Luke 1:31 Commentary and Bible Study

More is explained to her. She is going to conceive in her womb, but nothing is said about the father of the child. Mary knew herself to be a virgin. The commentators agree in saying that her mind would have gone to Isaiah 7:14: ‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.’ In both passages the word ‘behold’ prepares for something extraordinary that follows – a virgin will bear a child. More will be told her in a moment. She will give birth to a son, and he is named by Gabriel with a name that defines his mission. He is to be called Jesus, the Greek equivalent of Old Testament Joshua, meaning ‘Jehovah is salvation’, Jehoshua, in its full form. Matthew explains the meaning of this name: ‘for he shall save his people from their sins’ (Matthew 1:21). It is sin that causes us to need salvation, and only Jehovah can provide it, but, of course, Jesus Christ is Jehovah incarnate.For the Son of Man God has prepared a human body and a reasonable soul. He is to be fully man, as from eternity he has been fully God, equal with the Father. The two natures are united in one person, but ‘without confusion, without change, without division, without separation’ (Chalcedon).