Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 1:45

And blessed [is] she that believed for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

45. blessed is she that believed ] Perhaps Elizabeth had in mind the affliction which had followed her husband’s doubt. Comp. Joh 20:29.

for there shall be a performance ] The words may also mean ‘she that believed that there shall be,’ &c.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Blessed is she that believed – That is, Mary who believed what the angel spoke to her. She was blessed not only in the act of believing, but because the thing promised would certainly be fulfilled.

From these expressions of Elizabeth we may learn:

1. That the spirit of prophecy had not entirely ceased among the Jews.
2. That the Holy Spirit is the source of light, comfort, and joy.
3. That everything about the birth of Jesus was remarkable, and that he must have been more than a mere man.
4. That the prospect of the coming of the Messiah was one of great joy and rejoicing to ancient saints; and,
5. That it was a high honor to be the mother of him that should redeem mankind.

It is from that honor that the Roman Catholics have determined that it is right to worship the Virgin Mary and to offer prayers to her – an act of worship as idolatrous as any that could be offered to a creature. Because:

1. It is not anywhere commanded in the Bible.
2. It is expressly forbidden to worship any being but God, Exo 34:14; Exo 20:4-5; Deu 6:13-14; Isa 45:20.
3. It is idolatry to worship or pray to a creature.
4. It is absurd to suppose that the Virgin Mary can be in all places at the same time to hear the prayers of thousands at once, or to aid them. There is no idolatry more gross, and of course more wicked, than to worship the creature more than the Creator, Rom 1:25.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Luk 1:45

And blessed is she that believeth,–

Blessedness of firmly believing

Doubting nothing! That is the secret of liberty, of efficiency, of success in every work which is undertaken by men: a confidence in the practicability, in the value of the work, in the Divine authority which imposes it upon us as an obligatory work, and in the Divine providence and power which will bring it to a successful performance.

It is the secret of success, of enthusiasm in any secular enterprise. You see it in the inventor who is perfectly certain of the combination of instruments by which he is to accomplish a certain result–a result which is of value and importance to mankind. Nothing can hinder his endeavour, nothing can obscure or damp his enthusiasm, because he is certain of ultimate success. You see it in the teacher who knows that he has a truth to communicate to men, a truth which it is of importance to them to apprehend and to understand, who is not groping among uncertainties as he speaks it, who is not vaguely feeling after conjectures while he utters it, who is able to affirm it to others, because he has it affirmed in his own intelligent and intuitive spirit–the principle which he is declaring to the world. Kepler said: God has waited so many centuries for an observer of the heavens, I can wait for years for an interpreter of those observations. And every man who as certainly knew that he had apprehended truth and had it conveyed to others has been reinforced, inspired by this confidence, and gone to his work doubting nothing. See it in the soldier who knows, because he knows the commander, that the order which has been given is wise, practicable, needful; that no life will be wasted which can be saved, and no endeavour commanded which is not indispensable to the great result. See it in the sailor who trusts his clock and his compass, and is absolutely certain that the sun, of which he takes the meridian observation, will not tell him a lie, but will point out exactly the point on the ocean where the ship at that moment is; and he goes on his course, after his observation, doubting nothing, knowing where he is as exactly as if the commerce of nations had built at that very spot a beacon and had labelled it in immense letters of light in all the languages of the world: This is at such a point on such a meridian. He knows as certainly as he could know then, when he has caught the ray of the sun upon his instrument, where he is on the ocean, which to others seems pathless and intricate. Everywhere, then, this confidence is the condition of enthusiasm and of success, and in Christian enterprises, precisely as in secular enterprises, it is a confidence not merely in the usefulness of the work, but in the Divine authority which connects itself with that work, and the Divine care and the Divine affection, the Divine impulse which attend us in our endeavours to perform it. (R. Storrs.)

Saving faith

I. IN THE SIMPLICITY OF ITS NATURE.

II. IN THE IMPORTANCE OF ITS OBJECTS.

III. IN THE SUFFICIENCY OF ITS GROUNDS.

IV. IN THE PROPRIETY OF ITS ACTS.

V. IN THE BENEFITS OF ITS EXERCISE. Blessed is she that believeth; for there shall be a performance, and only a performance when we believe. (William Dawson.)

