Luke 1:72
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to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
the mercy promised . . . his holy covenant . . .
Open source ↗The narrative which this evangelist gives us (or rather God by him) of the life of Christ begins earlier than either Matthew or Mark. We have reason to thank God for them all, as we have for all the gifts and graces of Christ's ministers, which in one make up what is wanting in the other, while all put together make a harmony. In this chapter we have, I. Luke's preface to his gospel, or his epistle dedicatory to his friend Theophilus (Luk 1:1-4). II. The prophecy and history of the conception of John Baptist, who was Christ's forerunner (v. 5-25). The annunciation of the virgin Mary, or the notice given to her that she should be the mother of the Messiah (Luk 1:26-38). IV. The interview between Mary the mother of Jesus and Elisabeth the mother of John, when they were both with child of those pregnant births, and the prophecies they both uttered upon that occasion (v. 39-56). V. The birth and circumcision of John Baptist, six months before the birth of Christ (Luk 1:57-66). VI. Zacharias's song of praise, in thankfulness for the birth of John, and in prospect of the birth of Jesus (Luk 1:67-79). VII. A short account of John Baptist's infancy (Luk 1:80). And these do more than give us an entertaining narrative; they will lead us into the understanding of the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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then I will remember My covenant with Jacob and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.
You will show faithfulness to Jacob and loving devotion to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from the days of old.
And He remembered His covenant with them, and relented by the abundance of His loving devotion.
Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs.
But I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.
I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,
Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD.
He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.