Reference: Mary, The Virgin
Fausets
(See GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST.) Probably Matthan of Matthew is Matthat of Luke, and Jacob and Heli were brothers; and Heli's son Joseph, and Jacob's daughter Mary, were first cousins. Joseph, as male heir of his uncle Jacob who had one only child Mary, would marry her according to the law (Nu 36:8). Thus the genealogy of the inheritance or succession to David's throne (Matthew's) and that of natural descent (Luke's) would be primarily Joseph's, then Mary's also (Ps 132:11; Lu 1:32; Ro 1:3). She was sister or half-sister to Mary (Joh 19:25), and related to Elisabeth who was of the tribe of Levi (Lu 1:36). (See MARY OF CLEOPHAS; ELISABETH.) In 5 B.C. (Lu 1:24, etc.) Mary was living at Nazareth, by this time betrothed to Joseph, when the angel Gabriel came from God to her in the sixth month of Elisabeth's pregnancy. (See GABRIEL.)
He came in no form of overwhelming majesty, but seemingly in human form, as is implied by the expression "he came in," also by the fact that what she was "troubled at" was not his presence but "his saying" (compare Da 10:18-19). "Hail thou that art highly favored" (kecharitomenee) cannot mean as Rome teaches in her prayer to the Virgin, "Hail Mary full of grace"; that would be pleerees charitos as in Joh 1:14; the passive of the verb implies, as usually in verbs in -oo, she was made the object of God's grace, not a fountain from whence grace flows to others; as Joh 1:30 explains it, "thou hast found favor (charin) with God"; so Eph 1:6, echaritoosen, "He hath graciously accepted us." "The Lord is (or, BE) with thee (Jg 6:12), blessed art thou among women"; not among gods and goddesses.
As Jael (Jg 5:24); "blessed" in "believing" (Lu 1:45), more than in conceiving Christ (Lu 8:19-21; 11:27-28); compare her own practice, Lu 2:51; Mt 12:49-50. "Her relationship as mother would not at all have profited Mary if she had not borne Christ more happily in the heart than in the flesh" (Augustine, Tom. 4, De Sanct. Virg.). In Lu 11:27-28, during His last journey, a month before His crucifixion (A.D. 30), upon a woman of the company exclaiming, "blessed is the womb that bore Thee, and the paps which Thou hast sucked," He said, "yea, rather (menounge) blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it"; the blessedness even of Mary is not her motherhood towards Him, but her hearing and obeying Him.
The Spirit's prescience of the abuse of the words Lu 1:28 appears in the precautions taken subsequently in the same Gospel to guard against such abuse. The Virgin's words (Lu 1:48) "all generations shall call me blessed" mean not, shall call me by that name, "the Blessed Virgin," but shall count me blessed, as in Jas 5:11 (the same Greek). The nations shall count JESUS, not the Virgin, the fountain of all blessedness (Ps 72:17). When in "fear she cast in her mind what might the meaning of the salutation be," the angel reassured her by the promise, "behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus.
He shall be great (not merely as John Baptist 'in the sight of the Lord,' Lu 1:15, but as the Lord Himself), and shall be called (i.e. shall be really what the name means) the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David (not merely His throne in heaven whereon David never sat, but on Zion, Jer 3:17), and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there shi all be no end." She asked, not incredulously as Zacharias (Lu 1:18), but in the simplicity of faith which sought instruction, taking for granted it shall be, only asking as to the manner, "how shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"
The angel therefore explained, "the Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee (as with a cloud, denoting the mildest, gentlest operation of the divine power, coveting, quickening, but not consuming: Mr 9:7), therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (from whence our creed saith, "He was conceived by the Holy Spirit," etc.; compare Ge 1:2. "As the world was not created by the Holy Spirit, but by the Son, so the Son was not begotten by the Holy Spirit, but by the Father, and that before the worlds, Christ was made of the substance of the Virgin, not of the substance of the Holy Spirit, whose essence cannot be made. No more is attributed to the Spirit than what was necessary to cause the Virgin to perform the actions of a mother. And because the Holy Spirit did not beget Him by any communication of His essence, He is not the Father of Him." Pearson, Creed, 165-166.)
Gabriel instanced Elisabeth's being six months advanced in pregnancy, who once was barren, to confirm the Virgin's faith that "nothing is impossible with God" (Ro 4:17-21); she evinced her faith in the reply, "behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word," Her expression of humble, believing acceptance of and concurrence in the divine will (Lu 1:38,45) was required, and may be with reverence supposed to be recorded to mark the date of our Lord's conception. Mary then went in joyous haste to the hill country of Judah, to a city where Zacharias and Elisabeth lived, whether Jutta, (Jos 21:13-16) a priests' city, or Hebron, S. of Jerusalem and much further S. of Nazareth in Galilee. On Mary's saluting Elisabeth the latter hailed her as "mother of her Lord," inasmuch as at her salutation "the babe leaped in her womb for joy," adding, in contrast to Zacharias whose unbelief had brought its own punishment," blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things told her from the Lord."
