Luke 1:80

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. AND THE CHILD GREW, AND WAXED STRONG [ eeuxanen (G837 ) kai (G2532 ) ekrataiouto (G2901 )] IN SPIRIT. The grammatical tenses here employed denote the continuance of the action-`kept growing (that is, bodily) and waxing strong in spirit,' or in mental development. AND WAS IN THE DESERTS - probably "the wilderness of Judea," whence we find him issuing on his entrance into public life (Matthew 3...

67-80 Zacharias uttered a prophecy concerning the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah. The gospel brings light with it; in it the day dawns. In John the Baptist it began to break, and increased apace to the perfect day. The gospel is discovering; it shows that about which we were utterly in the dark; it is to give light to those that sit in darkness, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. It is reviving; it brings light to those that sit in the shadow of death, as condemned prisoners in the dungeon. It is directing; it is to guide our feet in the way of peace, into that way which will bring us to peace at last, Romans 3:17. John gave proofs of strong faith, vigorous and holy affections, and of being above the fear and love of the world. Thus he ripened for usefulness; but he lived a retired life, till he came forward openly as the forerunner of the...

Verse Luke 1:80. _THE CHILD GREW_] Increased in stature and bodily vigour. _And waxed strong in spirit_-had his _understanding_ Divinely illuminated and confirmed in the truths of God. _And was in the_ _deserts_-the city of Hebron, the circumjacent hill country, and in or near Nazareth. _Till the time of his showing_, or _manifestation _- till he was thirty years of age, before which time the law did not permit a man to enter into the public ministry, Numbers 4:3. See also Luke 3:23. So much has already been said, by way of practical improvement of the different subjects in this important chapter, as to preclude the necessity of any addition here....

WAXED STRONG IN SPIRIT - That is, in courage, understanding, and purposes of good, fitting him for his future work. The word “wax” means to “increase, to grow,” from an old Saxon word. IN THE DESERTS - In Hebron, and in the hill country where his father resided. He dwelt in obscurity, and was not known publicly by the people. UNTIL THE DAY OF HIS SHOWING - Until he entered on his public ministry, as recorded in Matthew 3 - that is, probably, until he was about 30 years of age. See Luke 3....

EXPOSITION THE origin of the Gospels—the four histories which relate in detail the circumstances of the foundation of Christianity—will ever be an interesting study. Here we shall never know the exact truth of the compilation of these writings, the foundation-stones of all our hopes and fears; a reverent, scholarly speculation is all that can be offered to the student of the Divine memoirs. The speculation, however, probably in this case comes very near the truth. After the Ascension and the events of the first Pentecost, which quickly followed their Master's return to heaven, the twelve and a few others who had walked in the company which followed Jesus during the years of his public ministry no doubt often met together and talked over the teaching and the acts of their risen and now glorified Master. As time passed on, a certain number of these acts, a certain number of the public and...

AND THE CHILD GREW, AND WAXED STRONG IN SPIRIT,.... That is, John, the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, grew in stature of body, and increased in wisdom and knowledge, and fortitude in his soul: AND WAS IN THE DESERTS; or "desert", as the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read; not in the wilderness of Judea, where he came preaching, but either of Ziph or Maon, which were near to Hebron; see 1 Samuel 23:14 he was not brought up in the schools of the prophets, nor in the academies of the Jews, or at the feet of any of their Rabbins and doctors; that it might appear he was not taught and sent of men, but of God: nor did he dwell in any of the cities, or larger towns, but in deserts; partly that he might be fitted for that gravity and austerity of life, he was to appear in; and that it might be clear he had no knowledge of, nor correspondence with Jesus, whose forerunn

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE Analysis and Annotations I. The Birth and Childhood -- Chapter 1-2:52 CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The Introduction. (Luke 1:1)_ 2. Zacharias and Elizabeth; the Vision. (Luke 1:5) 3. John the Baptist, his birth and ministry announced. (Luke 1:13) 4. Zacharias' Unbelief and Punishment. (Luke 1:18) 5. The Angel's Announcement to the Virgin Mary. (Luke 1:27) 6. Mary's Question and the Answer. (Luke 1:34) 7. Mary Visits Elizabeth ...

THE BIRTH OF JOHN. THE BENEDICTAS. In due course Elisabeth bore her son and received the congratulations of her friends. When the babe has been circumcised and named, his mother rejects the proposal to call him Zacharias and insists on John. The deaf and dumb father confirms his wife's wish, and his power of speech is restored. The whole incident made a great impression in the district, and people recognised that some great future was before the lad, for as he grew up (the last clause of Luke 1:66 is anti cipatory) he was seen to be Divinely guided and protected. Meanwhile Zacharias is inspired and utters a song-prophecy. Luke 1:68, in thoroughly Jewish tone, predicts the deliverance of Israel from the oppressor by a scion of the house of David, and the restoration of the theocracy. In...

AN HISTORIAN'S INTRODUCTION (Luke 1:1-4)...

WAXED STRONG. grew and was strengthened. spirit. Greek. _pneuma._ See App-101. THE DESERTS. The article. indicating. well-known part. SHEWING. public or official inauguration. Greek. _anadeixis._ Only occurs here. The verb _anadeiknumi_ occurs Luke 10:1. See note there....