Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 1:75
In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
75. In holiness ] towards God,
and righteousness ] towards men. We have the same words contrasted in 1Th 2:10, “how holily and righteously;” Eph 4:24, “in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” , ‘holy,’ is the Hebrew Chsd, whence the ‘Chasidm’ (Pharisees); and the Hebrew Tsaddik, whence ‘Sadducees.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In holiness … – In piety and strict justice.
Before him – In the presence of God. Performed as in his presence, and with the full consciousness that he sees the heart. The holiness was not to be merely external, but spiritual, internal, pure, such as God would see and approve.
All the days of our life – To death. True religion increases and expands until death.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Luk 1:75
All the days of our life
The holy and their heavenly prospects
True, all our lives long we shall be bound to refrain our soul and keep it low; but what then?
For the books we now forbear to read, we shall one day be endued with wisdom and knowledge. For the music we will not listen to, we shall join in the song of the redeemed. For the pictures from which we turn, we shall gaze unabashed on the beatific vision. For the companionship we shun, we shall be welcomed into angelic society and the communion of triumphant saints. For the pleasures we miss, we shall abide, and evermore abide, in the rapture of heaven. It cannot be much of a hardship to dress modestly, and at small cost, rather than richly and fashionably, if, with a vivid conviction, we are awaiting the white robes of the redeemed. And, indeed, this anticipation of pure and simple white robes for eternal wear may fairly shake belief in the genuine beauty of elaborate showiness, even for such clothes as befitted in the present distress. (Christina G. Rossetti.)
Holiness
What is the base line of the Bible? It is sin. And it is not one of the chief reasons why the Bible is made so little of that men do not realize what sin is–how dreadful and how fatal it is? What is the horizontal line of the Bible? It is holiness. That is where earth and heaven meet. But on that horizon line there is only one point of sight, it is where God and man meet in Christ, in whom alone holiness can be found. (John Munro Gibson.)
Ambition to excel in holiness
There is nothing, it might have seemed when the first settlers of Massachusetts established the English race on the cheerless shores, the barren rocks, the trackless forests of this continent. Yet there was everything; there was the hope of a new world; there were the elements of a mighty nation, if only those who followed after sustained the high spirit and great resolves of those who had gone before. It was but two days ago that I read in the close of a volume written by the founder of the venerable village of Concord, a sentence which ought to bring at once the noblest encouragement and the sternest rebuke to every citizen of this Commonwealth. There is no people, says Peter Bulkley, in his Gospel Covenant, in the year 1646, to his little flock of exiles, There is no people but will strive to excel in something. What can we excel in if not in holiness? If we look to numbers, we are the fewest; if to strength, we are the weakest; if to wealth and riches, we are the poorest of all, the people of God throughout the whole world. We cannot excel, nor so much as equal, other people in these things; and, if we come short in grace and holiness, we are also the most despicable people under heaven. Strive we therefore to excel, and suffer not this crown to be taken away from us, (Dean Stanley.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
In holiness and righteousness,…., Not in mere outward rites and legal ceremonies but as the saints serve, from principles of righteousness and true holiness; in which the new man is created, and of which the kingdom of God, or spiritual and internal religion consists; so in acts of piety and devotion towards God, and justice among men, which is the substance of the perfect and acceptable will of God:
before him; it is one thing to serve the Lord with an outward appearance of holiness and righteousness before men, and another thing to be righteous before God, and to walk in all his commandments and ordinances, as in his sight: all the days of our life; which denotes the constancy and continuance of this service; it is not for a day or two, or only on festivals and sabbath days, such as were under the Jewish dispensation, but every day we live. In the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, and in two copies of Beza’s, and two of Stephens’s, and in the Alexandrian copy, it is only read, “all our days”; but the Arabic version reads, as the generality of copies, and as we render it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In holiness and righteousness ( ). Not a usual combination (Eph 4:24; Titus 1:8; 1Thess 2:10). The Godward and the manward aspects of conduct (Bruce). H, the eternal principles of right, , the rule of conduct before men.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Holiness and righteousness [ ] . The adjective osiov, holy, is properly what is confirmed by ancient sanction and precept.
Osia, is used in classical Greek to denote the everlasting principles of right, not constituted by the laws or customs of men, but antedating them; such as the paying of the proper rites of sepulture. Compare the fine passage in the “Antigone” of Sophocles (453 – 55) :
“Nor did I deem thy edicts strong enough, That thou, a mortal man, shouldst overpass The unwritten laws of God that know not change. They are not of today nor yesterday, But live forever, nor can man assign When first they sprang to being.”
Hence oJsiothv is concerned primarily with the eternal laws of God. It is “the divine consecration and inner truth of righteousness” (Meyer). Throughout the New Testament its look is godward. In no case is it used of moral excellence as related to men, though it is to be carefully noted that dikaiosunh, righteousness, is not restricted to rightness toward men. Compare Eph 4:24; true holiness; literally, holiness of the truth.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “In holiness and righteousness before him,” (en hosisteti kai dikaiosune enopoi autou) “in both holiness of being and righteousness in deeds before his face,” or with him looking on; Such should be the character of our Divine service to Him, Tit 2:11-12; 1Pe 1:14-15; Eph 4:24.
2) “All the days of our life?” (pasais tais hemerais hemon) “All our days,” or for all our lives, secured, guarded, and sustained by His faithfulness, Rev 2:10; 1Pe 1:5; 1Co 10:3.
