Luke 1:32 Commentary and Bible Study

This is heaven’s summary of the person and work of the Messiah. He shall be great, greater than all, so that all heaven and earth bow the knee at the name of Jesus. He will be greater than all created angels, and they too shall worship him, whether willingly and joyfully, or in defeat and punishment. His people will take hold of his greatness, and having him as their captain, they are sure of victory. He will be great in himself, but he will also be great in the eyes of his subjects, who will look up to him as the greatest of all beings.He shall be called the Son of the Highest, the Son of the most high God. This will be so, even though he is born a man. These titles will apply to the God Man, the incarnate Son of God, for the one being spoken of is the child about to be born to Mary. How can a mortal man be given such exalted names? Because all that is true of the eternal Son of God is also true of the Son of Man, by virtue of his two natures being joined in one person. Mary would remember these words and reflect deeply upon them in the years to come. God’s word bears any amount of testing.‘And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.’ Mary knew that she was descended from David, as every Jew knew their ancestry. But it seemed impossible that the throne of David should be re-established. There had not been a king on the throne of Israel or Judah for more than five hundred years and the last king of Judah had been led away to Babylon in chains. After the return from exile, there had not been another king, and at the time of Joseph and Mary the nation was under Roman occupation with no prospect of self-rule. But, of course, as Christ said to Pilate, ‘My kingdom is not of this world.’ He was not sent to rule over a political kingdom on earth, but over an eternal kingdom in heaven and earth. ‘The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: ²¹ Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you’ (Luke 17:20-21). That kingdom which is now invisible will be made visible at his second coming.‘And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.’ So much is implied by these words. If he will reign forever then he will not reign as a mortal man. He must obtain immortality to reign forever; he will conquer death. How will that be, given the present world order where death reigns unchallenged? And how will he reign over the same people when they too are subject to death? What does it say about those belonging to the house of Jacob who are already dead, and of Jacob himself, and Abraham and Isaac? A complete renovation of all things is concealed in these words. They speak of the resurrection and the removal of the curse and the bringing in of everlasting life; they speak of the creation of a new heavens and a new earth. This tired earth is not worthy to be a partaker of these things.