Commentary

Micah 5:2-5a
The prophet tells about a time when the insignificant town of Bethlehem will be
known as the birthplace of a ruler of Israel. During his reign, the people will
return back to Israel. This king will be ideal in every aspect. The people will be
feed. They will know God. And they will have peace. (All without a tax increase
or a standing army!)

Micah 5:2 Bethlehem of Ephrathah – This place is mentioned in Genesis 35:16-

19 and Genesis 48:7 as the place where Rachel died after giving birth to
Benjamin.
one of the little clans of Judah – The news that the L ORD selects the in-
significant to bring transformation surprises the word who expects the ex-
traordinary to come from the blessed.

Micah 5:3 he shall give them up until the time – The plan of the L ORD has
definite timetables.
she who is in labour has brought forth – This appears to be an illusion to
the birth of Benjamin.
the rest of his kindred shall return – Once again, the people will be given
their land.

Micah 5:4 he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the L ORD – The
leader is present among His people. He provides them with true food that
comes from the L ORD.
And they shall live secure – Blessings of salvation includes peace.

Micah 5:5a he shall be the one of peace – The defining attribute of this leader is
the lack of strife.

Hebrews 10:5-10
The author of Hebrews asserts that God has abandoned sacrifices so that His fol-
lowers may do His will. This way of the Lord is that Christ’s offering of His body
is the only sacrifice that is needed.

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 Hebrews 10:5 Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired – The author basi-
cally restates what is found in Matthew 9:13; 12:7; and Mark 12:33.

Hebrews 10:6 you have taken no pleasure – The concept is that God desires
people to follow the Lord’s will rather than offering the Lord gifts.

Hebrews 10:7 I have come to do your will – The work of Jesus is doing what
God asks everyone.

Hebrews 10:8 When he said above – The restatement of the topic that God does
not desire sacrifices, reemphasizes the point.

Hebrews 10:9 then he added – The repetition happens a second time.

Hebrews 10:10 sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ – The
purpose behind Christ’s work is the salvation of the world.

Luke 1:39-55
The historian Luke uses the speeches as a method of advancing the story line.1
It could have been that Mary and Elizabeth never said these exact lines but in-
stead they represent idealized phrases that show how these two individuals would
respond.
Many theologians call Mary the ark of the covenant. Athanasius of Alexandria
(296-373), in the Homily of the Papyrus of Turin, makes this comparison because
the glory of the Lord overshadowed her (Luke 1:35) and she carried God (Luke
1:42). In Numbers 10:34, when the ark moved the “cloud of the L ORD” came with
them. The ark was kept in the holiest place because this is where the L ORD met
His people. Also in Joshua 3 as the ark is being moved, the L ORD tells Joshua that
Joshua will be magnified before the people (Joshua 3:7).

Luke 1:39 In those days – The language invokes the distant past.
Mary set out and went with haste – ἀναστᾶσα δὲ Μαριὰμ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις
Literally, “In that day, Mary stood up.” This section from the author of
Luke/Acts is written in traditional Hebrew style.2 There is a purpose be-
hind Mary’s movement and destination.
1
Luke Timothy Johnson; Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., editor, The Gospel of Luke, Volume 3,
Sacra Pagina, (The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1991), p. 43.
2
Ibid., p. 40.

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Luke 1:40 entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth – Mary speaks
to Elizabeth.

Luke 1:41 filled with the Holy Spirit – Elizabeth in these verses serves as a
prophetess. She speaks the Word of the Lord.

Luke 1:42 Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb
– εὐλογημένη Elizabeth tells us that Mary is the first among all women.

Luke 1:43 mother of my Lord – Elizabeth is given insight into the lineage of the
Child and the Child’s importance.
The author of Luke/Acts has already used Lord as a proper title for God
(Luke 1:6, 9, 11, 15, 16, 17, 25).3

Luke 1:44

Luke 1:45 blessed – The author of Luke/Acts switches from the εὐλογέω used
in verse 42 to μακάριος. In Luke’s account, Mary’s blessing comes from the
fact that she heard the Word and kept it (Luke 11:27) and that she is the
mother of the Christ.4

Luke 1:46 My soul magnifies the Lord – μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν κύριον The
name Magnificat comes from the Latin (et ait Maria magnificat anima mea
Dominum). The hymn of praise follows the typical parallelism of Hebrew
poetry.5 A similar hymn of praise can be found in Hannah’s song (1 Samuel
2:1-10).6
A literal translation would be “My life magnifies the Lord.”

Luke 1:47 God my Savior – Even though this language would have been appre-
ciated by Jews, the intended audience of Hellenists would have resonated
with this phrasing.7

Luke 1:48 for He has looked – Despite all the need for political correctness in
our day, the Magnificat speaks of the Lord in masculine terms.
3
Johnson, Luke, p. 41.
4
Ibid.
5
Ibid.
6
Ibid.
7
Ibid., p. 42.

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 lowliness of his servant – Mary’s condition is one of “poverty and power-
lessness.”8 She represents those people whom she prays for.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed – This is a prophecy
of what will come.

Luke 1:49 holy is his name – Mary does not say the divine name of God anywhere
in the hymn. She only calls Him Lord or God.

Luke 1:50 His mercy is for those who fear him – While God gives mercy to
everyone, its proper target in the Magnificat is for those who respect the
L ORD

Luke 1:51 strength with his arm – This is an allusion to the Exodus story. The
use of past tense in this verse indicates that God has worked in the past and
God’s actions continue in every age.9
the proud in the thoughts of their hearts – ὑπερηφάνους διανοίᾳ καρδίας
αὐτῶν The phrase “arrogant in the thoughts of their hearts” means the in-
nermost human thoughts and intentions.10 These are not feelings. They are
plans. Johnson suggest the phrase “arrogant in their attitude.”11 Where do
we act like this today? Military, ecology, and human rights are just three
examples.

Luke 1:52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up
the lowly – The work of the L ORD is miraculous.

My favorite comment on Luke 1 comes from Will Willimon.

He tells the story of a college student talking to him about how
the virgin birth was just too incredible to believe. Willimon re-
sponded, “You think that’s incredible, come back next week.
Then, we will tell you that ’God has cast down the mighty from
their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.’ We’ll talk about the
hungry having enough to eat and the rich being sent away empty.
8
Johnson, Luke, p. 42.
9
Ibid.
10
Ibid.
11
Ibid.

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 The virgin birth? If you think you have trouble with the Chris-
tian faith now, just wait. The virgin birth is just a little miracle;
the really incredible stuff is coming next week.”12

Luke 1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away
empty. – In a stunning turn, the L ORD gives those that live on the margins
what they need and nothing else is provided to those individuals that have
already been blessed by God.

Luke 1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy – In
the Magnificat, Mary represents Israel. God is fulfilling His promises.

Luke 1:55 to his descendants for ever – The relationship that God has with the
people of Israel lasts to the end of time.

References
Hinkle, Mary, Pilgrim Preaching: Magnifying the Lord, (http:
//maryhinkle.typepad.com/pilgrim_preaching/2003/
12/magnifying_the_.html, December 2003), Last checked on
December 18, 2009.

Johnson, Luke Timothy; Harrington, S.J., Daniel J., editor, The Gospel of Luke,
Volume 3, Sacra Pagina, (The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN: The
Liturgical Press, 1991).

12
Mary Hinkle, Pilgrim Preaching: Magnifying the Lord, (http://maryhinkle.
typepad.com/pilgrim_preaching/2003/12/magnifying_the_.html, Decem-
ber 2003).