Luke 1:51-55

Luke 1:51 (KJB)
He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Here Mary makes some future prophecies concerning those with whom the Messiah is going to deal with. First, He has shown tremendous strength with His arm by coming to earth in the incarnation. He will also show much strength in His power over the kingdom of Satan and the wisdom of man that He will face in opposition to the religious leaders. Then Mary prophesies concerning the proud. The proud in Scripture normally allude to the unbelievers. Those unbelievers that Jesus would encounter, whether they be the religious leaders or just working people, would have their own understandings and their own belief systems which they would be at the center of them. When Jesus will preach the true Gospel, He will displace all the false notions the proud have. The Greek word for “imaginations” carries with it the meaning of “thoughts or a personal conception of something.” He will cause the people to be astonished at His doctrine. (Mark 1:22 KJV) And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

Luke 1:52 (KJB)
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

Here is a prophecy of how Jesus is going to take those who have lived in places of exalted powers such as the religious leaders. They had “the good ole’ boy” network whereby they were becoming very wealthy and they had positions of high status in the community. Their problem is that their gospel was false and they taught all kinds of fanciful doctrines to maintain their status. Soon Jesus will be replacing these false teachers with the true teachers. The false shepherds of Israel will no longer be needed because the people will go to the ones who have the words of eternal life as Peter stated in John 6:68. (John 6:68 KJV) Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. In Jeremiah 23:1-5, the Scriptures prophesy that the false pastors or shepherds, which are the scribes and Pharisees, will be receiving the same treatment they dished out to others. It also speaks that the true Gospel will replace the false Gospel of Judaism.

(Jer 23:1-5 KJV) Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. {2} Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. {3} And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. {4} And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. {5} Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Luke 1:53 (KJB)
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

(Mat 5:6 KJV) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. The first part of this verse is definitely dealing with the true Gospel being applied to all the elect. Despite the fact that there was much opposition to the true Gospel in Israel, there will be those who desired the truth of the Scriptures and who were serious in their desire for the Lord. These people will be satisfied and filled with the true Gospel. Then the verse references the rich which is a reference to those who believe they are filled and have enough. They will reject the true Gospel because they believe their riches is a sign of favor from God and they do not need a Savior. These people will go away empty without receiving the true riches of the Gospel. They will remain in their unsaved state, not realizing how poor they really are until it will be too late.

Luke 1:54 (KJB)
He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

Here God speaks not of the physical land of Israel as His servant, which had shown itself to be rebellious since its inception but here speaks of the line of the Elect which come through Israel. (Isa 41:8 KJV) But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. This is the Israel of God and Mary is referencing the fact of God’s mercy on the physical nation of Israel to protect the messianic line and the line of those who have become saved making them descendants of Abraham. (Gal 3:29 KJV) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. During those times that Israel had become rebellious, God could have destroyed them and just allowed the Messianic line to live but His mercy was on the whole nation for the sake of the Elect. Just as God blessed the house of Potiphar for the sake of Joseph, God had blessed the nation of Israel for the sake of the Israel of God which came through it.

Luke 1:55 (KJB)
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Here Mary confirms that she was speaking of the messianic line which came through the nation of Israel from the time of its inception. It started with Abraham, then Isaac, then Jacob, then Judah right up until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. God was now fulfilling the promises He made to Abraham and the other patriarchs. (Gen 12:2-3 KJV) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: {3} And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. In Genesis 12, we read the fact that Abraham’s seed will bless all the families of the earth and the seed of Abraham is the Lord Jesus Christ who will send the message of salvation all throughout the world. (Gal 3:16 KJV) Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. This covenant of Grace is going to be an eternal covenant. (Gen 17:7 KJV) And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

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