Advent Season · Year C
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Last Sunday before Christmas · December 19, 2027
Overview & Insights
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42)
In our first two sections of Luke’s text the angel Gabriel has announced two births to mothers who should not have been expecting a baby (one too old, the other not yet married). Before the births of John and Jesus are narrated, the two families are brought together, and we have in this domestic scene an opportunity to reflect on the significance of these two special people. The unborn John and his mother recognize the superior status of Mary’s son, and Mary speaks with delight and wonder of the incredible honor of being the mother of God’s Son. The paradoxical values expressed in Mary’s song prepare the reader for the repeated challenges to the status quo that will mark Jesus’s ministry as this Gospel will describe it.
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Commentary
Commentary on Luke 1:39-45 [46-55] Working Preacher
The Lutheran home commentary on two women, moved by the Spirit, raising their voices in praise.
Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary centering Elizabeth's Spirit-filled blessing of Mary.
Luke 1 - Mary Visits Elizabeth Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse-by-verse evangelical study of the visitation and Elizabeth's blessing.
Luke Commentaries and Sermons Precept Austin
An inductive study gateway with word studies and cross references across Luke, including chapter 1.
Luke 1:39 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the visitation of Mary and Elizabeth.
Luke 1:39 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight
A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the passage.
The Winter Visitation, Advent 4 (C) Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church
An Anglican homily on the meeting of two expectant women as the last word before Christmas.
Background & Word Study
Book of Luke Overview BibleProject
An animated overview of Luke's structure and themes to set the Gospel in context.
Luke 1:39 Interlinear BibleHub
The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and lexical helps.
Enter the Bible: Luke Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's book introduction to Luke and its distinctive concerns.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What happens when Mary visits Elizabeth?
The child leaps in Elizabeth's womb, she blesses Mary as the mother of her Lord, and Mary answers with the Magnificat, the song of the God who lifts up the lowly.
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