Luke 1:70Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If they genuinely recognize the truth, specifically that the Holy Spirit has communicated through the prophets, they should listen to the wonderful and revered Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, as he praises the Lord God of Israel. He proclaims, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited his people and brought them salvation; he has raised up a mighty deliverer for us in the house of his servant David, just as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from ancient times" (Luke 1:68-70).

That Christ was born of the house of David, Micah relates, saying, And thou, Bethlehem, art not the least in the city of Juda, for out of thee shall come a governor who shall rule my people Israel. (Micah 5:2.) But all the prophets spoke of the Incarnation, and therefore it is said, As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets.

However, this was fulfilled as foretold by the holy prophets of antiquity. Through their words, He assured the coming of a powerful King from the lineage of David, who would be the Redeemer of Israel. This message is echoed in numerous psalms attributed to David.

Whereby he means that God spoke through them, and that their speech was not of man.

But he says, Which have been since the world began. Because all the Scriptures of the Old Testament were a constant prophecy of Christ. For both our father Adam himself, and the other fathers, by their deeds bore testimony to His dispensation.

In this passage, Zechariah discusses the prophetic messages delivered to various individuals throughout history regarding Israel's salvation. Recently, some non-Orthodox interpreters of the Scriptures have suggested that prophecies hold little significance for faith and can be disregarded. This belief is misguided and results from the secular ideologies prevalent among contemporary scholars. Prophecies serve as a vital link that connects different eras and nations. The Old Testament illustrates how both the wicked and the righteous sought out prophetic guidance during difficult times. Jesus Christ and His apostles acknowledged the importance of these prophecies. The apostle Peter describes them as a light shining ‘in a dark place’ (2 Pet. 1:19). As we engage with the Gospel narratives about Jesus Christ's earthly existence, we encounter details surrounding the Nativity of John the Baptist and his early years.

He restored the kingdom and the saving power to us, His people, whether within the household or beyond, specifically from the lineage of David, His servant. This was accomplished as He had promised through the words of the ancient prophets. For through them, He assured us of raising a mighty kingdom from the house of David, the Savior of Israel, Jesus, whom God the Word took to Himself and incorporated into His divine essence.

Following the birth of John, Zechariah crafted a unique hymn praising God for revealing the arrival of the Messiah's kingdom (Luke 1:68-75). In this song, he prophetically outlines the role and purpose of his son, as conveyed by the angel and inspired within him (76-79). This account holds significant historical relevance, as it provides insight into the understanding of the foremost priests of that era concerning the Messiah and His reign. The literal interpretation of this hymn suggests that the Messiah is the figure through whom God, honoring His ancient covenants, seeks to rescue His people from their oppressors.

Zechariah offers praise to God for having ‘visited’ His people, specifically the people of Israel. This divine visitation involves the act of providing deliverance or salvation for His people through the “horn of salvation,” which has been raised in the lineage of David. All this was fulfilled by the Lord God of Israel in accordance with the predictions made by the ancient prophets, who proclaimed that He would rescue His people from their adversaries and extend His mercy not just to those living at the time of the Saviour and their descendants, but also to their forebears, their fathers, with whom He established His holy covenant and to whom He vowed to deliver them.

He articulated through his voice, as foretold by the holy prophets of old, the Lord God revealed the arrival of the Messiah and all the blessings it brings to humanity. When we speak of ‘from everlasting,’ it should be understood not in a strict eternal sense, but rather in a relative manner—referring to a distant past, from ancient times (Acts 3:21).

Through the words of His sacred prophets, who have existed throughout the ages, He announced the truth.