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 without form and empty. And darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters.
And Leah said, I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed. And she called his name Asher.
And every daughter that possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the sons of Israel shall become a wife to one of the family of the tribe of her father, so that the sons of Israel may each one enjoy the inheritance of his fathers.
And to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron and its open lands as a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah and its open lands, and Jattir and its open lands, and Eshtemoa and its open lands, read more. and Holon and its open lands, and Debir and its open lands, and Ain and its open lands, and Juttah and its open lands, and Beth-shemesh and its open lands; nine cities from these two tribes.
Blessed among women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be. She shall be blessed above women in the tent.
And the Angel of Jehovah appeared to him, and said to him, Jehovah is with you, mighty warrior.
There is none holy as Jehovah, for there is none beside You. Neither is there any rock like our God.
And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, Jehovah is able to give you much more than this.
As with a sword in my bones, my enemies shame me; while they say daily to me, Where is your God?
His name shall endure forever; His name shall be continued as long as the sun; and men shall be blessed in Him; all nations shall call Him blessed.
Jehovah has sworn to David in truth; He will not turn from it; Of the fruit of your body I will set on the throne for you.
So, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Jehovah; and all nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of Jehovah, to Jerusalem. Nor shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart.
How long will you turn to and fro, O faithless daughter? For Jehovah has created a new thing in the land; a woman shall enclose a man.
Then again one like a man in form came and touched me, and he made me stronger and said, O man greatly beloved, do not fear. Peace to you; be strong; yes, be strong. And when he had spoken to me, I was made stronger, and I said, Speak my lord, for you have made me stronger.
He will not regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god. For he shall magnify himself above all.
And you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you being least among the thousands of Judah, out of you He shall come forth to Me, to become Ruler in Israel, He whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.
And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with You, Jesus, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?
But while He yet talked with the people, behold, His mother and His brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with Him.
And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, Behold, My mother and My brothers! For whoever shall do the will of My Father in Heaven, the same is My brother and sister and mother.
For whoever shall do the will of My Father in Heaven, the same is My brother and sister and mother.
saying, What is to us and to You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know You, who You are, the Holy One of God.
And hearing, those with Him went out to take hold of Him; for they said, He is insane.
And hearing, those with Him went out to take hold of Him; for they said, He is insane.
Then His brothers and His mother came. And standing outside, they sent to Him, calling Him.
Then His brothers and His mother came. And standing outside, they sent to Him, calling Him. And the crowd sat about Him, and they said to Him, Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking for You.
And the crowd sat about Him, and they said to Him, Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking for You. And He answered them, saying, Who is My mother, or My brothers?
And He answered them, saying, Who is My mother, or My brothers? And He looked around on those who sat about Him, and said, Behold My mother and My brothers!
And He looked around on those who sat about Him, and said, Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God, the same is My brother and My sister and My mother.
For whoever does the will of God, the same is My brother and My sister and My mother.
And there was a cloud that overshadowed them. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son. Hear Him.
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine nor strong drink. And he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
And Zacharias said to the angel, By what shall I know this? For I am old, and my wife is advanced in her days.
And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and hid herself five months, saying,
And the angel came in to her and said, Hail, one receiving grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.
He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David.
And behold, your cousin Elizabeth also conceived a son in her old age. And this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
And Mary said, Behold the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.
And Mary said, Behold the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her. And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah.
And blessed is she who believes, for there shall be a perfecting of those things which were told her from the Lord.
And blessed is she who believes, for there shall be a perfecting of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord,
For He looked on the humiliation of His slave woman. For, behold, from now on all generations shall count me blessed.
For He looked on the humiliation of His slave woman. For, behold, from now on all generations shall count me blessed.
But Mary kept all these sayings, meditating in her heart.
And He went with them and came to Nazareth, and He was subject to them. But His mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
And He went with them and came to Nazareth, and He was subject to them. But His mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
And He went with them and came to Nazareth, and He was subject to them. But His mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
And His mother and His brothers came to Him. And they could not come near Him because of the crowd. And it was told to Him by some, who said, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside desiring to see You. read more. And He answered and said to them, My mother and My brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it.
And it happened as He spoke these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice and said to Him, Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which You have sucked.
And it happened as He spoke these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice and said to Him, Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which You have sucked. But He said, No; rather, blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it.
But He said, No; rather, blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it.
And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth.
This is He of whom I said, After me comes a Man who has been before me, for He preceded me.
His mother said to the servants, Whatever He says to you, do it.
After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples. And they did not stay there many days.
For His brothers did not believe in Him.
And Jesus said, I have come into this world for judgment, that they who do not see might see, and that they who see might be made blind.
And His mother stood by the cross of Jesus, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
And His mother stood by the cross of Jesus, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Then when Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, Woman, behold your son! read more. Then He said to the disciple, Behold your mother! And from that hour that disciple took her into his own home.
these all were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
about His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh,
(as it has been written, "I have made you a father of many nations") --before God, whom he believed, who makes the dead live, and calls the things which do not exist as though they do exist. For he who beyond hope believed on hope for him to become the father of many nations (according to that which was spoken, "So your seed shall be"). read more. And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body already dead (being about a hundred years old) or the deadening of Sarah's womb. He did not stagger at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was also able to perform.
to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He has made us accepted in the One having been loved.
Behold, we count blessed those who endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is full of pity and of tender mercy.