering said unto him, I am
Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and
to shew thee these glad tidings.
(Luk 1:20) And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able
to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou
believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
Zacharias would not be able to speak until his son is born. This also served
as a sign to the people without when Zacharias was unable to speak for a season.
(Luk 1:21) And the people waited for Zacharias, and
marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
He took longer than he would normally take for this.
(Luk 1:22) And when he came out, he could not speak
unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he
beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
(Luk 1:23) And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days
of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
(Luk 1:24) And after those days his wife Elisabeth
conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
(Luk 1:25) Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days
wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
What a different time we live in now. They considered it a reproach to not be
able to have children. We now have abortion mills to get rid of unwanted
children. Children were considered gifts of God even among the poor.
Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of
the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
(Luk 1:26) And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was
sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
God works things out at both ends. Gabriel was sent first to Zacharias and
then to the mother of our Lord, Mary.
(Luk 1:27) To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was
Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
(Luk 1:28) And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail,
thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed
art thou among women.
Mary pleased God and was obedient to Him. God must have seen something in her
that would be perfect to bring forth the Messiah.
(Luk 1:29) And when she saw him, she was
troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this
should be.
She was not use to angels appearing to her.
(Luk 1:30) And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary:
for thou hast found favour with God.
It is natural to fear angelic beings but notice that in every case, the angel
exhorts them not to fear. The purpose of angels is not to scare us but bring us
a message from the Lord.
(Luk 1:31) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy
womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
(Luk 1:32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son
of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father
David:
We see here the prophecy of Jesus being the King over the throne of David.
(Luk 1:33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob
for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
This is still to come. Many Jewish people did not recognize the first coming
because He didn't become king then and there. Jesus had to die for sins first.
Luk 17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out
of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under
heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
Luk 17:25 But first must he suffer many
things, and be rejected of this generation.
Jesus will return at the appointed time but first He was rejected of that
generation and paid the sacrifice for sins on the cross. Jesus knew that He was
going to die. The crucifixion was no surprise to Him. He willingly allowed
Himself to become our sacrifice, our savior and our way out of sin. He is the
author of our eternal salvation. Our part is to believe this, turn from sin and
turn to Him.
(Luk 1:34) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall
this be, seeing I know not a man?
This was not unbelief as in the case of Zacharias but a question like, " I
understand but how will this come about?"
(Luk 1:35) And the angel answered and said unto her,
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall
overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee
shall be called the Son of God.
This must have really been an overwhelming awesome experience. I realize that
some warn about trusting in experiences. We truly cannot put experiences over
the word of God but that does not mean that we can't have experiences with the
presence of the Lord from time to time. We need those times of refreshing. It is
okay to feel something once in a while. We just can't base a doctrine on someone
else's experiences if it doesn't agree with God's word but we must not discount
actual experiences with the Lord. We need the written word to keep us from error
but also experiences in the Holy Spirit to quicken that word in our hearts.
(Luk 1:36) And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath
also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who
was called barren.
(Luk 1:37) For with God nothing shall be impossible.
(Luk 1:38) And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
(Luk 1:39) And Mary arose in those days, and went into the
hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
Right away Mary wanted to share what was happening with her cousin Elizabeth.
(Luk 1:40) And entered into the house of Zacharias, and
saluted Elisabeth.
(Luk 1:41) And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard
the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled
with the Holy Ghost:
This verse absolutely thrills my soul. Just think that the baby in the womb
of Elizabeth leaped for joy when Mary entered the room because Mary was already
carrying the Christ, the Son of God and our savior.
If this doesn't prove that a baby is a human being at conception, I don't
know what does.
(Luk 1:42) And she spake out with a loud voice, and
said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of
thy womb.
The Holy Spirit is for women too. Elizabeth prophesies here as she is filled
with the Holy Spirit and speaks by the spirit.
(Luk 1:43) And whence is this to me, that the
mother of my Lord should come to me?
As blessed as Mary is, we must remember that Jesus is the main one to be
honored and praised. Mary is seen here not as a cousin but as the mother or the
Lord.
(Luk 1:44) For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy
salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
(Luk 1:45) And blessed is she that believed: for
there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
(Luk 1:46) And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
Now we here Mary speaking by the Holy Spirit.
(Luk 1:47) And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my
Saviour.
(Luk 1:48) For he hath regarded the low estate of his
handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
(Luk 1:49) For he that is mighty hath done to me great
things; and holy is his name.
(Luk 1:50) And his mercy is on them that fear him
from generation to generation.
Notice that God's mercy is given to those who fear Him not those who ignore
His word or deny His existence.
(Luk 1:51) He hath shewed strength with his arm; he
hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
(Luk 1:52) He hath put down the mighty from their
seats, and exalted them of low degree.
There are no high and might persons in the sight of God.
(Luk 1:53) He hath filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
(Luk 1:54) He hath holpen his servant Israel, in
remembrance of his mercy;
He cares for the lowliest person. No one is too poor, too ugly, too small for
God to love and even exalt.
(Luk 1:55) As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and
to his seed for ever.
The Messiah was promised from the time of Abraham. God
planned it to bless all those that believe.
Genesis 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become
a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed
in him?
Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse
of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed
is every one that
hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the
Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit
through faith.
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