Too often, we rush and we fail to slow down and consider the common sense of a Bible passage - in context. Like a learner in a reading class, let's break down a passage to see if we can comprehend it better. | Luke 1 (NASB): 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. |
- Who is Herod?
- The main figures in these verses (so far) are Zechariah and Elizabeth. Is there anything about their lineage that makes them significant?
- Describe the behavior of Zechariah and Elizabeth? Why does God respect them?
- Why is it important to note that the couple is childless?
The writer, Luke, records words describing a married couple, dating the account with the words, "In the days of Herod." The reader has never heard of this couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth: they are new characters, and as such, they must be described. Luke does so in a significant manner. Not every figure in the biblical record can be described like these. First, he lays out their family backgrounds. Zechariah is a priest; his wife is a daughter of a line of priests. Therefore, they are probably important to the religious atmosphere of their community.
Next, we must note that they are "righteous in the sight of God" and they walk "blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord" - both statements being something every Christian should desire on his tombstone and or in her eulogy. The point is, they are good people. They pay attention to the guidelines that God provides for His people. They walk upright.
But in one way, perhaps they are shunned or at the very least pitied: they have never been able to conceive and bear children. Now, it would seem, they have grown too old for pregnancy to even be naturally possible - a shame since every indication implies that they would raise a child to also respect the laws and requirements of the Lord. Right away, the reader also pities Zechariah and Elizabeth, and we must wonder what the future holds for this aging couple.