Mary then under the Spirit uttered the hymn known as the "Magnificat," based on Hannah's hymn (1Sa 2:2). In it we see a spirit that drank deeply at the wells of Scripture, a humility that "magnified the Lord" not self, that "rejoiced" as a sinner in "her Savior" (disproving Rome's dogma of the immaculate conception), a lively sense of gratitude at the mighty favor which the Mighty One conferred on one so low, a privilege which countless Jewish mothers had desired (Da 11:37, "the desire of women"), and for which all generations should count ("call") her happy (makariousin, compare Ge 30:13), and an exemplification of God's eternal principle of abusing "the proud and exalting them of low degree," and a realization of God's faithfulness to His promises "to Abraham of mercy and help to Israel forever." Mary stayed with her cousin three months, and just before John the Baptist's birth returned to her own house at Nazareth.
Then followed Joseph's discovery of the conception and his tender dealing with her, and reception of her by God's command (Matthew 1), as being the virgin foretold who should bring forth Immanuel (Isa 7:14; Jer 31:22). (See JOSEPH.) Augustus' decree (Luke 2) obliged them to go to Bethlehem, God thereby causing His prophecy (Mic 5:2) to be fulfilled, Mary there giving birth to the Savior. The shepherds' account of the angels caused wonder to others, "but Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart"; so again Lu 2:51, not superficial, but reflective and thoughtfully devout. The law regarded her as unclean until the presentation 40 days after the birth (Leviticus 12). Then she was bound to offer a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or turtle dove for a sin offering, to make atonement for her poverty compelled her to substitute for the lamb a pigeon or turtle dove.
Simeon's hymn followed, at the close of which he foretold, "a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed"; the anguish of her Son should pierce the mother's heart, and be a testing probation of character to her as well as to all others (Joh 9:39; 19:25; Ps 42:10); that she had misgivings and doubts is implied in her accompanying His brethren afterward, as if enthusiasm was carrying Him too far (Mt 12:46; Mr 3:21,31-35; Joh 7:5). The flight to Egypt followed; then the return, at first designed to be back to Bethlehem, but through fear of Archelaus to Nazareth of Galilee, their former home.
Then the visit to Jerusalem when Jesus was
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the earth was desolation and emptiness, and darkness over the face of the deep: and the spirit of God moved over the face of the waters.
And Leah will say, In my happiness, for the daughters will pronounce me happy; and she will call his name Asher.
And every daughter possessing an inheritance from the tribe of the sons of Israel, to one of the families of the tribe of her father shall she be for wife, so that the sons of Israel shall possess each the inheritance of his fathers.
And to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave the city of refuge of the slayer, Hebron and its areas, and Libnah and her areas, And Jattir and her area, and Eshtemoa and her area, read more. And Holon and her area, and Debir and her area, And Ain and her area, and Juttah and her area, and the House of the Sun and her area: nine cities from these two tribes.
Blessed shall be Jael above women, The wife of Heber the Kenite, Above women in the tent shall she be blessed.
And the messenger of Jehovah will be seen to him, and he will say to him, Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty of strength.
None holy as Jehovah, for none beside thee: and no rock as our God.
And Amaziah will say to the man of God, And what to do for the hundred talents of silver which I gave to the troop of Israel? And the man of God will say, There is to Jehovah to give to thee much above this.
With a breaking of my bones mine enemies reproached me, in their saying all the day, Where their God?
His name shall be forever: his name shall flourish before the sun: and they shall be praised in him: all nations shall pronounce him happy.
Jehovah sware the truth to David; he will not turn back from it: from the fruit of thy belly I will set upon the throne to thee.
For this, Jehovah he will give to you a sign Behold, the virgin conceiving, and she will bare a son, and call his name Immanuel.
In that time they shall call to Jerusalem the throne of Jehovah; and all nations assembled together to her to the name of Jehovah, to Jerusalem: and they shall no more go after the stubbornness of their evil heart
How long wilt thou wander about, O daughter turning away? for Jehovah created a new thing in the earth: A female shall go about a male.
And there will add and will touch upon me as the sight of man, and he will strengthen me. And he will say, Thou shalt not fear, O man of desires: peace to thee; be strong, and be strong. And in his speaking with me I was strengthened, and saying, My lord shall speak; for thou didst strengthen me.
