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LUKE 1:17 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Luke 1:16Luke 1:18
“And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous — to make ready a people prepared for the Lord — the Elijah identification draws directly from Malachi 4:5–6, the last prophetic promise of the Old Testament. The spirit and power of Elijah communicates not reincarnation but the same prophetic intensity and divine empowerment. Turning hearts (Malachi's turning of fathers to children) is the social healing that genuine repentance produces. A people prepared for the Lord is John's specific mission: the preparation, not the arrival.

Church Fathers on Luke 1:17

Next to his becoming the rejoicing of many, the greatness his virtue is prophesied; as it is said, For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord. The greatness signified is not of the body, but of the soul. Greatness in the sight of the Lord is greatness of soul, greatness of virtue.

Ambrose · 4th century

For many are called great before men, but not before God, as the hypocrites. And so in like manner was John called great, as the parents of John were called just, before the Lord.

Theophylact · 11th century

Sicera is interpreted “drunkenness,” and by the word the Hebrews understand any drink that can intoxicate, (whether made from fruits, corn, or any other thing.) But it was part of the law of the Nazarites to give up wine and strong drink at the time of their consecration. Hence John, and others like him, that they might always remain Nazarites, (i.e. holy,) are careful always to abstain from these things. For he ought not to be drunk with wine (in which is licentiousness) who…

Bede · 8th century
Read all 16 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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