Trust in God

Marys faith, astounding in itself, the most supreme example probably of perfect trust in God and absolute self-devotion to Him that human flesh has ever given, was all the more striking to Elisabeth on account of its contrast with the unbelief of her own husband under a far less severe trial. No wonder that when Mary appeared before her spirit-illuminated eyes, she seemed the embodiment of Faith–that modest virgin, with clasped hands, whom Hermas saw in vision, though whom the elect of God are saved, and from whom spring all the Christian graces as fair daughters of a fair mother. Mary is thus, in Elisabeths eyes, the most blessed of women, because the most faithful; and it suits well that the first psalm of the New Testament should take the form of a praise of the fundamental evangelical virtue. (Professor Warfield.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 45. Blessed is she that believed; for there shall be, &c.] Or, Blessed is she who hath believed that there shall be, &c. This I believe to be the proper arrangement of the passage, and is thus noticed in the marginal reading. Faith is here represented as the foundation of true happiness, because it receives the fulfilment of God’s promises. Whatever God has promised, he intends to perform. We should believe whatever he has spoken-his own authority is a sufficient reason why we should believe. Let us only be convinced that God has given the promise, and then implicit faith becomes an indispensable duty: in this case not to believe implicitly would be absurd and unreasonable – God will perform his promise, for HE cannot lie.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Some will have this given as a reason why Elisabeth pronounced her blessed, because she believed that what God had said should have its effect; as, Luk 11:27,28, when the woman blessed the womb that bare Christ, and the paps that gave him suck, Christ saith, Yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. Mary was blessed not in this so much, that she brought forth Christ, as in this, that she believed in him. The words are certainly a great confirmation of what the angel had before told her, and it must needs be a great satisfaction to her to hear to her kinswoman, by the Spirit of prophecy, coming extraordinarily upon her, confirming what the angel had before told her.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

45. An additional benediction onthe Virgin for her implicit faith, in tacit and delicate contrastwith her own husband.

forrather, as in theMargin, “that.”

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And blessed is she that believed….. Meaning Mary, a woman, a very young woman, and who had had things very incredible to nature and reason told her; and yet she believed, without objecting thereto, or requiring a sign; tacitly referring to the unbelief of Zacharias, who was a man, a man in years, a priest by office; and yet had been very incredulous, in a thing that was much more possible; because there had been instances of it before, in Sarah, Hannah, and Manoah’s wife; than what was related to the virgin, of which there had been none; and which to reason, and with men, was impossible: and happy indeed is every one, that has true faith in any degree; for faith is the faith of God’s elect, and is both a fruit and evidence of electing grace, which is the source of all blessings; it is the gift of God, and the operation of his Spirit, and can never be lost: many are the blessings such as believe are in the possession of, and openly entitled to; as the justification of their persons, the remission of their sins, their adoption into the household of God, liberty at the throne of grace, and a right to the eternal inheritance; they enjoy much solid peace, joy, and comfort in their own souls; bring much glory to God, and shall be saved in the Lord, with an everlasting salvation:

for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord: these words may be considered, either as the subject matter of her faith, and be rendered in connection with the former, thus, “blessed is she that believed, that there shall be a performance, c”, being fully persuaded, that what the angel had told her, concerning the conception and birth of a son, concerning his name, and the greatness of his person, and the nature, extent, and duration of his kingdom, should be certainly and punctually fulfilled or as a reason of her happiness, because there should be a sure accomplishment of them. Whatever God has spoken to any of his people, whether it be with respect to things temporal, spiritual, or eternal, shall be performed; as may be strongly concluded from the veracity of God, who cannot lie; and from his power, who is able to do all things; and from his faithfulness, which he will never suffer to fail; and from instances, and matters of fact; from the experience of the saints in all ages, who know, and are conscious to themselves, that not one of the good things the Lord God has spoken to them, has ever failed, but that all have come to pass; see Jos 23:14.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

For (). It is not certain whether here is “that” or “because.” It makes good sense either way. See also 7:16. This is the first beatitude in the New Testament and it is similar to the last one in the Gospels spoken to Thomas to discourage his doubt (Joh 20:29). Elisabeth wishes Mary to have full faith in the prophecy of the angel. This song of Elisabeth is as real poetry as is that of Mary (1:47-55) and Zacharias (1:68-70). All three spoke under the power of the Holy Spirit. These are the first New Testament hymns and they are very beautiful. Plummer notes four strophes in Mary’s Magnificat (46-48,Luke 1:49; Luke 1:50,51-53,Luke 1:54; Luke 1:55). Every idea here occurs in the Old Testament, showing that Mary’s mind was full of the spiritual message of God’s word.

Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament

For [] . Many, however, prefer that, referring to the substance of her belief : “She believed that there shall be a fulfilment,” etc. It is urged that the conception, which was the principal point of faith, had already taken place, so that the fulfilment was no longer future. On the other hand, the angel ‘s announcement to Mary included more than the fact of conception; and Elizabeth, in the spirit of prophecy, may have alluded to what is predicted in vv. 32, 33.

Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament

1) “And blessed is she that believed:” (kai makaria he pisteusasa) “And blessed is she (the one) believing,” referring to Mary who believed what Gabriel had told her, Luk 1:38. This was in contrast to the doubt of Zacharias, Luk 1:18.

2) “For there shall be a performance,” (hoi estai teleiosis) “Because there shall come to be a completion,” a fulfillment, as surely as there was of the Divine promise to Abraham and to Hannah, Gen 17:16; 1Sa 1:20. Not one promise to believers, has ever, will ever, or can ever fail.

3) “Of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (tois lelalemeois aute para kuriou) “To the things (that) have been spoken to her from the Lord.” Note, Elizabeth accepted the testimony of the word of her husband, and of Mary, that the angel Gabriel was a servant-angel, a messenger bearing truth from God for her benefit, Heb 1:14, and she rejoiced in it.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

45. And blessed is she that believed It was by a hidden movement of the Spirit, as is evident from a former statement of Luke, that Elisabeth spoke. The same Spirit declares that Mary is blessed because she believed, and by commending Mary’s faith, informs us generally in what the true happiness of men consists. Mary was blessed, because, embracing in her heart the promise of God, she conceived and brought forth a Savior to herself and to the whole which the Judges occupied; as when Cicero proposes to appeal from the Senate to the popular assembly, ”a subselliis in rem deferre.” Calvin may have had in his eye such a phrase as “imi subsellii vir,” and his meaning is fully brought out by his own version, “sur le marchepied.” — Ed world. This was peculiar to her: but as we have not a drop of righteousness, life, or any other benefit, except so far as the Lord presents them to us in his Word, it is faith alone that rescues us from the lowest poverty and misery, and makes us partakers of true happiness.

There is great weight in this clause, for there shall be a fulfillment to those things which have been told her The meaning is, faith gives way to the divine promises, that they may obtain their accomplishment in us. The truth of God certainly does not depend on the will of men, but God remains always true, (Rom 3:4,) though the whole world—unbelievers and liars—should attempt to ruin his veracity. Yet, as unbelievers are unworthy to obtain the fruit of the promises, so Scripture teaches us, that by faith alone they are powerful for our salvation. God offers his benefits indiscriminately to all, and faith opens its bosom (44) to receive them; while unbelief allows them to pass away, so as not to reach us. If there had been any unbelief in Mary, that could not prevent God from accomplishing his work in any other way which he might choose. But she is called blessed, because she received by faith the blessing offered to her, and opened up the way to God for its accomplishment; while faith, on the other hand, shuts the gate, and restrains his hand from working, that they who refuse the praise due to its power may not feel its saving effect. We must observe also the relation between the word and faith, from which we learn that, in the act of believing, we give our assent to God who speaks to us, and hold for certain what he has promised to us that he will do. The phrase, by the Lord, is of the same import with an expression in common use, on the part of God; for the promise had been brought by the angel, but proceeded from God alone. Hence we infer that, whether God employs the ministrations of angels or of men, he wishes equal honor to be paid to his Word as if he were visibly descending from heaven.

(44) “ Sinum expandit;” — “ mais la foy, par maniere dire, tend son giron pour les recevoir ;” — “ but faith, so to speak, holds its lap to receive them.”

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(45) Blessed is she that believed.The two renderings, for there shall be, and that there shall be, are equally tenable grammatically. On internal grounds there seems a balance in favour of the latter, as the other interpretation appears to make the fulfilment of the promise dependent upon the Virgins faith.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

45. She that believed The believing Mary, whose faith stood in contrast with Zacharias’s unbelief, and should be rewarded with the performance.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Luk 1:45. And blessed is she that believed, &c. Dr. Heylin, in agreement with the margin of our English version, renders it, And blessed is she who believed that there shall be, &c. Elisabeth in these words plainly commended the faith and humility which Mary had expressed when the angel assured her that she should become pregnant in her virgin state; with an oblique reference to the behaviour of Zacharias, who probably had informed her by writing of all that had happened; or, as is more likely, she might attain the knowledge of the whole by revelation.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Ver. 45. Blessed is she, &c. ] Mary believed, so did not Zacharias, though a man, a priest, aged, learned, eminent, and the message to him of more appearing possibility. This, Elisabeth here seems to have an eye to.

