The Promised Birth of a Prophet

Luke 1 Verses 5 to 17 The Promised Birth of a Prophet January 4, 2026, Lesson 1 Standing by His Word Class Presentation Notes AAAAA

Background Scriptures:

· Malachi 4:5–6 (NASB95)

5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.

          6 “He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”

Main Idea:

· We must remain spiritually alert and ready to hear God's voice, recognizing His commitment to direct our paths, just as He did in announcing John's birth after centuries of silence.

Study Aim:

· To know that God is still speaking to us, even when it may feel like He is silent. It emphasizes the need for vigilance, prayer, and openness to God's direction, as demonstrated through Zechariah's faith and willingness to respond.

Create Interest:

· As Zechariah ministers in the temple during his rotation, Gabriel appears to him to announce that he and his wife, Elizabeth, will have a son in their old age. Zechariah does not initially believe and becomes mute as a result. Nevertheless, he learns that his son will be play a role in the salvation promised to Israel, going before the Lord as a prophet likened to Elijah.[1]

Lesson in Historical Context:

· We saw that Matthew started his infancy narrative with an echo of the Book of Genesis, Abraham begetting Isaac. Luke draws on the same first biblical book, not by naming Abraham and Sarah but by recalling them in the portrayal of Zechariah and Elizabeth—a technique similar to a photograph that has undergone double exposure so that one set of figures is seen through another. The angel Gabriel who makes the announcement is named in the OT only in the Book of Daniel, which stood toward the end of the canon of Jewish Scriptures (among the Writings—thus in his own way Luke is covering the span of the Scriptures). In Daniel, as in Luke, Gabriel comes at the time of liturgical prayer; and the visionary is struck mute (Dan 9:21; 10:8–12, 15).

o This time period is now beginning with the conception of John the Baptist,10who will play the role of Elijah (Luke 1:17), the one who according to the last prophetic book (Mal 3:23–24 [or 4:5–6]) will be sent before the coming Day of the Lord.[2]

· The event of John’s birth took place in the days of King Herod of Judea. Who was this guy? What was this man like? He was referred to as “Herod the Great” in his time and is one of the most important characters in Jewish history. He was ambitious, cruel and paranoid to be sure, but, nevertheless, he remains a very significant person in the terms of understanding this period of Roman domination of the Jewish people.

· Herod was an Edomite, which means he was a descendant of Esau. He was born in 73 B.C. making him around 36 years old when he was appointed King of the Jews by the Roman Senate in 37 B.C. Through bribes, scheming, and corrupt politics, Herod was able to maintain the favor of Rome. He ruled until he died, which was in March or April of 4 B.C. His rule was a violation of God’s plan, for the descendants of Jacob were to rule. God’s people had forsaken the Lord, so as an act of judgment, the Lord allowed those who were wicked to rule them.

· Herod murdered people in his own family because of his jealousy and insecurity. He murdered one of his ten wives and some of his sons. Augustus said of him: “It is better to be Herod’s dog than one of his children.” It was this same Herod that will have all the babies two and under murdered in Bethlehem and throughout the land of Israel when he learns of the birth of the king of the Jews, Jesus Christ.

o So this is some of the background and environment in which John the Baptist and Jesus were born into the world.

· As you can see, the conditions in John’s time were dire, difficult, and dangerous. Yet, in these dark times, God brings John and Jesus on the scene. The Lord has a way of showing His greatness and power in the most desperate circumstances.

o Our Lord is not limited by our difficulties and desperation. He loves to show us that He can do anything when life seems at its worst. In this way, His power and glory are clearly evident.

§ Our responsibility is to trust and wait on Him.[3]

Thoughts to Soak On:

· Sometimes when we read the Old Testament it seems as if God is performing countless miracles. As we read that concise record of biblical history, we sometimes get confused and lose sight of what reality was at a particular time. Have you ever considered that at this moment in Israel’s history Israel had not heard from God through a prophet for 400 years? God had spoken through Moses, Abraham, David and the prophets right up to Malachi.  

o Malachi’s prophecy had included God’s pledge to send a “messenger” (“herald”; “forerunner”) before the coming of the Messiah (3:1).The arrival of that messenger would signal the breaking of God’s long silence toward His people. His preaching would be a beacon of light in Israel’s spiritual darkness; he would proclaim the long-awaited news of “the true Light” (John 1:9), Messiah’s imminent arrival (Matt. 3:3; Mark 1:2–3; Luke 3:4–6; John 1:23), and call the people to prepare their hearts to receive Him (Mark 1:4; Luke 1:16–17, 76–77; cf. Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1).[4]

· Silence—400 years of silence from God. We have to include this important fact in our understanding of the historical setting before we will grasp what is happening in the events described in the first chapter of Luke.

