Mary and the Angel

Mary and the Angel Gabriel

Mary and the Angel Gabriel
LUKE 1 COMMENTARY
Luke 1:23-27 Elizabeth

Luke 1:28-34 Mary and the Angel

Luke 1:35 Son of God
LUKE 1:28-30  28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

What was the angel's first word to Mary?
χαιρε (chaire), the original Greek word translated “Greetings,” literally means “have joy” or “be glad,” and was an ordinary way to greet someone, much like “Good morning” in English today isn't an observation but a greeting that wishes the hearer to have a good morning. This word does not confer adoration or reverence.

What was the angel's second word to Mary?
κεχαριτωμενη (kecharitomene), the original Greek word translated “favored one,” means having received favor, mercy or grace. It does not mean “full of grace.”

Why was Mary “troubled” (Luke 1:29)?
She suddenly “saw” (Luke 1:29) an unfamiliar male figure, who also may not have looked entirely human, “come in” (Luke 1:28) to her room/house uninvited and immediately begin talking to her as if he knew her.

LUKE 1:31-33  31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Did the angel's message to Mary get more 'normal' after the troubling initial greeting?
She was going to give birth to the Son of ... God (Luke 1:32).

Why is “David” also being called the “father” (Luke 1:32) of Jesus?
See Genealogy of Jesus.

What is the “house of Jacob” (Luke 1:33)?
The descendants of Jacob who became the nation of Israel: “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel” (Genesis 32:28).

In saying that Jesus will reign over Israel “forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:33), is the angel talking about Jesus succeeding Herod as the next king of Israel?
The angel is talking about Jesus' spiritual reign and kingdom prophesied in the Old Testament: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations” (Psalm 145:13).

LUKE 1:34  34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

Is Mary saying that she hasn't yet met the man who will father her son?
She was already “betrothed to ... Joseph” (Luke 1:27). The “know” in Luke 1:34 refers to having sexual intercourse (see Firstborn Son); she is asking how she could possibly “conceive” (Luke 1:31) a baby when she is a “virgin” (Luke 1:27).