39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into
the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and
greeted Elizabeth. 41 And
it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in
her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and
said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of
your womb! 43 But why
is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to
me? 44 For
indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe
leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed
is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things
which were told her from the Lord.” 46 And
Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my
Savior. 48 For He
has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all
generations will call me blessed. 49 For
He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear
Him From generation to generation. 51 He
has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the
imagination of their hearts. 52 He
has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the
lowly. 53 He has
filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away
empty. 54 He has
helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and
to his seed forever.” 56 And
Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
Vs. 42-45 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
Elizabeth then being filled with the Holy Spirit now speaks out with a loud voice, not a tentative voice, but a loud voice so as to declare to Mary God’s blessing and favor on her, saying to her: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” vs. 42 If Mary then had any doubts, or needed any reassurances of what was happening to her, then God was going to reassure her through Elizabeth, whom she both knew and trusted, that He is indeed at Work in both her and Elizbeth’s persons and lives. Elizabeth then in having her eyes made wide open by the Spirit of the Lord cannot fathom how the soon to be mother of her Lord would now come to her (vs. 43). Therefore, she now describes to Mary how the babe in her womb leaped for joy as soon as the sound of Mary’s greeting came to her ears (vs. 44). For even the child within her knows the Presence of the Lord. Elizabeth then tells Mary that blessed is she, “for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” vs. 45 Therefore with God reassuring Mary through her relative Elizabeth Mary will now declare her praises for her (and our) Sovereign God and Savior (see vs. 46-56).
Vs. 46-47 46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
Mary then being filled with the Spirit of the Lord and faith in our God now declares her abounding thanksgiving and praises to Him, saying: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” Mary’s exuberating in God’s Person and salvation then she cannot contain for God’s people always have, and always will be moved to praise His Everlasting Lovingkindness and Goodness and Faithfulness (Ps. 34). For God is the Most Just, and His mercy is on all who know Him and fear Him, right up to you and I, from the “greatest” of us, to the “lowliest” of us, God’s Grace through His Son’s Person comes to us all who believe in Him.
Vs. 48 “For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.”
Mary then was not a woman of a high stature (she did not lay claim to thrones and dromions, or to rights and privileges, as being someone “special”. She wasn’t a haughty or arrogant woman, and she most definitely wasn’t self assured) but she was of a lowly state, of a humble spirit, and faith filled heart. And so it is that because she was chosen by the Highest to bring forth His Son into the world all generations will call her blessed. Because God looked on her lowly state and He exalted her to be His own.
Vs. 49 “For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.”
Therefore, Mary now declares that God who is Mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name (vs. 49). For God’s Name isn’t to be taken in vain, it isn’t to be blasphemed, it is to be revered and praised! Just as Mary who being Spirit filled is doing.
Vs. 50 “And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.”
The great truths that this Spirit filled woman of God is bringing forth continues, for truly God’s mercy is on everyone who fears Him from generation to generation (consider Acts 10:34-35).
Vs. 51 “He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.”
Throughout the Scriptures God’s strength and His deliverance of His people is both shown and praised. For truly God scatters the proud (the arrogant, the unbelieving) in the imagination of their hearts; either by direct intervention, or by leaving them to their own degenerate pursuits and folly. For these are the ones who always reject God s Person, Word, and Rule, and oppress His own (Psalm 119:122). Therefore, God deals with them, and will deal with them according to their own works and ways. For some verses on the proud and or God’s dealings with them see: Job 9:13; Ps. 40:4, 119:69-70, 78, 85, 123:3-4, 138:6; Prov. 15:25, 16:19; Ecc. 7:8; Isaiah 2:11-12; 13:11; 29:20; Malachi 4:1; James 4:6 etc.)
Mary is not the first lowly servant of the Lord to be exalted by the Lord, (nor will she be the last), for in God’s Kingdom the mighty and powerful who trust in and rule the kingdoms of this world by their own strength and power will be brought down, and the lowly will be exalted in their place (consider 1 Samuel 2:8; Job 5:11; Psalm 107:41; 113:4-7; 138:6; Zech. 9:9; 2 Cor. 10:1 etc.)
