Mary and Elizabeth

Mary and her relative Elizabeth

Mary and Elizabeth
LUKE 1 COMMENTARY
Luke 1:36-38 Nothing will be Impossible with God

Luke 1:39-45 Mary and Elizabeth

Luke 1:46-49 Mary and Jesus
LUKE 1:39-40  39 Now Mary set out in those days and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

How long after “the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38), did Mary “set out” (Luke 1:39) for Zacharias' house?
It was “days” (Luke 1:39) but she “went in a hurry” (Luke 1:39), so not many days after meeting the angel.

Why did she set out in a hurry?
Probably to confirm what the angel told her: “Elizabeth your relative, in her old age, has conceived a son and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren, for nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:36-37).

Where is “the hill country” (Luke 1:39)?
The hilly region of southern Israel, bordered by the Jordan River valley to the east and the Mediterranean coastal plain to the west. She was in the region, which includes Jerusalem and Bethlehem, where she would eventually give birth to Jesus.

LUKE 1:41-45  41 And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she exclaimed with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed be the fruit of your womb. 43 And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby leaped for joy in my womb. 45 And blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things spoken to her from the Lord.”

What did Elizabeth call Jesus?
“My Lord” (Luke 1:43).

How did she know Jesus is her Lord?
“Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41), which means the baby in her womb was as well, as the angel Gabriel had told Zacharias: “He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15).

Was Mary already carrying Jesus?
If so, the Holy Spirit would have had Elizabeth welcome both Jesus and Mary instead of just her.

Since Mary is called “blessed ... among women” (Luke 1:42), should she be worshiped as some claim based on this phrase?
If so, she would need to wait in line behind Jair, who was called the “most blessed among women” after she used a tent peg to kill a Canaanite army commander (see Judges 4): “most blessed among women is Jair” (Judges 5:24).

With what is her blessing associated?
Faith in God's word: “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things spoken to her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45).