Saturday, November 3, 2018

Luke 1:39-56 comments: Elisabeth's praise of Mary and Mary's praise of God


    Luke 1:39 ¶  And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40  And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 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: 42  And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43  And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44  For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45  And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46  And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47  And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48  For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49  For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50  And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51  He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52  He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53  He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54  He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55  As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. 56  And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Strong’s dictionary reports that Hebron was a city in the hill country of the tribe of Judah which was assigned to priests and Jewish tradition has John the Baptist from there.

John the Baptist, in his mother’s womb, moved at Mary’s greeting, leaping for joy. Remember what Luke reported earlier.

Luke 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.

Elisabeth, too, was filled with the Holy Ghost, the mind of God.

For contexts where the Spirit of God or the spirit of man can be synonymous with mind please see the following;

Romans 8:27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

1Corinthians 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Ephesians 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Philippians 1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

2Timothy 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Elisabeth blesses Mary in the Spirit, with the Holy Ghost speaking through her. Mary then praises God. Elisabeth calls Mary the mother of my Lord. Mary’s praise of God underscores how God used the lowliest of people for His purposes, not the politically powerful or the rich.

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