What is the significance of Mary's Virginity in Luke 1?
*What is the significance of Mary's virginity?
While Elizabeth and Zechariah have their old age and marital attempts highlighted in Luke 1, the emphasis surrounding Mary is quite the opposite. Mary hasn’t been married, her status is that of a betrothal to a man named Joseph, and she’s a virgin. Elizabeth and Zechariah are an old married couple. Mary and Joseph have yet to “tie the knot” as it were. Elizabeth and Zechariah tried and failed to conceive, Mary was still a virgin.
In Greek the word for Virgin ‘παρθένος’ (Parthenos Strong’s G3933) only appears 14 times in 12 verses in the New Testament.
Matthew 1:23, 25:1, 25:7
Luke 1:27
Acts 21:9
1 Corinthians 7:25, 7:28, 7:34, 7:36, 7:37
2 Corinthians 11:2
Revelation 14:4
In Matthew 1 and Luke 1 the references are to Mary’s status as a Virgin.
These are the details in view that Luke presents upon first introduction and comparison. But these details aren’t the ones that stand out compared to the glories of Mary’s virginity in light of Gabriel's news. For Luke’s audience, if they have any familiarity with the book of Isaiah then the emphasis on Mary’s virginity would have stood out like the sun on a spring afternoon.
In the Old Testament the word for Virgin only occurs 7 times.
Genesis 24:43
Exodus 2:8
Psalm 68:25
Proverbs 30:19
Song of Songs 1:3, 6:8
Isaiah 7:14
It is the last of these that Luke’s audience would made a connection with Mary’s virginity.
In Isaiah 7:14 a prophecy is given regarding the house of David and it’s future. At the time of Isaiah, things didn’t look great for Israel and Judah. There was war between the divided kingdom of Israel and Judah. In the midst of this war Ahaz (King of Judah) conversed with Isaiah and God. God provides this strange sign as a promise of the coming deliverance of the House of David.
Mary’s status as a virgin isn’t significant on it’s own. Yet when it’s put in the contrasting moment of history with Elizabeth and Zechariah, and is tied with news from God of conception that will happen without an earthly male partner, the situation becomes all the more unique, all the wondrous. From out of the womb of a virgin would come a child promised many ages previous.
Mary’s own faith and understanding of the situation are worthy of much consideration, although that has not been my own focus this particular week, it is worth at least a few words. While Zechariah challenged the surety of Gabriel’s words (and thus receives a sign through being stricken dumb), Mary asks a more mechanical question (and thus receives an answer in gentle simplicity) in Luke 1:34:
Mary isn’t challenging the validity or trustworthiness of the statement by Gabriel. She wants to know how things are going to play out for this amazing promised child to enter the world. Gabriel’s response further emphasizes the reality of the divine at work in Luke 1:35-37:
Mary will have no male partner for this conception. God himself will miraculously “overshadow” Mary. Gabriel provides an example of God’s hand already at work by citing Elizabeth’s amazing conception.
In Luke’s retelling of the events surrounding the announcements, conception, and pregnancies of John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ, Luke leaves his audience with a remarkable story, and an unmistakable choice.
Do you believe Gabriel’s news?
The entirety of this story depends on the reality of Gabriel’s news. There are many who wouldn’t want to admit to a pregnancy prior to a sanctioned marriage. There are some who haven’t conceived for many years of marriage yet are able to years later. These two pregnancies in themselves stand as emissary’s of God’s kingdom, boldly intruding into our very busy lives. In the midst of our struggles, our triumphs, our lives peaks and valleys, the news of Gabriel stands as a foundational part of our faith.
If Jesus wasn’t born of a Virgin, then he wasn’t the fulfillment of the promise in Isaiah 7:14.
If Gabriel’s news isn’t trustworthy, surely we have no reason to continue reading. To believe the things Luke shares about the miraculous life of Jesus, the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, the trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, or the resurrection account that after dying Jesus rose again from the grave.
If we don’t believe Gabriel’s news to Zechariah, we have no reason to believe his news to Mary.