And concerning the God of his fathers he shall not understand, and concerning the desire of women, and concerning every god he shall not understand; for he shall magnify himself over all.
And thou, house of bread, of Ephratah, for being small among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth to me he being ruler in Israel; and his goings forth from of old from the days of eternity.
And, behold, they cried out., saying, What to us and thee, Jesus, Son of God? hast thou come here to torture us before the time
And he yet speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him.
And having stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, he said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whoever should do the will of my Father, him in the heavens, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
For whoever should do the will of my Father, him in the heavens, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Let alone; what to us and thee, Jesus thou Nazarene? hast thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy of God.
And they with him, having heard, came forth to take hold of him: for they said, That he is affected in mind.
And they with him, having heard, came forth to take hold of him: for they said, That he is affected in mind.
Then came his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, they sent to him, calling him.
Then came his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, they sent to him, calling him. And the crowd sat about him, and they said to him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek thee.
And the crowd sat about him, and they said to him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek thee. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, and my brethren?
And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, and my brethren? And having looked round upon those sitting round about him, he says, Behold my mother and my brethren!
And having looked round upon those sitting round about him, he says, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whoever should do the will of God, he is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
For whoever should do the will of God, he is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
And a cloud was overshadowing them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my dearly beloved Son: hear ye him.
For he shall be great before the Lord, and wine and fermented liquor he should not drink; and with the Holy Spirit shall he be filled, even from his mother's womb.
And Zacharias said to the messenger, By what shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife advanced in her days.
And after these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and concealed herself five months, saying,
And the messenger, having come in to her said, Hail, thou made acceptable; the Lord with thee: praised thou among women.
He shall be great, and he shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father:
And, behold, Elizabeth thy kinsman, she also having conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month to her, called barren.
And Mary said Behold the servant of the Lord; may it be to me according to thy word. And the messenger departed from her.
And Mary said Behold the servant of the Lord; may it be to me according to thy word. And the messenger departed from her. And Mary having risen in those days, went into the mountainous country with haste, into a city of Judah;
And happy she having believed: for a completion of the things spoken shall be to her from the Lord.
And happy she having believed: for a completion of the things spoken shall be to her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord.
For he looked upon the humiliation of his servant; for, behold, from now shall all generations deem me happy
For he looked upon the humiliation of his servant; for, behold, from now shall all generations deem me happy
And Mary kept together all these sayings, reflecting in her heart.
And he went dawn with them, and came to Nazareth, and was placed under them : and his mother kept all these words in her heart.
And he went dawn with them, and came to Nazareth, and was placed under them : and his mother kept all these words in her heart.
And he went dawn with them, and came to Nazareth, and was placed under them : and his mother kept all these words in her heart.
And his mother and brethren approached to him; and they could not come to him for the crowd. And it was announced to him, saying, Thy mother and thy brethren have stood without, wishing to see thee. read more. And he having answered, said unto them, My mother and my brethren are they hearing the word of God, and doing it.
And it was in his speaking these things, a certain woman of the crowd, having lifted up the voice, said to him, Happy the womb having borne thee, and breasts thou didst suck.
And it was in his speaking these things, a certain woman of the crowd, having lifted up the voice, said to him, Happy the womb having borne thee, and breasts thou didst suck. And he said, Rather, happy they hearing the word of God, and watching it.
And he said, Rather, happy they hearing the word of God, and watching it.
And the Word was flesh, and dwelt with us, (and we beheld his glory, as the glory of the only born of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man who was before me: for he was before me.
His mother says to the servants, Whatever he says to you, do.
After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they remained there not many days.
For neither believed his brethren in him.
And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they not seeing might see; and they seeing might be blind.
And by the cross of Jesus stood his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
And by the cross of Jesus stood his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. Jesus then having seen the mother, and the disciple standing near, whom he loved, says to his mother, Woman, behold thy son! read more. Then says he to the disciple, Behold thy mother And from that hour the disciple took her to his own.
All these were persevering unanimously in prayer and supplication, with women, and Mary mother of Jesus, with his brethren.
Concerning his Son born of the seed of David according to the flesh.
(As it has been written, That have set thee father of many nations,) over against him who believed God, making alive the dead, and calling things not being as being. Who against hope believed upon hope, for him to become father of many nations, according to that said, So shall thy seed be. read more. And not having been weak in faith, he observed not his own body already having been dead, being about a hundred years, and the death of Sarah's womb: And for the promise of God he was not separated by unbelief; but was strengthened in faith, having given glory to God; And made perfectly certain that, what was promised, he is able to do.
To the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he rendered us acceptable in the beloved.
Behold, we esteem those enduring happy. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and ye see the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.