· Some people remembered the promises God made to their ancestors. They still celebrated the Passover and the other annual festivals, as well as many religious traditions. But after 400 years of waiting, many others had become secular. Luke introduces Zechariah, a priest, and his wife Elizabeth who had not turned away: ‘both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.[5]

Bible Study:

Luke 1:5–7 (NASB95) Faithful Persistence Pays

   5     In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

   6     They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

   7     But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

· Vs. 5:  Zechariah was a priest serving during the reign of Herod, king of Judea, and belonged to the division of Abijah (Luke 1:5–25). His wife was Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron’s priestly line (Luke 1:5–25). Both were characterized by moral integrity and adherence to God’s law, yet they had remained childless throughout their lives, a circumstance compounded by their advanced age (Luke 1:5–25).

· Vs. 6-7:  Zechariah and were godly people, or upright(dikaioi, “righteous”), observing all the Lord’s commandments. They were both well along in yearsand thus had no prospect of children. This fact was a constant embarrassment to Elizabeth as is evident from her statement later on (v. 25). God’s allowing a barren woman to have children occurred several times in the Old Testament (e.g., the mothers of Isaac, Samson, and Samuel).[6]

· Note the faithful persistence of Zechariah and Elizabeth, despite years without a child. Their righteousness amidst silence encourages Christians to trust God's timing and purposes, even when answers seem delayed. Their lineage and consistency pop out to for us to observe in following God's commands as an anchor, reflecting God’s work through history, foreshadowing the preparation for Christ’s coming.

[1] John D. Barry, “Zechariah, Father of John the Baptist,” in The Lexham Bible Dictionary, ed. John D. Barry et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016). [See here.]

Thoughts to Soak On:

· The idea that God controls the womb is firmly embedded in Israel’s Scriptures with the result that children signified God’s blessing and were a source of honor in the community. On the other hand, childlessness was a sign of divine punishment and source of shame (see Luke 1:25, 38). According to Deut 28:15, 18, failure to observe God’s commandments would lead to the cursing of the womb, and it has always been easy to reverse this logic by insisting that the phenomenon of childlessness is a consequence of God’s curse, itself a result of disobedience. But this cannot be the case here, for this interpretive option is expressly ruled out by Vs. 5–6.

· Luke does not lead us to puzzle over this tension, however. Instead, he encourages us, first, to experience the pathos of this narrative opening, to recognize their pain and shame. Then, for those with ears to hear, Luke provides echoes of earlier stories in Israel’s past so that we understand that contained within the framework of this tragedy are the seeds of its resolution. The narration of barrenness itself becomes grounds for anticipating the gift of a child.

· The answer to the problem of childlessness is not to be found in Zechariah. He, like Elizabeth, is too old for childbearing. By going on to mention Elizabeth’s barrenness, Luke reminds us that God controls the womb.

o Zechariah cannot make Elizabeth pregnant; ultimately, her having a child (and having her honor restored) cannot depend on him.

o Her situation is impossible, hopeless, apart from miraculous intervention.[7]

Luke 1:8–10 (NASB95)  Dutiful Devotion Opens Doors

   8     Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,

   9     according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10     And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.

· Vs. 8:  While he executed the priest’s office before Godindicates that here was one priest, in an age when the priesthood was often corrupt and secularized, who realized the sacred character of his office and the relation of both his work and his person to God.

o God not only chooses great men for great tasks, but He also picks great parents for them—great as God counts greatness.

· Vs. 9.  The priesthood was split into twenty-four courses, or groups, of priests who would take one week off twice a year from farming their land or tending their shops to serve in the temple. During the major festivals or feasts, At the Passover, at Pentecost, and at the Feast of Tabernacles all the priests served concurrently [8].  The priest’s duties were assigned by means of the sacred lot. The greatest honor that could come to an ordinary priest was that of offering incense, and a priest could not draw another lot during that week of service. The incense was offered before the morning sacrifice and after the evening sacrifice on the altar of incense. This altar stood in the Temple just before the veil which separated the holy place from the holy of holies.