Vs. 53 “He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.”
Throughout the Scripture God has, and promises to fill the hungry with God things, (consider Job 36:15; Psalm 9:17-18; 12:5; 14:6; 22:26; 35:10; 68:10; 69:33; 72:4, 12, 13; 109:31; 140:12; Isaiah 11:4; 14:30, 32; 25:4; 26:6; 29:19; 41:17; 61:1; Jer. 20:13; Luke 6:20-23 etc,) while sending the rich of this world who have heaped up treasures for themselves empty, devoid of any of the true blessings of God both here and now and for all eternity (consider Psalm 9:17-18; Matt. 5:3; Luke 6:24-26; James 1:9-11; 5:1-6 etc.).
Vs. 54-55 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”
Mary’s finial declaration of praise is to recall God’s faithfulness to Israel, in remembrance of His mercy to His people as He promised their ancestral fathers He would, and now is fulfilling that promise in these days. A promise that began with Abraham and continues to his seed forever. Israel and all those who are of the faith of Abraham will never be forsaken by God (Deut. 31:6; Matt. 28:19-20; Heb. 13:5).
Vs. 56 “And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.”
Mary stayed then with Elizabeth three months while the Child grew inside her, enjoying their very unique bond and fellowship during that time until Elizabeth gave birth. Now when Mary returned to her house her pregnancy would’ve been readily apparent to all (see Matt. 1:18-25).
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version. (!982): Thomas Nelson
Commentary
Vs. 39-40 39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into
the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and
greeted Elizabeth.
When the angels
Word came to pass and the Child began to grow in her womb the Word says, Mary
“…arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a
city of Judah, 40 and
entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.” It appears then that
Mary in seeking out the Godliest relatives she knew was unaware that Elizabeth
was six months pregnant with a child (given by the Will, and for the purposes
of God) at that time as well.
Vs. 41 “And it
happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in
her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Now when Marry
greeted Elizabeth the Scripture says that the babe in her womb (i.e. John the
Baptist) leaped (i.e. an expression of having great joy) of coming into the
Presence of the soon to be born Christ Child. Now not only did that happen, but
Elizabeth herself became filled with the Holy Spirit because of the Holy
Presence of God came into her midst. These then are not ordinary occurrences
for any Godly person to experience, but were given as Divine markers of God’s
coming salvation through His Son into the world! Vs. 42-45 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
Elizabeth then being filled with the Holy Spirit now speaks out with a loud voice, not a tentative voice, but a loud voice so as to declare to Mary God’s blessing and favor on her, saying to her: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” vs. 42 If Mary then had any doubts, or needed any reassurances of what was happening to her, then God was going to reassure her through Elizabeth, whom she both knew and trusted, that He is indeed at Work in both her and Elizbeth’s persons and lives. Elizabeth then in having her eyes made wide open by the Spirit of the Lord cannot fathom how the soon to be mother of her Lord would now come to her (vs. 43). Therefore, she now describes to Mary how the babe in her womb leaped for joy as soon as the sound of Mary’s greeting came to her ears (vs. 44). For even the child within her knows the Presence of the Lord. Elizabeth then tells Mary that blessed is she, “for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” vs. 45 Therefore with God reassuring Mary through her relative Elizabeth Mary will now declare her praises for her (and our) Sovereign God and Savior (see vs. 46-56).
Vs. 46-56 46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the
Lord, 47 And my
spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His
maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things
for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear
Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown
strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of
their hearts. 52 He has put down
the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good
things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In
remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our
fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.” 56 And Mary remained with her about three
months, and returned to her house.
