Luke 1:8-10
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Zacharias belonged to the division of Abia. Every direct male descendant of Aaron was automatically a priest, this meant for all ordinary purposes there were far too many priests.

They were divided into 24 sections. Only at Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles did all the priests serve. For the rest of the year each course served two periods of one week each. Priests who loved their work looked forward to that week of service above all things; it was the highlight of their lives.

There was as many as 20,000 priests and so there were nearly a 1,000 in each division. Zechariah’s division of priests was serving in the temple during this particular week. Each morning, one of the priests would enter the Holy Place in the temple to offer incense. Incense was burned in the temple twice daily. Lots were cast to decide who would enter the sacred room and one day during the week Zechariah was chosen by lot.

Offering the incense was considered a great privilege. It was very possible a priest would never have the privilege of burning incense all his life; but if the lot did fall on any priest that day was the greatest day in all his life, the day he longed for and dreamed of. On this day the lot fell on Zacharias and he would be thrilled to the core of his being.

God was guiding the events of history to prepare the way for Jesus to come to earth.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20, 21

Luke 1:5-7
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

These verses, 6 & 7, reveal two important details about Zechariah and Elizabeth.

First, they both were righteous before God. To say they lived blamelessly does not mean they were sinless, but that they loved God and obeyed him, living according to all the commandments and regulations.

Second, they had no children. To ancient readers, this would have seemed like a contradiction. Children were considered to be God’s greatest blessings. Certainly such God-fearing and God-honoring people as Zechariah and Elizabeth should have been blessed with children. But Elizabeth was barren.

Not only that, but Luke adds the detail that they both were getting on in years, meaning they could not expect any change in their situation. In societies like Israel, in which a woman’s value was largely measured by her ability to bear children, to be aging and without children often led to personal hardship and public shame.

For Elizabeth, a childless old age was a painful and lonely time, but during this time she remained faithful to God.

Zechariah and Elizabeth didn’t merely go through the motions of following God’s laws; they backed up their outward obedience with inward obedience.

Unlike the religious leaders whom Jesus called hypocrites, Zechariah and Elizabeth did not stop with the letter of the law.

Does your life reflect careful obedience and high regard for God’s will?

As your life shows your love for God, others will be drawn to Him.

Luke 1:5-7
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

Luke has already told us he intends to begin at the “beginning.” He does, however, surprise some readers by beginning with the birth of John the Baptist and not the birth of Jesus.

He is telling his readers, the beginning is not His birth! The apostle John shares this truth with his readers when he wrote, “In the beginning was the word.” Luke is sharing the same truth but he is beginning with the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist; the person who would prepare the way for Jesus.

Luke’s presentation of the announcement of John the Baptist’s birth makes it clear everything he is describing from John the Baptist’s birth to all of Jesus’ life is a continuation, or more accurately, a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

When God fulfills His promises and acts on behalf of His people, it is an occasion to rejoice in God’s goodness.

Here we have a couple who have lived exemplary lives and yet they seem to have been forgotten by God. In their day to day life nothing is happening. They are serving and obeying, but for years God has not answered their prayer for children. No doubt, their life was a daily routine of obedience and piety. As they settled into their routine they seem to have lost all hope God would ever work in their lives.

Zachariah and Elizabeth are truly examples of “normal” people trying to serve God and perhaps feeling they are accomplishing very little in their daily life.

What this introduction tells us is we should anticipate God working in our lives.

We should pray God will accomplish His will in our lives.

We should look for occasions to praise Him for what He is doing.

Don’t lose God in your daily routine!

Luke 1:1-4
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Since the Gospel of Luke is such a long document and a great deal of it is historical narrative, my tentative plans are to take the book paragraph by paragraph. I will highlight a few items in each paragraph for comment. I will still go into detail on specific sections which I think are important for the 21st century.

A Tragic Situation (1:5-7)
When God acts to fulfill His promises, He meets a wide variety of needs. After over 400 years of silence; God acts in the time of Herod the Great to begin fulfilling His plan. Although He is concerned to fulfill His promises to Israel, God is also meeting the personal needs of a righteous couple.

Luke introduces the parents of John as devout, law-abiding people. However despite their blamelessness, they have suffered the disappointment of infertility, a condition Elizabeth will later refer to as a disgrace (v. 25).

Elizabeth’s feelings are completely understandable, but to be barren is not an indication of the presence of sin or of condemnation of God. It may be an opportunity for blessing, whether God grants a child late in life or allows a couple to pursue other opportunities of service.

In Scripture, when God allows a woman to be barren, He often has something special in mind for her.
* Sarah, Genesis 18:11
* Rebekah, Genesis 25:21
* Rachel, Genesis 29:31
* Samson’s mother, Judges 13:2, 5
* Hannah, 1 Samuel 1-2

So in the case of Elizabeth and Zechariah, God’s action parallels the way he often worked among the fathers and mothers of Jewish faith.

His word and plan are coming to pass again.

Luke 1:1-4
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke’s preface deals with two matters: motivation and purpose. Here is a paraphrase which shows this organization.

Motivation
So important are the events concerning Jesus many people have already taken in hand to blend into a narrative the reports concerning these happenings (v. 1).
Eyewitnesses have handed down these reports to us (v. 2).
I [Luke] have thoroughly investigated all essential matters (v. 3).

Purpose Thus equipped, I [Luke] write this Gospel in order that you, Theophilus and others like you, may know the exact truth with respect to the matters concerning which you have already received some instruction (v. 4).

Luke’s purpose was to explain the entire gospel story to Theophilus, from the story of the birth of John the Baptist until the ascension of Christ. In Acts, Luke continued the story of the spread of the gospel until Paul brought it to Rome.

We can thank Theophilus for his concerns. Without his questions, we would not have this Gospel, with its story of Jesus’ birth and childhood and its record of many of Jesus’ parables. Most of 9:51-18:35 is not recorded in any of the other gospels.

How would a biographer prepare for writing about someone’s life?

What period in history would you like to visit? Why?

How would you prepare to serve as a character witness in court for your best friend?