In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy with John, God sends the angel Gabriel from heaven to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. Elizabeth, an elderly relative of Mary who was previously barren, had miraculously conceived after her husband Zacharias received an angelic announcement in the temple. Gabriel had appeared to Zacharias while he served as priest, declaring that his wife would bear a son who would prepare the way for the Lord. When Zacharias doubted due to their advanced age, Gabriel struck him mute until the prophecy's fulfillment. Now Gabriel travels to deliver another momentous announcement to a young virgin named Mary, who is betrothed to Joseph, a descendant of David's royal line. Gabriel is addressing Mary.
[26] Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, [27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. [28] And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
[29] But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. [30] Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. [32] He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. [33] And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
[34] Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
[35] And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. [36] Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. [37] For with God nothing will be impossible.”
[38] Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
The prophet Isaiah has just delivered a vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the latter days, describing how the mountain of the Lord's house will be established and all nations will flow to it to learn God's ways and walk in His paths. He proclaimed that the Lord will judge between nations, they will beat their swords into plowshares, and nation will not lift up sword against nation anymore. This glorious future vision of universal peace and worship contrasts sharply with the current spiritual condition of God's people, setting the stage for Isaiah's call to the house of Jacob to walk in the light of the Lord and his subsequent indictment of their idolatry and pride. Isaiah is addressing the house of Jacob, which refers to the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
[5] O house of Jacob, come and let us walk
In the light of the Lord.
[6] For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob,
Because they are filled with eastern ways;
They are soothsayers like the Philistines,
And they are pleased with the children of foreigners.
[7] Their land is also full of silver and gold,
And there is no end to their treasures;
Their land is also full of horses,
And there is no end to their chariots.
[8] Their land is also full of idols;
They worship the work of their own hands,
That which their own fingers have made.
[9] People bow down,
And each man humbles himself;
Therefore do not forgive them.
[10] Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust,
From the terror of the Lord
And the glory of His majesty.
[11] The lofty looks of man shall be humbled,
The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down,
And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
Jesus continues teaching the crowds gathered by the Sea of Galilee using parables, having just explained the parable of the sower to his disciples. He now presents another agricultural parable to illustrate truths about the kingdom of heaven. This follows his explanation that he speaks in parables because while some are given understanding of the kingdom's mysteries, others hear but do not comprehend. The crowd remains attentive as Jesus employs familiar farming imagery to convey spiritual realities. Jesus is addressing the crowds gathered around him.
[24] Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; [25] but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. [26] But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. [27] So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ [28] He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ [29] But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
The Apostle Paul has been addressing the difficult question of Israel's unbelief and God's faithfulness to His promises. He expressed deep sorrow over his fellow Israelites' rejection of Christ and affirmed God's sovereign right to show mercy according to His purpose. Paul explained that God's word has not failed because not all physical descendants of Abraham are true children of the promise, illustrating this through examples of Isaac and Jacob. He defended God's justice in choosing some and hardening others, using the analogy of a potter and clay. Paul then cited Old Testament prophecies showing that God always planned to call both Jews and Gentiles to salvation, and that only a remnant of Israel would be saved despite their large numbers.
[30] What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; [31] but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. [32] Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. [33] As it is written:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
[1] Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. [2] For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. [3] For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. [4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.