Luke 1:28-35
28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
30 And 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 bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to 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 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
Luke 1:28-35: Verse-by-Verse Analysis
Verse 28: “And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!'”
The angel Gabriel greets Mary with a message of divine favor. This greeting indicates that Mary is chosen for a special purpose. The phrase “the Lord is with you” reassures her of God’s presence and support.
Verse 29: “But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.”
Mary is confused and disturbed by the angel’s words. She wonders what this extraordinary greeting means. Her reaction shows her humility and caution.
Verse 30: “And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.’
Gabriel calms Mary’s fears. He reassures her that she has found favor with God. This favor is not due to her own merit but is a gift from God.
Verse 31: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”
The angel reveals God’s plan. Mary will conceive a son and name him Jesus. The name Jesus means “The Lord saves,” indicating his future role.
Verse 32: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”
Gabriel describes the child’s future greatness. Jesus will be called the Son of the Most High, emphasizing his divine nature. He will inherit the throne of David, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.
Verse 33: “and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Jesus’ reign will be eternal. He will rule over the house of Jacob, representing the people of Israel. His kingdom will never end, signifying an everlasting dominion.
Verse 34: “And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’
Mary questions the angel. She is a virgin and wonders how she can conceive a child. Her question is practical and shows her innocence.
Verse 35: “And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.’
Gabriel explains the divine mechanism. The Holy Spirit will enable her to conceive. The power of the Most High will overshadow her, ensuring the child’s holiness. The child will be called the Son of God, affirming his divine origin.