Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 1:70
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
70. by the mouth of his holy prophets ] namely “in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms,” see on Luk 24:44.
since the world began ] Rather, of old ( ‘ ). “At sundry times and in divers manners” (Heb 1:1) but even “in old time” (2Pe 1:21) and dating back even to the promises to Eve and to Abraham (Gen 3:15; Gen 22:18; Gen 49:10) and the sceptre and the star of Balaam Num 24:17).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
His holy prophets … – All the prophets are said to have referred to the Messiah, from the beginning of the world. The most striking of these were Jacob Gen 49:10; Moses Deu 18:15; Isaiah Isa 9:6-7; Isa 53:1-12.
Since the world began – This is not to be taken literally, for there were no prophets immediately after the creation. It is merely a general expression, designed to denote that all the prophets had predicted the coming of the Messiah. Compare the Luk 24:27 note; Rev 19:10 note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Luk 1:70
As he spake
All Gods promises are fulfilled
Look over your lives, O Christians I and you cannot find one hour when Gods promises have failed you.
Look over the history of His people, and it is full of promises fulfilled; but there is not a fragment of a broken promise to be found. When Elishas servant was afraid because the armies of Syria were besieging them in Dothan, Elisha prayed that his eyes might be opened; and the servant saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots round about Elisha. If God touches our eyes, we too shall see all our own life and all history full of Gods fulfilled promises round about us. As when Miltons archangel spoke–
To confirm His words, out flew
Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs
Of mighty cherubim.
So God speaks a promise, and out fly millions of facts and experiences to confirm His words.
Faithfulness of God
Far, far above all comprehension is the truth and faithfulness of God. He never fails, nor forgets, nor falters, nor forfeits His word. Afflictions are like clouds, but the Divine truthfulness is all around them. While we are under the cloud we are in the region of Gods faithfulness; when we mount above it we shall not need such an assurance. To every word of threat, or promise, prophecy or covenant, the Lord has exactly adhered, for He is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Mercy of God boundless
Like the ethereal blue, it encompasses the whole earth smiling upon universal nature, acting as a canopy for all the creatures of earth, surmounting the loftiest peaks of human provocations, and rising high above the mists of mortal trangression. Clear sky is evermore above, and mercy calmly smiles above the din and smoke of this poor world. Darkness and clouds are but of earths lower atmosphere: the heavens are evermore serene, and bright with innumerable stars. Divine mercy abides in its vastness of expanse, and matchless patience, all unaltered by the rebellions of man. When we can measure the heavens, then shall we bound the mercy of the Lord. Towards his own servants especially, in the salvation of the Lord Jesus, He has displayed grace higher than the heaven of heavens, and wider than the universe. O that the atheist could but see this, how earnestly would he long to become a servant of Jehovah! (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Immovableness of the Divine promises
A swallow having built its nest upon the tent of Charles V., the Emperor generously commanded that the tent should not be taken down when the camp removed, but should remain until the young birds were ready to fly. Was there such a gentleness in the heart of a soldier toward a poor bird which was not of his making, and shall the Lord deal hardly with His creatures when they venture to put their trust in Him? Be assured He hath a great love to those trembling souls that fly for shelter to His royal courts. He that buildeth his nest upon a Divine promise shall find it abide and remain until he shall fly away to the land where promises are lost in fulfilments. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
70. since the world beganor,”from the earliest period.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
As he spake, by the mouth of his holy prophets,…. Which shows not only the veracity and faithfulness of God in his promises, but the early intimations that were given by him concerning the Messiah: for it follows,
which have been since world began; or from the beginning of the world; ever since the first hint of the Messiah, as the seed of the woman, that should bruise the serpent’s head, was given, he was more or less spoken of. Adam, the first prophet, seems to have respect to him, when he calls his wife Eve, which signifies life; and because she should be the mother of all living. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of him, of his second coming, which supposes his first; and Lamech may be thought to have some regard to him, when he named his son Noah, and said what he did concerning him: Christ was spoken of to Abraham, as his seed, in whom all nations of the earth should be blessed; and God spake of him by the patriarch Jacob, under the name of Shiloh, as who should spring from the tribe of Judah, before the sceptre and lawgiver were departed from it. Moses foretold that there should arise a prophet from the midst of his brethren like unto him, to whom the Israelites were to hearken. David, the prophet, often speaks of him, particularly of his death, his resurrection from the dead, his ascension to heaven, and session at God’s right hand; and the evangelical prophet Isaiah predicts his birth of a virgin, and testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Micah points out the very place of his birth; and Zechariah describes the manner of his entrance into Jerusalem, as riding on an ass: to say nothing of what Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and others, have prophesied of him, It is a common saying of the Jews x, that
“all the prophets, all of them prophesied not, “but of the days of the Messiah.””
