as He promised to our fathersThis phrase refers to the covenantal promises God made to the patriarchs of Israel, particularly Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These promises are foundational to the Jewish faith and are recorded in the Old Testament. In
Genesis 12:1-3, God promises Abraham that he will be the father of a great nation, and through him, all nations will be blessed. This promise is reiterated to Isaac in
Genesis 26:3-4 and to Jacob in
Genesis 28:13-14. The fulfillment of these promises is a central theme throughout the Bible, highlighting God's faithfulness and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. The reference to "our fathers" underscores the continuity of God's plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament, emphasizing the historical and spiritual lineage of the Jewish people.
to Abraham
Abraham is a pivotal figure in biblical history, often referred to as the father of faith. His story begins inGenesis 12, where God calls him to leave his homeland and promises to make him a great nation. Abraham's faith and obedience are exemplified in his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac, as recounted inGenesis 22. This act is seen as a foreshadowing of God's sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus Christ. The promise to Abraham includes the land of Canaan, numerous descendants, and the blessing of all nations through his seed, which is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16). Abraham's significance is also highlighted in the New Testament, where he is mentioned in the genealogies of Jesus (Matthew 1:1) and in discussions of faith (Romans 4:1-3).
and his descendants forever.
The phrase "his descendants forever" refers to the enduring nature of God's covenant with Abraham and his offspring. This includes not only the physical descendants, the Israelites, but also the spiritual descendants, those who share in the faith of Abraham. InGalatians 3:29, Paul explains that if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. This extends the promise to all believers, Jew and Gentile alike, who are grafted into the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ. The concept of an everlasting covenant is a recurring theme in the Bible, emphasizing God's eternal faithfulness and the unbreakable nature of His promises. The fulfillment of this promise is seen in the establishment of God's kingdom, which will endure forever, as prophesied inDaniel 2:44 and affirmed inRevelation 11:15.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
MaryThe mother of Jesus, who is speaking these words as part of her Magnificat, a song of praise to God.
2.
AbrahamThe patriarch of the Israelites, to whom God made promises regarding his descendants and their role in God's plan.
3.
Descendants of AbrahamRefers to the Israelites, the chosen people through whom God would bring about His promises.
4.
GodThe central figure who made the covenant with Abraham and is faithful to His promises.
5.
The MagnificatThe song of praise spoken by Mary, found in
Luke 1:46-55, expressing joy and gratitude for God's faithfulness.
Teaching Points
God's FaithfulnessGod's promises are eternal and unchanging. Just as He was faithful to Abraham, He remains faithful to us today.
The Importance of CovenantUnderstanding the covenant with Abraham helps us grasp the continuity of God's plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament.
Our Spiritual HeritageAs believers in Christ, we are grafted into the spiritual lineage of Abraham, inheriting the promises made to him.
Praise and WorshipLike Mary, we should respond to God's faithfulness with praise and worship, acknowledging His work in our lives.
Living as Heirs of the PromiseRecognizing our identity as descendants of Abraham through faith in Christ should influence how we live, with a focus on faithfulness and obedience.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Luke 1:55?
2.How does Luke 1:55 demonstrate God's faithfulness to Abraham's descendants?
3.What covenant promises are fulfilled in Luke 1:55?
4.How can we trust God's promises like in Luke 1:55 today?
5.How does Luke 1:55 connect to Genesis 12:3 and God's promise to Abraham?
6.How should God's faithfulness in Luke 1:55 influence our daily walk with Him?
7.How does Luke 1:55 affirm God's faithfulness to His promises?
8.What is the significance of God's promise to Abraham in Luke 1:55?
9.How does Luke 1:55 connect to the overall theme of God's covenant?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 1?
11.How does Mary express her joy and gratitude to God?
12.Who was Joseph's father? (Matthew 1:16 vs. Luke 3:23)
13.How many generations from Abraham to Jesus? (Matthew 1:17 vs. Luke 3:23-38)
14.Who was the father of Shealtiel? Jechoniah (Matthew 1:12) Neri (Luke 3:27)What Does Luke 1:55 Mean
He promised- “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind” (Numbers 23:19). The promise sung by Mary stands on this unchanging character.