Believed that there shall be, &c. ] The same may be said of every believer. It is true also in cases ordinary. A persuasion that God will help and keep us, will indeed help and keep us, Mar 9:23 .

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

45. ] Either (as E. V., Vulg., Erasm., Beza, Meyer) blessed is she that believed, for, &c., or blessed is she that believed that there shall be, &c. The last is maintained by Bengel and De Wette, and supported by Act 27:25 . But I own it seems to me very improbable here; the sense and the period would both suffer; and the usage of these first chapters is to render a reason by : see Luk 1:37 ; Luk 1:48-49 ; Luk 1:68 .

De Wette and Bleek urge against it, that we should thus look for and not . But surely the preceding , rendering the sentence axiomatic, would prepare the way for the demonstrative pronoun of the third person, on either view of . I much prefer the former rendering, as agreeable likewise to the analogy of Scripture, where faith, in the recipient of the divine purposes, is so often represented as a co-ordinate cause of the fulfilment of those purposes. Lightf. well suggests, that there may have been present to the mind of Elisabeth the unbelief of her husband , as contrasted with Mary’s faith.

Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament

Luk 1:45 . , here, as elsewhere, points to rare and high felicity connected with heroic moods and achievements. , because or that , which? great conflict of opinion among commentators. The former sense would make give the reason for calling Mary blessed = blessed because the things she hopes for will surely come to pass. The latter makes indicate the object of faith = blessed she who believes that what God has said will come to pass, with possible allusion to her own husband’s failure in faith.

Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson

blessed = happy. Not the same word as in Luk 1:42.

performance = fulfilment. from. Greek para. App-104.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

45.] Either (as E. V., Vulg., Erasm., Beza, Meyer) blessed is she that believed, for, &c., or blessed is she that believed that there shall be, &c. The last is maintained by Bengel and De Wette, and supported by Act 27:25. But I own it seems to me very improbable here; the sense and the period would both suffer;-and the usage of these first chapters is to render a reason by : see Luk 1:37; Luk 1:48-49; Luk 1:68.

De Wette and Bleek urge against it, that we should thus look for and not . But surely the preceding , rendering the sentence axiomatic, would prepare the way for the demonstrative pronoun of the third person, on either view of . I much prefer the former rendering, as agreeable likewise to the analogy of Scripture, where faith, in the recipient of the divine purposes, is so often represented as a co-ordinate cause of the fulfilment of those purposes. Lightf. well suggests, that there may have been present to the mind of Elisabeth the unbelief of her husband, as contrasted with Marys faith.

Fuente: The Greek Testament

Luk 1:45. , blessed) This is evident from the instance of Zacharias on the opposite side.-, who hath believed) Luk 1:38.- ) that [but Engl Vers. for) there shall be.-, to her [in particular]) This has an emphatic reference to , who hath believed, and is put instead of, to thee: just as in ch. Luk 13:34.

Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament

blessed: Luk 1:20, Luk 11:27, Luk 11:28, 2Ch 20:20, Joh 11:40, Joh 20:29, that believed: for there, or, which believed that there, etc

Reciprocal: Num 20:12 – Because ye believed 1Ki 17:16 – the barrel 2Ki 4:5 – she went Psa 60:6 – rejoice Joh 1:50 – Because Act 27:25 – I believe Rom 4:20 – staggered Rom 4:21 – he was able

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

5

She that believed refers to Mary who had no physical evidence as yet. (See the comments at verses 39, 40.) Elizabeth then gave Mary an assurance of the fulfillment of the promises, and that was an expression of her inspired mind.

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary

Luk 1:45. For there shall be, or, believed that there shall be, etc. The former rendering introduces an encouragement for Marys faith, tells of the blessing of entire fulfilment which will be given to her faith,an idea in keeping with these first dawnings of the New Dispensation. The latter refers more to the promise as already fulfilled. Elisabeth, without hearing Marys story, knows of the angelic message. Elizabeth, while extolling the blessedness of Mary on account of her faith and obedience, was undoubtedly reflecting with compassion on the condition of Zacharias, whose unbelief had been reproved with loss of speech, while the believing Mary was entering her house with joyful salutations. Van Ooster-zee.

Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament

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