Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Obedience brought renewed fulfillment of God’s words (v.

20).

Zechariah had words—no longer words of questioning and doubts but words of praise and joy.

Silence now moved to the neighbors.

Awestruck, they tried to figure out what had happened.

The news traveled fast.

The entire hill country spread the word.

As they talked, they also questioned.

Evidence was clear: In this child of the barren and the silent, God was at work.

If God could show his hand so strongly in this birth, what would he do when the child matured?

What was God getting ready to do among them?

What then will this child turn out to be?

The Holman Commentary describes well the scene we left last week:

Trent C. Butler, Luke, vol.

3, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 14.

Obedience brought renewed fulfillment of God’s words (v.

20).

Zechariah had words—no longer words of questioning and doubts but words of praise and joy.

Silence now moved to the neighbors.

Awestruck, they tried to figure out what had happened.

The news traveled fast.

The entire hill country spread the word.

As they talked, they also questioned.

Evidence was clear: In this child of the barren and the silent, God was at work.

Obedience brought renewed fulfillment of God’s words (v.

20).

Zechariah had words—no longer words of questioning and doubts but words of praise and joy.

Silence now moved to the neighbors.

Awestruck, they tried to figure out what had happened.

The news traveled fast.

The entire hill country spread the word.

As they talked, they also questioned.

Evidence was clear: In this child of the barren and the silent, God was at work.

If God could show his hand so strongly in this birth, what would he do when the child matured?

What was God getting ready to do among them?

If God could show his hand so strongly in this birth, what would he do when the child matured?

What was God getting ready to do among them?

God aimed to answer their question.

Verse 1 is only half of the opening sentence of the book of Hebrews and the second being....

This is only half of the opening sentence of the book of Hebrews and the second being....

The sentence must be read as a whole so as to understand the context of the book of Hebrews.

But we’re not studying Hebrews.

We’re studying Luke.

The sentence must be read as a whole so as to understand the context of the book of Hebrews.

But we’re not studying Hebrews.

We’re studying Luke.

I share the first half of this opening sentence to establish the idea that GOD spoke to the fathers THROUGH the prophets or BY the mouth of the prophets.

Luke writes in

I am implanting this idea because when Zacharias begins to sing, we need to understand that it is GOD HIMSELF speaking to us THROUGH Zacharias.

Now....let’s open our ears and eyes and listen to this song.

Verse 67:

Luke 1:

The people wanted answers.

Zacharias’ song was going to give them answers.

Remember Luke’s readers will want to know where this song is coming from.

Is this just the words of a happy old priest?

Or is there something bigger going on here?

This is why Luke emphasizes Zacharias being filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Holman Commentary says:

God had one more word for the pondering people.

The Spirit promised for the son (v.

15) and pledged to come to Mary (v.

35) now spoke through Zechariah as he had through Elizabeth (v.

41).

Thus, Zechariah’s song of praise, reflective of so much of Mary’s song (vv.

46–55), was more than human singing.

It was divine prophecy, declaring God’s word for God’s people.

What EXACTLY was this song declaring?

The simple answer comes from commentator Matthew Henry:

he foretold things to come concerning the kingdom of the Messiah, to which all the prophets bear witness.

God gave Zacharias the honor to sing this song…to announce to everyone this meant the Messiah was coming.

In fact,

Everyone that is hearing this letter…this Gospel read aloud already knew the events that have taken place to include Pentecost.

Which means that the church was already established and operating for 30 or more years.

This is an amazing honor that was given Zacharias.

BUT...

This is an amazing honor that was given Zacharias.

Why in the world would God give this honor to Zacharias?

Why in the world would God give this honor to Zacharias?

Why in the world would God give this honor to Zacharias?

Why does he get to declare the coming of the Messiah to the people gathered there?

He didn’t even believe that God could accomplish this!

What do we see God revealing about Himself here?

Matthew Henry says:

Matthew Henry says:

Matthew Henry says:

God not only forgave him his unbelief and distrust (which was signified by discharging him from the punishment of it), but, as a specimen of the abounding of grace towards believers, he filled him with the Holy Ghost, and put this honour upon him, to employ him for his honour.

Grace can be understood as a gift from God to people "generous, free and totally unexpected and undeserved"– that takes the form of divine favor, love, pardon, and a share in the divine life of God.

t is understood by Christians to be a spontaneous gift from God to people "generous, free and totally unexpected and undeserved"[3] – that takes the form of divine favor, love, clemency, and a share in the divine life of God.

Zacharias definitely did not deserve this honor, but it isn’t about Zacharias receiving an honor.

What do we see God revealing about Himself here?

What do I see God revealing about Himself here?

God displaying his abundant and amazing grace.

Perhaps tell Stephen Davey’s speculation about Adam.

Verses 68-75 consist of one single sentence.

God is revealing His faithfulness in this sentence.

****Describe faithfulness as God’s attribute

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel

What do we see God revealing about Himself here?

God is making sure everyone understands that He alone is worthy of Adoration and Praise.

And it is appropriate for Zacharias’ song to begin with a word of praise.

Even Mary in her Magnificant began with a word of praise:

This is an appropriate response when we receive blessing from God.