Lucas 1
John Calvin · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 1
Calvin commented "Let us learn by this example that, from the earliest infancy to the latest old age, the operation of the Spirit in men is free.” (Luke 1) This passage mentioning no wine and instead filled with the Spirit is a beautiful parallel of Paul's command, first negative, then positive, calling for all saints to be "Nazarite-like," like John the Baptist, even from the first day of our spiritual birth to the last day on earth! (Jn 3:3-6+)! And do not get drunk (NEGATIVE - present imperative with a negative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled (POSITIVE -present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey = continually submit to Him allowing Him to control you!) with the Spirit, (Eph 5:18+) THOUGHT - Both commands are passive voice, which means the effecting agent exerts its influence from outside of our own personality. But we are not spiritual puppets, so we still must make the daily (even moment by moment) choice to allow either the negative or the positive "power" to influence and control us. It is still our choice to whom we will surrender each morning -- to the world with its antichrist spirit (1Jn 4:3+) or to the Word (Col 3:16+) and the Spirit of the living God! It's up to you dear child of God! Choose wisely! (See chart on Filled with His Spirit/Richly Indwelt with His Word) Wine (3631)(oinos) refers to a beverage (1) literally, of the juice of grapes, usually fermented (Lk 1.15); (2) figuratively, in apocalyptic symbolism; (a) as indicating the wrath of God outpoured in judgment (Rev 14.10); (b) as an enticement to immorality, like a love potion (Rev 17.2) (Friberg) THOUGHT ON DRINK - I do not say that it is the duty of every man to drink neither wine nor strong drink, but I beg every man to notice that if anyone was to be peculiarly consecrated to a holy calling, it was always to be so; “He shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.” If there be nothing defiling about wine or strong drink, there is certainly nothing sanctifying about it; and the tendency seems to lie the other way, else it is a strange thing that men dedicated to God were so continually bidden to drink neither wine nor strong drink. (Spurgeon) Liquor (4608)(sikera from Hebrew words shekar = intoxicating drink, strong drink and shakar = to become drunk) means strong drink and describes a sweet intoxicating beverage usually made from something other than grapes (from grain, fruit, honey, or dates, e.g., barley beer = thus some versions translate it "beer") BDAG however comments "It is not possible to determine whether s. was considered any stronger than wine; the rendering ‘strong drink’ (so in many versions) may therefore be misleading." While Lk 1:15 is the only NT use, sikera is used 13 times in the Septuagint and every use translates the phrase "strong drink" - Lev. 10:9; Nu 6:3 (Nazarite vow); Nu 28:7; Dt. 14:26; Dt. 29:6; Jdg. 13:4, 7, 14; Isa. 5:11; Isa. 5:22; Isa. 24:9; Isa. 28:7; Isa. 29:9
Lucas 1
Calvin says, the princes of the world don’t understand this. They grow insolent, fat and lazy and greedy. They indulge in luxury, swell with pride and grow intoxicated with power. They soon forget that all they have comes from God. And to quote Calvin exactly, “If the Lord cannot tolerate such ingratitude, we should not be surprised.” (Jesus The Revolutionary: Mary's Song - Luke 1:48-55) And has exalted (hupsoo) those who were humble (tapeinos) - He has lifted high to a place of honor those who the world sees as low position. This is a repeated pattern in Scripture. Ray Pritchard explains that "Throughout history whenever the Gospel has gone into a society, it has usually entered at a lower socioeconomic level. It’s a rare thing for the rich to be the first to embrace the Gospel. Poor folks usually make up the first church in any culture. Why? Because the poor have nothing in which to trust, so when they hear the Gospel they embrace it as truly good news. But the rich don’t see their need of Christ, so they ignore the Gospel....Whenever the Gospel has entered a society and made an impact on a significant group of people, it has always had the effect of lifting those people up economically. Whenever the Gospel goes in to the poor, it raises that group up in society. (Jesus The Revolutionary: Mary's Song) James encourages those who have less than others writing "But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away." (James 1:9-10+) This truth (divine exaltation of the humble) calls for believers to be willing to be humbled (both the following commands are in the passive voice indicating the power or source of our humbling comes from without which makes sense because the flesh would never humble itself since it is the very essence of pride and self-exaltation). James 4:10+ Humble (tapeinoo in aorist imperative = "Just do it!" don't delay = only possible as we willingly submit to the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to obey this command) yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt (hupsoo) you. 1 Peter 5:6+ Therefore humble (tapeinoo in aorist imperative - see our need above) yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt (hupsoo) you at the proper time (cf 1 Peter 5:10+), Brought down (destroyed) (2507)(kathaireo) means primarily to cause something or someone to be lowered or brought down from one point to another (literally buildings Lk 12:18+). Figuratively it means to destroy completely by tearing down and dismantling (speculations in spiritual matters - 2 Cor 10:5+; nations Acts 13:19+). There is an interesting use of kathaireo in Acts 19 (in a sense a partial fulfillment of Mary's prophecy) showing how God used Paul to "bring down" the pagan idol Artemis, Luke recording the complaints of the idol worshipping Ephesians... “Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned (kathaireo) from her magnificence.” (Acts 19:27+) Rulers (1413)(dunastes/dynastes [English = dynasty] from dunamai = to be able to, to be capable of, to be strong enough to do) denotes one who has a position to command others (ruler, potentate). It often refers to one in a relatively high position (politically speaking). In Luke 1:52 and Acts 8:27+ (Ethiopian court official) dunastes refers to human rulers. In the only other NT use in 1 Ti 6:15+ dunastes refers to God and is translated Sovereign. Exalted (lifted up) (5312) (hupsoo from hupsos = height, elevation) means to lift up spatially, to raise high as of the serpent in the wilderness symbolizing Jesus on the Cross (Jn 3:14+, cf Jn 8:28, 12:32, 34). Figuratively, it can describe lifting one up to a place of honor, fame, power, or position (Jesus exalted to the right hand of God = Acts 2:33+, Acts 5:31+). Mary says that self-exaltation will result ultimately in humiliation a truth that Jesus reiterates later in Luke's Gospel... Luke 14:11+ “For everyone who exalts (hupsoo) himself will be humbled (tapeinoo), and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:14+ “I tell you, this man (Lk 18:13) went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts (hupsoo) himself will be humbled (tapeinoo), but he who humbles (tapeinoo) himself will be exalted (hupsoo).” Humble (5011)(tapeinos) means low, not high, not rising far from the ground. It speaks of one's condition as lowly or of low degree. It described what was considered base, common, unfit, and having little value. It pictures one brought low, as for example by grief. Tapeinos is descriptive particularly of attitude and social positions.