· Vs. 10.  The whole multitude … were praying without at the time of the incense. It was a most sacred occasion. The rising incense symbolized the prayers of the people which at the same time ascended from the women in the Court of the Women, from the men in the Court of Israel, and from the other priests in the Court of the Priests.[9]

Thoughts to soak on:

· Zechariah was performing his priestly duties, symbolizing lasting devotion and reverence. In the noise of life or seasons of unanswered prayer, like Zechariah, we must maintain our spiritual practices.

· We might consider the significance of prayer and worship as conduits for God's communication and direction, keeping believers ready to hear His voice unexpectedly.

Luke 1:11–17 (NASB95)  Divine Announcement Awakens

11     And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

12     Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel,and fear gripped him.

13     But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.

14     “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

15     “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.

16     “And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.

17     “It is he who will go as a forerunnerbefore Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

· You have probably noticed that God often speaks to His people and calls them while they are busy doing their daily tasks. Both Moses and David were caring for sheep, and Gideon was threshing wheat. Peter and his partners were mending nets when Jesus called them.

o It is difficult to steer a car when the engine is not running. When we get busy, God starts to direct us.

· Luke mentions angels twenty-three times in his Gospel. There are innumerable angels (Rev. 5:11), only two of which are actually named in Scripture: Michael (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7) and Gabriel (Dan. 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19, 26).

· When Gabriel appeared by the altar, Zacharias was frightened, for the angel’s appearance could have meant divine judgment.

· “Do not be afraid” is a repeated statement in the Gospel of Luke (1:13, 30; 2:10; 5:10; 8:50; 12:7, 32). Imagine how excited Zacharias must have been when he heard that he and Elizabeth were to have a son!

· “Rejoicing” is another key theme in Luke, mentioned at least nineteen times. Good news brings joy!

· Gabriel instructed him to name his son John (“Jehovah is gracious”)

o He was to dedicate the boy to God to be a Nazarite all of his life (Num. 6:1–21).

o He would be filled with the Spirit before birth (Luke 1:41)

o He was to be God’s prophet to present His Son to the people of Israel (see John 1:15–34).

o God would use John’s ministry to turn many people back to the Lord, just as Isaiah had promised (Isa. 40:1–5).[10]

Thoughts to Soak On:

· Note the incredible encounter with the angel Gabriel, announcing John’s future role in preparing the way for Jesus.

· Consider the abrupt break from silence after hundreds of years and the pivotal shift in God’s plan.

· Note how believers, when prepared, can receive and embrace God’s epoch-shaping messages.

Dr. Tom Wright weighs into our training with some thoughts for our considerations, including what we have learned and giving us the story we can remember and share.

· Luke has done something very similar in the opening of his gospel. His story is, of course, principally about Jesus, but the name ‘Jesus’ doesn’t occur for the first 30 verses, and Jesus himself is not born until well into the story. Luke is going to tell us about Mary’s extraordinary pregnancy and Jesus’ extraordinary birth, but he knows we will need to prepare our minds and hearts for this story. So, he begins with the story of Zechariah and Elisabeth, a devout couple going about their everyday life.

· First, he grips us with their human drama. This couple, well past childbearing age, are going to have a son at last, in a culture where childless women were mocked. This drama is heightened by the comic encounter between Zechariah and the angel (don’t be frightened of finding the Bible funny when it really is!). Luke indicates that through this all-too-human story of puzzlement, half-faith, and dogged devotion to duty, God’s saving purposes are going to be dramatically advanced.

· The son to be born will fulfil the biblical promises that had spoken of God sending someone to prepare Israel for the coming divine visitation.

o The scriptures had foretold that the prophet Elijah would return one day to get the people ready for God’s arrival.

o Gabriel tells Zechariah that this will be John’s task.

· The story would remind any Bible reader of much older stories: Abraham and Sarah having a child in their old age (Genesis 21), Rachel bearing Jacob two sons after years of childlessness (Genesis 30; 35), and particularly the births of Samson (Judges 13) and Samuel (1 Samuel 1). This story, Luke hints, is not a strange new thing, but takes its place within a long-standing sequence of God’s purposes. The child to be born, who will be called John, will play a key role in God’s fulfilment of his promises. The story thus prepares us, like tourists getting into the mood for the central exhibit, for the still more remarkable events that will follow swiftly.