- Luke records that God “has done mighty deeds with His arm” (1:51). God’s actions in history back up His words.
-Hebrews 6:17–18 reminds us that God confirmed His promise with an oath “so that…we who have fled to Him for refuge might have strong encouragement.”
- Every covenant—Noahic, Mosaic, Davidic—shows the same pattern: God speaks, then God acts.Luke 1:55 is the latest link in that golden chain.
to our fathers- The “fathers” are the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob—whom God repeatedly calls “your fathers” (Exodus 3:6;Acts 7:32).
- By invoking them, Mary ties Jesus’ arrival to Israel’s whole story, not a brand-new religion.
-Romans 9:4–5 lists the fathers as recipients of “the covenants, the giving of the Law, the temple service, and the promises,” all of which point forward to Messiah.
- In other words, the Christmas story is family history for Israel and adopted family history for every believer (Ephesians 2:12–13).
to Abraham- God first spoke the covenant inGenesis 12:2–3, promising Abraham a great nation and universal blessing: “in you all the families of the earth will be blessed”.
-Genesis 22:16–18 seals that promise with an oath. Luke echoes it in 1:72–73—“to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath He swore to our father Abraham”.
-Galatians 3:16 identifies the ultimate Seed as Christ; Luke records His conception.
- The Abrahamic covenant, then, supplies the legal title for Jesus’ mission: blessing to every nation through one Man who shares Abraham’s bloodline.
and his descendants-Genesis 17:7–8 extends the covenant “to you and your descendants after you…an everlasting possession”.
- Physical descendants: Israel, kept by God through exile and return (Nehemiah 9:7–8).
- Spiritual descendants: “those who are of faith are sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7).
•Acts 3:25 calls the Jerusalem crowd “sons of the prophets and of the covenant,” inviting them to receive the risen Jesus.
•Romans 4:16 celebrates that the promise rests on grace “so that it may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring.”
- Luke’s Gospel will trace Jesus’ genealogy back to “son of Adam, son of God” (3:38), underscoring that the blessing reaches every branch of the family tree.
forever- Temporal limits dissolve here; God’s covenant stretches “from age to age” (Psalm 103:17).
- The Davidic covenant layers on permanence: “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:13). Gabriel repeats that to Mary: “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:33).
-Isaiah 9:7 promises no end to the increase of Messiah’s government.Hebrews 13:20 calls Jesus “the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of an everlasting covenant.”
- Because the covenant is eternal, the salvation it secures is eternal (John 10:28). Believers are anchored in a promise that outlives time itself.
summaryLuke 1:55 celebrates a covenant-keeping God. He made an oath, confirmed it through the fathers, focused it on Abraham, widened it to all his descendants, and guaranteed it for eternity. In Jesus, every syllable stands fulfilled, inviting us to rest in the faithfulness of the One whose word never fails.
(55)
As hespake to our fathers.--As the sentence stands in English, the words "Abraham and his seed" seem in apposition with "forefathers," and to be added as explaining it. In the Greek, however, they are in a different connection, and belong to what had gone before, the construction being as follows: "To remember His mercy (as He spake unto our forefathers) to Abraham and his seed for ever." The mercy that had been shown to Abraham was, as it were, working even yet.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
asκαθὼς(kathōs)Adverb
Strong's 2531:According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that.He promisedἐλάλησεν(elalēsen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2980:A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.toπρὸς(pros)Preposition
Strong's 4314:To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.ourἡμῶν(hēmōn)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.fathers,πατέρας(pateras)Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3962:Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.to AbrahamἈβραὰμ(Abraam)Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 11:Abraham, progenitor of the Hebrew race. Of Hebrew origin; Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.hisαὐτοῦ(autou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.descendantsσπέρματι(spermati)Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4690:From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant.forever.”αἰῶνα(aiōna)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 165:From the same as aei; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity; by implication, the world; specially a Messianic period.
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NT Gospels: Luke 1:55 As he spoke to our fathers (Luke Lu Lk)