The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 42

incense. He WA.• in "the holy pliu,e," on the threshold of" the hol-' of holies." But now, by WRY of contrRst, he repRirs to NRzareth, that city of Galilee ao hidden In the hill~ thRt Rli who for VRrious reRsons needed a hiding-place resorted thither. ft wns 11 rendezvous for the worst of people, e.nd beca.me proverbial as the one plnco out of which ~o good thing need be_ ~xpected (J?hn i. 46).. It waa here the angel of mercy made his way to carry good t1dmgs to one m whose vems WRS the blood of kings. The bou~e of DRvid ho.d fallen indeed on evil de.ye when its lineal representative w&e to be found in II virgin b<>trothed t.o the village carpenter. Meanwhile let us comfort ourselves with the thought that e.ngcl-visits, though reputedly few and fe.r between, a.re not confined to temple-courts or pale.ces of earthly kings. The lowliest of situations e.nd the lowliest heart~ may he honoured by e. messenger from heaven.I . II. THE MESSAGE GABRIEL BROUGHT, Having sought e.nd found the virgin who wa1 espoused to J oscph, be first addressed to her a remarkable salutation. He salutes her as one who is (1) "highly favoured" (rt:•xtipm»JJ.•"'1), that is, the object of special favour from God; and (2) as one enjoying God's special presence-" The Lord is with thee." The other clause, " Dle.ssed art thou among women," seems to be transferred from the subsequent salutation of Elisabeth (ver. 42; and cf. Revised Version). It was a very gracious assurance Gabriel brought to Mary. She needed e.ll the support it gave her in her present trying position. The immediate effect upon her mind was/ear. She is troubled at the unexpected apparition. But it led her to deep thoughtfulness. It has been well said that praise comes as a surprise to the meek, but as a right, or rather less than a right, to the proud.• Mary was thrown by her fear into anxious thought as to what particular good fortune could be hers. Her idea was that she deserved nothing, and so she could the more thoroughly appreciate whatever came. What a relish Divine favour would be if we had Mary's meekness I Gabriel now bids her no longer to fear, since she has found favour with God, IUld her good fortune is to consist in this-that she is to be the mother of an everlasting Monarch. But we must pause over Gabriel's message. 1. The nrime of her Son iB to be Jes'I.UI. That is, he is to be a Saviour of men from Bin (cf. Matt. i. 21). The world h&e had Josh'll,(1,s in abun- dance, captains of invasion, but only one Jesus as a. Saviour from the curse ap.d power of Bin. 2. He is to be great. Anrl assuredly, if moral influence and genius constitute the highest greatness, Jesus has no equal among the sons of men. 3. He is to be called the Son of the Highest. God is to be his Father in a special sense. This does not refer to his" Eternal Sonsbip," but t-0 his human sonship. He is to stand to God in the relation of son to father, so far as his human nature is concerned. Mary is thus to be the mother of God's Son. 4. He is to succeed to the throne of hisfather David. Now, are we to understand this of a succession to a world-kingdom, and a "personal reign" over the Jews? If this be the meaning, then this reign is still to come, for through the rejection of Messiah this kingship was prevented. And so some interpret this (cf. Godet, in loc.). But our Lord's own words about the unworldliness of his kingdom seem to set this idea. at rest. He came to be King over a spiritual kingdom. Now, David, we should remember, W&S a great ecclesiastical reformer. He exercised com• manding influence in the Church as well as State of bis time; and he realized his vice- gerency under God. Jesus succeeds David upon the spiritual lines which were the chi£/ lines of David's influence as king. 5. His reign and kingdom are to be everlasting. His is to be no dying dynasty, but an everlasting rule. Emperors and kings have come and gone, and left their glory behind them; but this Son of Mary commands more influence tvery year, and knows no decline. 'l'he kingdoms of the world run a longer or shorter course; but Christ's kiugdom outlasts them all. Such a message was fitted to overwhelm an ordinary mind. Mary is to be the mother of a new King, and he is never to be uncrowned-an everlasting Monarch I Surely an ordinary head would be turned by such tidings as these. III. How MARY TAKES THE MESSAGE. She is so meek that her head is not turned. She is in e.m.a.zement certainly, but there is calm dignity and purity in her reply. 1. She aeka l,01D 8UCh a birth is to rome about aince she iB a virgin P This was not the inquiry of a doubter, out of a believer. She wanted direction. Was she to go on with • Cf. Gerok'e • Evangelien-J"redigten,' e. 801, et.a.' • Of. .Arndt'e 'Leben Jesu,' eretcr band, 1. 18, ffll, I. 1-80.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. LUKE. 33