The men, by whom God spoke of the Messiah, of the mission of him, and of raising up this horn of salvation, for his people, were “prophets”; men endued with a spirit of prophecy; “holy”, men, who were sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and spake, as they were moved by him; and these all spake as if it were with one “mouth”; they all agree in their accounts concerning Christ, though they lived in different periods of time, from the beginning of the world.
x T. Bab, Beracot, fol. 34. 2. & Sabbat, fol. 63. 1. Maimon. Hilchot Teshuva, c. 8. sect. 7.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Since the world began (‘ ). Better “from of old” (Weymouth, American Revision).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
That have been since the world began [ ] . A needlessly verbose rendering, retained by Rev. The American Rev. insists on of old.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets,” (kathos elalesen dia stomatos ton hagion propheton autou) “Just as he spoke through the mouth of the holy prophets,” his mouth of Divine service, Jer 23:5-6; Dan 9:24.
2) “Which have been seen since the world began” (ap’ aionos) “Who have existed (and spoken) from the beginning of the world,” or from the earliest period, of all the prophets, Gen 3:15; Gen 49:10; Act 10:43; Deu 18:15-18; Isa 9:6-7; Joh 1:45; Rev 19:10.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
70. As he spake That the salvation which is said to have been brought by Christ may not be thought doubtful on the score of novelty, he adduces as witnesses all the Prophets, who, though they were raised up at different times, yet with one consent teach, that salvation is to be expected from Christ alone. Nor was it the sole design of Zacharias to celebrate the truth and faithfulness of God, in performing and fulfilling what he formerly promised. His object rather was to draw the attention of believers to the ancient predictions, that they might embrace, with greater certainty and cheerfulness, the salvation offered to them, of which the Prophets from the beginning had testified. When Christ comes forth adorned, (73) with the testimonies of all the Prophets, our faith in him rests on a truly solid foundation.
He calls them holy prophets, to secure for their words greater authority and reverence. They were not inconsiderable or ordinary witnesses, but were of the first rank, (74) and furnished with a public commission, having been separated from the common people, for that purpose, by divine authority. To inquire minutely how each of the prophets gave testimony to Christ, would lead us into a long dissertation. Let it suffice for the present to say, that they all uniformly make the hope of the people, that God would be gracious to them, to rest entirely on that covenant between God and them which was founded on Christ, and thus speak plainly enough of the future redemption, which was manifested in Christ. To this purpose are many striking passages, which contain no dark prophecies respecting Christ, but point him out, as it were, with the finger. But our chief attention is due to the signature of the divine covenant; for he that neglects this will never understand any thing in the prophets: as the Jews wander wretchedly (75) in reading the Scripture, in consequence of giving their whole study to words, and wandering from the main design.
(73) “ Ornatus;” — “ revestu et garni d’excellens tesmoignages de tous les Prophetes;” — “clothed and adorned with excellent testimonies of all the Prophets.”
(74) “ Classicos testes.” This is a fine allusion to the Roman division into classes, (mentioned by Livy, 1:43,) from the first of which classes, as carrying greater weight and respectability, “ testes,” witnesses were selected for signing Testaments, — a department of Conveyancing, which all civilized nations have guarded by the most careful provisions, and in which authenticity is peculiarly and indispensably necessary. Calvin’s vernacular brings out, though with less elegance, the meaning in which classicos testes is here used, — “ bons, suffisans, et sans reproche;” — “good, sufficient, and without reproach.” — Ed.
