Luke 1:41-45
Verse 41
1. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting:
A. Probably said, "chairete," rejoice.
B. Liz had a bona fide emotional response to the sight and sound of a loved
one.
C. But this was enhanced by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
2. The baby leaped in her womb:
A. This is not an independent action on the part of the
baby, but a physical reaction based on Liz's emotion and the filling of
the Spirit.
B. This is called reflex motility in the development of
a fetus. The fetus will react to the mother's emotional and physical activity.
C. At v. 44, Liz says the baby leaped in her womb "for
joy" (Literally, "in joy," or "in the sphere of joy.").
It refers to Liz's joy; her emotional "high," not the baby's.
3. And she was filled with the Holy Spirit:
A. This refers to the empowering ministry of the Spirit
which was provided for certain believers in the Old Testament so that they
could accomplish a specific task in God's plan.
See Topic: Holy
Spirit: Baptism and filling
B. The empowering of the Spirit immediately communicated
to Liz, Mary's status and the status of the baby in her womb.
C. Having been informed by the Spirit, Liz then responded
from her soul's doctrinal content and emotional joy.
Verse 42
1. And she cried out with a loud voice: indicates a strong
emotional response.
2. Blessed among women: eulogeō = to speak
well of, to pronounce good concerning someone.
A. Used of God toward man: God blesses and honors with
divine provision.
B. Used of man toward God: Man honors and praises God.
C. Used of man toward man: To honor, to recognize the character of someone
and praise him (objective rather than emotional).
D. Here it refers to Elizabeth and future generations
recognizing God's grace acceptance of Mary and giving her grace-honor.
Nothing that should promote any kind of worship or even celebrity-ship.
3. And blessed is the fruit of your womb:
A. Same word used now for the Messiah Savior. Recognition
of who He is and honoring Him as such.
B. This pronouncement indicates Liz's acceptance of divine
design and provision in the Messiah.
4. Compare this objective expression of doctrinal thinking
and emotional response with Luke 11:27-28 which shows a woman operating
in subjective emotionalism with any divine viewpoint she may have in her
soul, totally inoperative.
Verse 43
1. And how has it happened to me: why am I being graced
out through personal involvement with you?
2. That the mother of my Lord:
A. Lord: kurios = master in the human realm, but used
of God to indicate deity authority over man.
B. My Lord: indicates her personal recognition and acceptance
of the nature of the baby in Mary's womb. Recognizes the sovereignty and
deity that will be manifested in the incarnated Lord Jesus Christ.
C. This statement also indicates the nature of what the
Holy Spirit taught to her in just a matter of seconds.
3. Should come to me:
A. This indicates that Liz feels personally honored at
Mary's visit and association.
B. With a rhetorical question, Liz is stating the fact
that she is personally honored.
C. At verse 44, Liz explains her soul response to this
honor, as great joy.
Verse 44
1. For: gar = a word to explain the degree of her joy.
A. It points back to verses 42-43 and tells to what extent
this joy and honor has affected her.
B. I was so happy when I found out about you, that my
joy overflowed and caused a physical reaction from the baby.
C. The "why" of her joy is indicated in the
personal expression, "my Lord."
2. behold: idou - concentrate on this, focus attention.
3. When you greeted me:
A. In v. 41, Liz was endowed with the Spirit so she could
understand what was going on and express divine viewpoint for the benefit
of generations to follow.
B. The Holy Spirit immediately communicated to her the
status of Mary and the significance of her pregnancy.
C. And immediately upon that revelation, Liz responded
with joy for Mary, for the coming of the savior and for her own association
with Mary.
D. Notice: when the sound reached "my ears."
E. If it had been a "separate" emotional expression
on the part of the baby, it certainly would have nothing to do with Liz's
hearing.
4. The baby leaped in my womb for joy
A. The baby does not have independent emotions. This is
Liz's joy.
B. The baby could not see or hear Mary. This is Liz's response.
C. The action of the baby is reflex motility based on the emotional response
of Liz.
5. The purpose of the statement:
A. For behold: to explain v. 43
B. For: that is, to explain the overt expression of my
honor, I was so happy when I found out about you, that my joy overflowed
and caused a physical reaction in the baby.
C. She does not say why she is honored, but that her personal
honor is evidenced by the degree of her joy.
D. The "why" of her honor is indicated when
she says, "the mother of my Lord."
Verse 45
1. And blessed: different word this time. It is
makarios,
which is an adjective that means happy. It refers to the potential for
Mary to have inner relaxation and contentment based on her part in God's
plan.
2. Is she who believed: The verb is pisteuo, as an aorist
active participle, to describe Mary's response to the angel's message.
A. It indicates Mary's faith acceptance of God's plan,
which is the basis for true inner happiness.
B. This illustrates the principle of having great inner
happiness from believing and applying divine viewpoint in life. Jer. 15:16;
John 13:17; 15:11
3. That there would be fulfillment: that is, that God
would keep His word. She has trusted divine viewpoint and divine design,
and as a result, she is relaxed, contented and happy.
4. The word, believe, indicates that Mary is occupied
with the character and plan of God. The evidence of her occupation with
God is verbalized by Mary in verses 46-55.
Return to Bible Fragrances Index
