Isaiah 56:7
Mark 11:17
Verse 17. (a) "Is it not written" Isa 61:7 (1) "called" or, "an house of prayer for all nations" (b) "den of thieves" Jer 7:11Luke 1:32
Verse 32. He shall be (f) great. There is undoubted reference in this passage to Isa 9:6,7. By his being great is meant he shall be distinguished or illustrious; great in power, in wisdom, in dominion, on earth and in heaven. Shall be (g) called. This is the same as to say he shall be the Son, &c. The Hebrews often used this form of speech. Mt 21:13. The (h) Highest. God, who is infinitely exalted; called the Highest, because he is exalted over all his creatures on earth and in heaven. Mk 5:7. The throne. The kingdom; or shall appoint him as the lineal successor of David in the kingdom. His father David. David is called his father because Jesus was lineally descended from him. Mt 1:1. The promise to David was, that there should not fail a man to sit on his throne, or that his throne should be perpetual, and the promise was fulfilled by exalting Jesus to be a Prince and a Saviour, and the perpetual King of his people. (f) Mt 1:21 (g) He 1:2-8 (h) 2Sam 7:11,12, Isa 9:6,7Luke 1:35
Verse 35. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee. Mt 1:20. The power of the Highest, &c. This evidently means that the body of Jesus would be created by the direct power of God. It was not by ordinary generation; but, as the Messiah came to redeem sinners--to make atonement for others, and not for himself--it was necessary that his human nature should be pure, and free from the corruption of the fall. God therefore prepared him a body by direct creation that should be pure and holy. See He 10:5. That holy thing, &c. That holy progeny or child. Shall be called (k) the Son of God. This is spoken in reference to the human nature of Christ, and this passage proves, beyond controversy, that one reason why Jesus was called the Son of God was because he was begotten in a supernatural manner. He is also called the Son of God on account of his resurrection, Rom 1:4; Acts 13:33, Ps 2:7.Luke 1:76
Verse 76. And thou, child, &c. Zacharias predicts in this and the following verses the dignity, the employment, and the success of John. He declares what would be the subject of his preaching, and what his success. Prophet of the Highest. Prophet of God; a prophet appointed by God to declare his will, and to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. The face of the Lord. The Lord Jesus, the Messiah, that was about to appear. To go before the face of one is the same as to go immediately before one, or to be immediately followed by another. To prepare his ways. This is taken from Isa 40:3 Mt 3:3 Isa 40:3 (u) "go before the face" Mal 3:1
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