Luke 1:39 Mary Visits Elizabeth - For The Glory of Jesus

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Mary Visits Elizabeth

After Gabriel left Mary, she arose and went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. When the two pregnant women met the baby Elizabeth leaped in her womb.

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Luke 1:39-56

Introduction:

“At this point the two miraculously conceived children encounter each other.” (Stein, H. Robert, The New American Commentary Volume 24, Luke. [Broadman Press, 1996], 88)

39. “Now that Mary knew she was to become a mother, and that her kinswoman Elizabeth would give birth in three months, she wanted to see Elizabeth so they could rejoice together.” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004], 173)

Haste [NKJV] “This should not be interpreted as an attempt to prevent Mary’s neighbors in Nazareth from knowing that she was pregnant. Rather Luke here described Mary as a model believer eagerly responding in obedience to the heavenly message of Luke 1:36.” (Stein, 89)

Mary Arrives

40-41. “As Mary entered the house, Elizabeth heard her greeting, was filled with the Spirit, and was told by the Lord why Mary was there.” (Wiersbe, 173)

“What we are dealing with here is miraculous, and there is no use trying to offer a natural explanation. You either believe what happened in these verses or you do not.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV: [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983]. 248)

“You either accept the miracles of the Bible or you do not, and what took place in these verses was a miracle. This woman is filled with the Holy Spirit, and the babe leaps in her womb.” (McGee, 248)

42. “The one word that filled her lips was ‘blessed.’ Note that she did not say that Mary was blessed above women but among women, and certainly this is true.” (Wiersbe, 173)

43. Elizabeth “greeted Mary not with skepticism but with joy. She understood the response of the child in her own womb. And she seemed to comprehend the immense importance of the child whom Mary was carrying. All of this must be attributed to the illuminating work of the Spirit (v. 41). (MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. [Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005], 1274)

44. “The infant, like his mother, was Spirit-filled (cf. vv. 15, 41. His response, like that of Elizabeth was supernaturally prompted by the Spirit of God.” (MacArthur, 1275)

45. “The thing that Elizabeth emphasized was Mary’s faith: ‘Blessed is she that believed.’ We are saved ‘by grace through faith’ (Ephesians 2:8-9) Because Mary believed the Word of God, she experienced the power of God.” (Wiersbe, 173)

Mary Sings

46. “This song is called ‘The Magnificat’ because the Latin version of Luke 1:46 is Magnificat anima mea Dominum. Her great desire was to magnify the Lord, not herself. She used the phrase ‘He hath’ eight times as she recounted what God had done for three recipients of His blessing.” (Wiersbe, 173)

“It reveals that Mary’s heart and mind were saturated with the Word of God. It contains repeated echoes of Hannah’s prayers, e.g., 1 Samuel 1:11; 2:1-10.” (MacArthur, 1274)

My soul doth magnify the Lord [KJV] “Compare Psalm 69:30. The use of ‘my soul’ for ‘I’ is found in Genesis 27:4; 27:25; Psalm 34:2.”

Luke 1:58; Acts 5:13; 10:46; 19:17

47. “Mary referred to God as ‘Savior,’ indicating both that she recognized her own need of a Savior, and that she knew the true God as her Savior. Nothing here or anywhere else in Scripture indicates Mary thought of herself as ‘immaculate’ (free for the taint of original sin).” (MacArthur, 1274)

“Nothing in this passage lends support to the notion that Mary herself ought to be an object of adoration.” (MacArthur, 1274)

48. The quality of Mary that shines most clearly through this passage is a deep sense of humility. Maidservant. [NKJV] I.e., a female slave.” (MacArthur, 1274)

49. “Mary would have no problem singing ‘great things he had done’ (see Luke 8:39; 1 Samuel 12:24; 2 Samuel 7:21-23; and Psalm 126:2-3) Because she believed God and yielded to His will, He performed a miracle in her life and used her to bring the Savior into the world.” (Wiersbe, 1730

Those Who Fear God

50-53. “Mary named three specific groups to whom God had been merciful: the helpless (Luke 1:51), the humble (Luke 1:52), and the hungry (Luke 1:53).” (Wiersbe, 174)

“The grace of God works contrary to the thoughts and ways of this world system (1 Corinthians 1:26-28). The church is something like that band of men that gather around David (1 Samuel 22:2).” (Wiersbe, 174)

Israel

54-55. “In spite of Israel’s destitute condition, the nation was still God’s servant, and He would help the people fulfill His purposes. God was on Israel’s side! He would remember His mercy and keep His promises (Psalm 98:1-3; see also Genesis 12:1-3; 17:19; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14).” (Wiersbe, 174)

“Were it not for Israel, Jesus Christ could not have been born into the world.” (Wiersbe, 174)

56. “Mary stayed with Elizabeth until John was born, and then she returned to Nazareth. By then, it was clear that she was pregnant, and no doubt the tongues began to wag…It was then that God gave the good news to Joseph and instructed him what to do (Matthew 1:18-25).” (Wiersbe, 174)

References

In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.

Stein, H. Robert, The New American Commentary Volume 24, Luke. Broadman Press, 1996
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004

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