Nature of the Messiah’s Work, redemptive, 1) “That we should serve Him,” purpose, Luk 1:71; Heb 13:10; Heb 13:15.
2) Nature of service, in holiness,3) In freedom, Luk 1:74.
4) In fearlessness. 5) The duration, Luk 1:75.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
75. In holiness and righteousness As the rule of a good life has been reduced by God to two tables, (Exo 31:18,) so Zacharias here declares, that we serve God in a proper manner, when our life has been framed to holiness and righteousness. Holiness, beyond all question, denotes—as even Plato knew the duties of godliness, (77) which relate to the first table of the law. Righteousness, again, extends to all the duties of charity: for God requires nothing more from us in the second table of the law, than to render to every one what belongs to him. It is added, before him, to instruct believers, that it is not enough if their lives are decently regulated before the eyes of men, and their hands, and feet, and whole body, restrained from every kind of open wickedness: but they must live according to the will of God, who is not satisfied with professions of holiness, but looks chiefly on the heart.
Lastly, That no man may consider his duties to be at an end, when he has worshipped God for a certain period, Zacharias declares that men have been redeemed on the condition (78) that they shall continue to devote themselves to the worship of God all the days of their life And certainly, as redemption is eternal, the remembrance of it ought never to pass away; as God adopts men into his family for ever, their gratitude ought not to be transitory or of short continuance; and, in a word, as “Christ both died and rose, and revived” for them, it is proper that he should be “Lord both of the dead and living,” (Rom 14:9.) So Paul, in a passage which I lately quoted, enjoins us to
“
live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works,” ( Titus 2:12-14.)
(77) “ Le mot de Sainctete comprend tout ce dont nous sommes redevables a Dieu pour adorer et honorer sa majeste.” — “The word Holiness includes all that we owe to God for adoring and honoring his majesty.”
(78) “ Hac lege redemptas esse homines.” — “ Zacharie dit que les hommes ont este rachetez a la charge de s’appliquer a servir Dieu tout le temps de leur vie.” — “Zacharias says that men have been redeemed upon condition of applying themselves to serve God all the time of their life. ”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(75) In holiness and righteousness.The same combination is found, though in an inverted order, in Eph. 4:24. Holiness has special reference to mans relations to God; justice to those which connect him with his fellow men; but, like all such words, they more or less overlap.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
75. In holiness Towards God.
And righteousness Towards man.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Luk 1:75. And the days of our life. Serving God in holiness and righteousness, as well as deliverance from enemies, being spoken of as in the merciful grant of God, we may reasonably conclude that it refers to those passages, in which God promised to pour out extraordinary degrees of a pious spirit on his people, under the reign of the Messiah. Compare Isa 44:1-5. Jer 31:31-34 and Eze 36:25-27.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
Ver. 75. Before him ] The sense of God’s presence makes men conscientiously obedient to both tables of the law. Cave spectat Cato, was a watchword among the Romans. Noli peccare, Deus videt, Angeli astant, &c. Take heed what thou doest, God beholds thee, angels observe thee, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Luk 1:75 . : the Godward, religious aspect of conduct (Eph 4:24 ). : the manward, ethical aspect.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
holiness. Toward God. righteousness. Toward men. Compare 1Th 2:10. Eph 4:24.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 1:75. , in holiness and righteousness) The same combination of words occurs, Eph 4:24; 1Th 2:10. Righteousness expresses conformity to the law: holiness, conformity to nature.-) on every day [all the several days]: Heb 2:15.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Deu 6:2, Psa 105:44, Psa 105:45, Jer 31:33, Jer 31:34, Jer 32:39, Jer 32:40, Eze 36:24-27, Mat 1:21, Eph 1:4, Eph 2:10, Eph 4:24, 1Th 4:1, 1Th 4:7, 2Th 2:13, 2Ti 1:9, Tit 2:11-14, 1Pe 1:14-16, 2Pe 1:4-8
Reciprocal: Lev 25:55 – my servants Deu 5:15 – the Lord Deu 11:1 – his statutes 1Sa 12:10 – deliver 2Sa 7:1 – the Lord 2Ki 17:39 – he shall deliver 2Ch 14:2 – good and right Ezr 8:35 – offered burnt Job 1:5 – continually Psa 59:1 – Deliver Psa 106:3 – doeth Psa 116:9 – walk Psa 119:32 – enlarge Psa 119:134 – General Isa 43:21 – General Eze 11:20 – they may Dan 6:27 – delivereth Zec 8:19 – therefore Rom 6:18 – made 1Co 7:22 – is the Col 1:22 – to Tit 2:12 – denying Heb 2:15 – deliver Heb 12:14 – and holiness 1Pe 1:15 – so 1Pe 2:24 – live 1Jo 3:7 – he that 1Jo 4:18 – is no
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5
Zacharias places salvation on condition of lifelong righteousness.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 1:75. In holiness and righteousness. Holiness is consecration to God, righteousness the manifestation of it; without the former, the latter would be unreal; both are necessary to true piety; even the righteousness has respect to God rather than to men. Since this is the end which Zacharias expected to be subserved by deliverance from the hand of our enemies, it is impossible that his song referred only to temporal blessings.
All our days. This extends the thought beyond the lives of individuals, to the national existence of Israel. Temporal prosperity is implied, but only as the result of the religious restoration just spoken of. Israel failed to be thus restored, and hence the prosperity did not come; but the prophecy will yet be fulfilled.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
1:75 In holiness and righteousness {l} before him, all the days of our life.
(l) To God’s good liking.