Preamble:
Now Mary’s
declaration here is one of the greatest in all of Scripture; exceeding that of
Hannah who similarly rejoiced when God looked upon her lowly and afflicted
state and answered her prayer and granted her a son (see 1 Sam. 1-2:1-10). Vs. 46-47 46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
Mary then being filled with the Spirit of the Lord and faith in our God now declares her abounding thanksgiving and praises to Him, saying: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” Mary’s exuberating in God’s Person and salvation then she cannot contain for God’s people always have, and always will be moved to praise His Everlasting Lovingkindness and Goodness and Faithfulness (Ps. 34). For God is the Most Just, and His mercy is on all who know Him and fear Him, right up to you and I, from the “greatest” of us, to the “lowliest” of us, God’s Grace through His Son’s Person comes to us all who believe in Him.
Vs. 48 “For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.”
Mary then was not a woman of a high stature (she did not lay claim to thrones and dromions, or to rights and privileges, as being someone “special”. She wasn’t a haughty or arrogant woman, and she most definitely wasn’t self assured) but she was of a lowly state, of a humble spirit, and faith filled heart. And so it is that because she was chosen by the Highest to bring forth His Son into the world all generations will call her blessed. Because God looked on her lowly state and He exalted her to be His own.
Vs. 49 “For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.”
Therefore, Mary now declares that God who is Mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name (vs. 49). For God’s Name isn’t to be taken in vain, it isn’t to be blasphemed, it is to be revered and praised! Just as Mary who being Spirit filled is doing.
Vs. 50 “And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.”
The great truths that this Spirit filled woman of God is bringing forth continues, for truly God’s mercy is on everyone who fears Him from generation to generation (consider Acts 10:34-35).
Vs. 51 “He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.”
Throughout the Scriptures God’s strength and His deliverance of His people is both shown and praised. For truly God scatters the proud (the arrogant, the unbelieving) in the imagination of their hearts; either by direct intervention, or by leaving them to their own degenerate pursuits and folly. For these are the ones who always reject God s Person, Word, and Rule, and oppress His own (Psalm 119:122). Therefore, God deals with them, and will deal with them according to their own works and ways. For some verses on the proud and or God’s dealings with them see: Job 9:13; Ps. 40:4, 119:69-70, 78, 85, 123:3-4, 138:6; Prov. 15:25, 16:19; Ecc. 7:8; Isaiah 2:11-12; 13:11; 29:20; Malachi 4:1; James 4:6 etc.)
Vs.
52
“He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the
lowly.”
Mary is not the first lowly servant of the Lord to be exalted by the Lord, (nor will she be the last), for in God’s Kingdom the mighty and powerful who trust in and rule the kingdoms of this world by their own strength and power will be brought down, and the lowly will be exalted in their place (consider 1 Samuel 2:8; Job 5:11; Psalm 107:41; 113:4-7; 138:6; Zech. 9:9; 2 Cor. 10:1 etc.)
Vs. 53 “He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.”
Throughout the Scripture God has, and promises to fill the hungry with God things, (consider Job 36:15; Psalm 9:17-18; 12:5; 14:6; 22:26; 35:10; 68:10; 69:33; 72:4, 12, 13; 109:31; 140:12; Isaiah 11:4; 14:30, 32; 25:4; 26:6; 29:19; 41:17; 61:1; Jer. 20:13; Luke 6:20-23 etc,) while sending the rich of this world who have heaped up treasures for themselves empty, devoid of any of the true blessings of God both here and now and for all eternity (consider Psalm 9:17-18; Matt. 5:3; Luke 6:24-26; James 1:9-11; 5:1-6 etc.).
Vs. 54-55 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”
Mary’s finial declaration of praise is to recall God’s faithfulness to Israel, in remembrance of His mercy to His people as He promised their ancestral fathers He would, and now is fulfilling that promise in these days. A promise that began with Abraham and continues to his seed forever. Israel and all those who are of the faith of Abraham will never be forsaken by God (Deut. 31:6; Matt. 28:19-20; Heb. 13:5).
Vs. 56 “And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.”
Mary stayed then with Elizabeth three months while the Child grew inside her, enjoying their very unique bond and fellowship during that time until Elizabeth gave birth. Now when Mary returned to her house her pregnancy would’ve been readily apparent to all (see Matt. 1:18-25).
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version. (!982): Thomas Nelson
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