· Zechariah and Elizabeth weren’t expecting any of this. They were simply devout people going about their regular business. They were ‘righteous in God’s sight’, observant Jews, keeping the law as a sign of grateful devotion to God. They lived outside Jerusalem, in the Judaean hill-country. Like all priestsexcept the chief priests, who lived in Jerusalem itself, Zechariah would come in to the city when it was the turn of his division to perform the regular Temple-liturgy; he would stay in lodgings within the Temple precincts, and then return home to continue his normal work as a teacher and leader in the local community. On this occasion Zechariah was appointed by lot to go into the inner court, out of sight of the lay people, to offer incense. Sometimes regular duty provides the context for extraordinary visions.

· Luke is careful not to dress up the story by making Zechariah a great hero of faith. Like some of the Old Testament leaders, his first reaction to the news is to clutch at straws: he needs a sign, something that will help him to believe. He is given one, but it comes as a punishment; we can almost see the angel putting his hands on his hips and telling Zechariah off for presuming to doubt his word.Zechariah is struck speechless, and the dark comedy continues with the old priest coming out to the people and making signs and gestures to indicate what had happened (how would you describe seeing an angel, just using your hands and arms?). The account concludes, of course, with Elizabeth’s joy at her unexpected pregnancy.

· This story, preparing us for the even more remarkable conception and birth of Jesus himself, reminds us of something important. God regularly works through ordinary people, doing what they normally do, who with a mixture of half-faith and devotion are holding themselves ready for whatever God has in mind. The story is about much more than Zechariah’s joy at having a son at last, or Elizabeth’s exultation in being freed from the scorn of the mothers in the village. It is about the great fulfilment of God’s promises and purposes. But the needs, hopes and fears of ordinary people are not forgotten in this larger story, precisely because of who Israel’s God is—the God of lavish, self-giving love, as Luke will tell us in so many ways throughout his gospel.

o When this God acts on the large scale, he takes care of smaller human concerns as well. The drama which now takes center stage is truly the story of God, the world, and every ordinary human being who has ever lived in it. That’s how Luke intends it to be.[11]

Questions to Ponder:

· What are some ways you can practice active listening during conversations to be more receptive to God's guidance?

· How can the example of Zechariah and Elizabeth encourage you to remain persistent in prayer and faith?

· What does it mean to you to stay spiritually alert, and how can you practically apply this in your day-to-day life?

Alert for Good: Spiritual Disciplines There are many wonderful reasons to spend time with God through spiritual disciplines such as Bible reading, meditation, and prayer.

Alertness to the strategy and presence of the enemy is always a fundamental part of winning a war, including the spiritual war Christians fight against the forcesof darkness.

Psalm 39:1—I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.…

Applications:

· Many of you may feel the weight of daily distractions at home, making it hard to hear God's voice amidst the noise. This week, set aside a specific time each day, even if just for 10 minutes, to be still before God. Turn off your devices, sit in a quiet space, and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you through scripture or gentle silence. Write down any thoughts or images that come to mind during your quiet time. This practice will help you cultivate a deeper awareness of God's presence as you navigate family commitments.

· In the hustle and bustle of the work environment, it's easy to lose sight of God's direction. You might feel overwhelmed by deadlines or conflict with colleagues. Try creating a 'God moment' each day by taking a brief walk during your lunch break. Use this time to pray and ask God for guidance concerning your challenges at work. Focus on listening rather than speaking. You might be surprised by the clarity and peace God provides, helping you discern how to respond to difficult situations with wisdom and grace.

· As you engage in public life, you may encounter situations that challenge your faith or values. There may be moments where it feels like God is silent about how to respond. This week, practice active listening in conversations. When engaging with others, consciously focus on understanding their perspectives rather than formulating your response. After each interaction, take a moment to pray about what you've heard and keep your heart open for God's guidance. This listening posture can create opportunities for God to direct your actions and interactions in meaningful ways.

[1]Douglas Mangum, ed., Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament, Lexham Context Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020), Lk 1:5–25.

[2]Raymond E. Brown, An Introduction to the New Testament (New York: Doubleday, 1997), 228–229.

[3]Rod Mattoon, Treasures from Luke, vol. 1, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2009), 7–9.

[4]John F. MacArthur Jr., Luke 1–5, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009), 21.

[5]R. C. Sproul, A Walk with God: An Exposition of Luke (Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, 1999), 15–16.

[6]John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 202.

[7]Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 65–66.

[8]Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 296.

[9]Charles L. Childers, “The Gospel according to St. Luke,” in Matthew, Mark, Luke, Beacon Bible Commentary (Beacon Hill Press, 1964), Lk 1:8–12.

[10]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 171.

[11]Tom Wright, Luke for Everyone(London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004), 6–8.