While Elizabeth and Zechariah have their old age and marital attempts highlighted in Luke 1, the emphasis surrounding Mary is quite the opposite. Mary hasn’t been married, her status is that of a betrothal to a man named Joseph, and she’s a virgin. Elizabeth and Zechariah are an old married couple. Mary and Joseph have yet to “tie the knot” as it were. Elizabeth and Zechariah tried and failed to conceive, Mary was still a virgin.
In Greek the word for Virgin ‘παρθένος’ (Parthenos Strong’s G3933) only appears 14 times in 12 verses in the New Testament.
Matthew 1:23, 25:1, 25:7
Luke 1:27
Acts 21:9
1 Corinthians 7:25, 7:28, 7:34, 7:36, 7:37
2 Corinthians 11:2
Revelation 14:4
In Matthew 1 and Luke 1 the references are to Mary’s status as a Virgin.
These are the details in view that Luke presents upon first introduction and comparison. But these details aren’t the ones that stand out compared to the glories of Mary’s virginity in light of Gabriel's news. For Luke’s audience, if they have any familiarity with the book of Isaiah then the emphasis on Mary’s virginity would have stood out like the sun on a spring afternoon.
In the Old Testament the word for Virgin only occurs 7 times.
Genesis 24:43
Exodus 2:8
Psalm 68:25
Proverbs 30:19
Song of Songs 1:3, 6:8
Isaiah 7:14
It is the last of these that Luke’s audience would made a connection with Mary’s virginity.
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
In Isaiah 7:14 a prophecy is given regarding the house of David and it’s future. At the time of Isaiah, things didn’t look great for Israel and Judah. There was war between the divided kingdom of Israel and Judah. In the midst of this war Ahaz (King of Judah) conversed with Isaiah and God. God provides this strange sign as a promise of the coming deliverance of the House of David.
Mary’s status as a virgin isn’t significant on it’s own. Yet when it’s put in the contrasting moment of history with Elizabeth and Zechariah, and is tied with news from God of conception that will happen without an earthly male partner, the situation becomes all the more unique, all the wondrous. From out of the womb of a virgin would come a child promised many ages previous.
Mary’s own faith and understanding of the situation are worthy of much consideration, although that has not been my own focus this particular week, it is worth at least a few words. While Zechariah challenged the surety of Gabriel’s words (and thus receives a sign through being stricken dumb), Mary asks a more mechanical question (and thus receives an answer in gentle simplicity) in Luke 1:34:
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
Mary isn’t challenging the validity or trustworthiness of the statement by Gabriel. She wants to know how things are going to play out for this amazing promised child to enter the world. Gabriel’s response further emphasizes the reality of the divine at work in Luke 1:35-37:
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
Mary will have no male partner for this conception. God himself will miraculously “overshadow” Mary. Gabriel provides an example of God’s hand already at work by citing Elizabeth’s amazing conception.
In Luke’s retelling of the events surrounding the announcements, conception, and pregnancies of John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ, Luke leaves his audience with a remarkable story, and an unmistakable choice.
Do you believe Gabriel’s news?
The entirety of this story depends on the reality of Gabriel’s news. There are many who wouldn’t want to admit to a pregnancy prior to a sanctioned marriage. There are some who haven’t conceived for many years of marriage yet are able to years later. These two pregnancies in themselves stand as emissary’s of God’s kingdom, boldly intruding into our very busy lives. In the midst of our struggles, our triumphs, our lives peaks and valleys, the news of Gabriel stands as a foundational part of our faith.
If Jesus wasn’t born of a Virgin, then he wasn’t the fulfillment of the promise in Isaiah 7:14.
If Gabriel’s news isn’t trustworthy, surely we have no reason to continue reading. To believe the things Luke shares about the miraculous life of Jesus, the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, the trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, or the resurrection account that after dying Jesus rose again from the grave.
If we don’t believe Gabriel’s news to Zechariah, we have no reason to believe his news to Mary.
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