(75) “ Misere vagantur.” — “ Les Juifs ne font que tracasser et se tormenter sans profit toute leur vie;” — “the Jews do but vex and tease themselves without advantage all their life.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(70) His holy prophets, which have been since the world began.The words were probably more than a lofty paraphrase of the more usual language, of old time, of ancient days, and imply a reference to the great first Gospel, as it has been called, of Gen. 3:15, as well as to those made to Abraham, who is the first person named as a prophet (Gen. 20:7).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
70. By the mouth of his holy prophets The Messiah is the theme of prophecy and the antitype of the types since the world began. Even in the garden of Eden the first prediction of the Saviour was given. Gen 3:15. But Peter, in Act 3:21, uses similar words: All his holy prophets since the world began; by which he plainly means Moses and the prophets following. The words world began are a very loose translation. The original is ’ , which means not from the creation, but from an ancient age, from of old. The same phrase is used by the Septuagint in Gen 6:4, and Psa 25:6.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old,’
And all this was in accordance with the promises of the prophets made long ago. Prophecy was in the process of fulfilment. The ancient records of the Jews were well known and honoured by most, even among non-Jews. Thus any fulfilment of them could only be truly significant.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Luk 1:70. Which have been since the world began: ‘ : “from the beginning of the world.” By the world, in this passage, some understand the Jewish dispensation, because, before the giving of the law, no prophet spake either of God’s raising up a Horn of Salvation in the house of David, or of performing his covenant with Abraham. And to these promises they suppose Zacharias now alluded, because the general strain of his discourse seems to respect the temporal deliverance which the Jews imagined the Messiah would accomplish for the Israelites. Nevertheless, if we carefullyattend to the text, we shall be sensible that this 70th verse is connected, not with the verse which precedes, but with that which follows it, in this manner: “He hath raised up an Horn of Salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, &c. as the accomplishment of a promise which he made by the prophets from the beginning of the world; which promise was, that we, the spiritual Israel, should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us.” Accordingly we find that a promise of this sort was made to the parents of mankind immediately after the fall, and by them handed down to their posterity, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head. This sense renders Zacharias’s words more consistent than the other, which can never shew how a horn of salvation in the house of David was promised by the prophets from the beginning of the Jewish dispensation. And though it should be granted, that Zacharias had not now in his eye the general spiritual deliverance of the people of God, yet, as he spake by inspiration, the meaning of the Holy Ghost here, as in many other prophesies, is much more extensive than the ideas of the prophet by whom he spake, and who often did not understand what he uttered; as St. Peter informs us, 1 Eph 1:10-11.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Luk 1:70 . No parenthesis.
] not used substantivally (Bornemann), but see Bernhardy, p. 322; Krger, 50. 9. 7.
] not absolutely , as though there had been prophets even ab orbe condito (“imo per os Adami,” Calovius), but relatively ; when the oldest prophets emerged (and Moses already was such an one), was the commencement of prophecy since the beginning of the world . Comp. Gen 6:4 ; Act 3:21 ; Longin. 34: .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
Ver. 70. By the mouth ] There were many prophets, yet they had all but one mouth, so sweet is their harmony.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
70. ] Meyer cites , Longin. 34.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Luk 1:70 . : a predicate applied in reverence to the prophets, as to the apostles in Eph 3:5 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
by = through.
Greek. dia. App-104. Luk 1:1.
since the world began = from [the] age i.e. of old. See App-151.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
70.] Meyer cites , Longin. 34.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Luk 1:70. , as He spake) The point at which Mary left off, Luk 1:55, is the same as that at which Zacharias now begins.- , by the mouth) To prophesy cost the prophets no labour in so far as they received the power from God; whatever it cost them, was merely in so far as they had to put forth their prophecies to men hostile to them. They needed merely to lend their mouth [for God to supply the words]: nay, even a mouth was given tham, Luk 21:15.-, holy) There was no prophet that was not holy:[18] 2Pe 1:21; Heb 11:32-33.- , since the world began) Even from the very beginning there were prophets.
[18] Balaam seems an exception. But perhaps Beng. means by sanctus consecrated to God, and set apart from other men by God to His service.-Ed. and Transl.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
spake: 2Sa 23:2, Jer 30:10, Mar 12:36, Act 28:25, Heb 3:7, 2Pe 1:21, Rev 19:10
which: Luk 24:26, Luk 24:27, Luk 24:44, Gen 3:15, Gen 12:3, Gen 49:10, Dan 9:24-27, Act 3:21-24, 1Pe 1:12
Reciprocal: Num 4:27 – appointment Num 10:9 – remembered 1Ki 8:15 – which spake 1Ki 11:36 – David 2Ch 6:4 – who hath with Psa 89:19 – Then Psa 132:11 – Of the fruit Isa 48:5 – even Jer 33:14 – General Jer 33:21 – may Amo 9:11 – raise Mat 1:1 – the son of David Mat 22:42 – The Son Mar 1:2 – written Luk 1:54 – General Joh 6:45 – written Joh 9:32 – the world Act 2:30 – he Act 15:16 – build again the tabernacle Act 24:14 – believing Act 26:6 – the promise Rom 15:8 – for the 2Pe 3:2 – ye may Rev 22:6 – the holy
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
MODERN PROPHETS
As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began.
Luk 1:70
The message of Zacharias is as true to-day as when he sang. There have been, and there are, prophets and teachers of righteousness all through the ages. God has not left Himself without witnesses; He still has prophets prophesying in the way of Christ.
I. The prophet in the home.Parents stand, or should do, to their children in the relation of those who have studied the book of experience, some of whose pages were written in blood, some of which were written amid lamentation and tears. It is a difficult task for the most upright and conscientious of parents to decide how to interpret the ways of God. Pure habits, the proper observance of Sunday, absolute truthfulness, unflinching honour and unbroken consistencysurely such things exist, and we can trace them to the voice of father or mother now hushed and dead. If such a voice has spoken to us, let us thank God for it. If we can look back to a prophet who prepared for us the way of the Lord, let us once more thank God for it.
II. The prophet in the school.The crammer is one thing, the educator is quite another. Any schoolmaster can push forward a few prize men, but it requires some self-denial and much genius to develop and turn to their proper uses the unpromising and unprofitable. Let us thank God once more that we have found from among our teachers those who have had patience with us, who have trusted us, who have shown us what we might be, and the heights to which we might attain.
III. The prophet in the Church.Pre-eminently, as we are reminded at every ordination sermon, God is always sending out into His Church fresh prophets, those whose mission and life-work it is to reprove, rebuke, and exhort, whose duty it is to warn and to watch, and, while they minister before God, to devote themselves to the wants of their fellow-men. In no way is advice more unpopular than in religion. We know to-day the contempt expressed for preaching and sermons; but there never was a time when sermons were wanted as they are now. Do not think for a moment that the duty of the prophets is to tell you how you must despise this world, that you may live in a better. Do not think that they are insurance agents, who tell you to make a provision now against possible danger hereafter. This may be a part, but it is a very insignificant part, of their duty. Their message is to bring God into your life, to help you to realise His real presence. God be praised that He has not left Himself without witnesses! God be praised for that voice He has left behind!
Rev. Canon Newbolt.
Illustration
It is possible that some of you who have seen an ordination may have been struck by a discrepancy between the solemn claim for the awfulness of the service and the agents on whose behalf this claim is made, and over whom the words are spoken. You say: These men are so young, fresh from the University or training college, who but recently were at school; what do they know about the world, with its hundred appeals to the human heart? What do they know of the intricate questions of the day? of the criticisms which have assailed the Bible? We should like priests who are men of the world, men who have studied, men who can talk to us on questions of the day, men whose Bible is the open page of contemporary history. We need prophets of research who shall show us God as He is to-daynot God as He appeared to an Eastern race some hundreds of years ago. I accept the appeal. It is true that we need men of researchmen who do not speak the dead language of the past, but the living language of the present. But where is that research to be made? What are the fields to which these new workmen are directed? Is there not a danger of forgetting that there is a vast field of spiritual research? If they are young as regards questions of the day and things of the world, does it follow that they are young as regards spiritual thingsthings which are hidden from the wise and prudent and revealed unto babes? John the Baptist, the great forerunner of Christ, was no man of the world. He was no courtier. He was no learned man, and yet he exercised the most wonderful influence. He could answer the questions of the people and he could meet the rough words of the soldiers, and all were satisfied. Why? Because he was a man of spiritual research.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
0
Christ had been foretold by the prophets through Old Testament times, in places toa numerous to mention at this place.