This is the statement made concerning yet to be born John when his mother Elizabeth heard the greeting of her cousin Mary, the mother of Jesus.
For believers, Luke 1:39-45 is very important given America’s current social and moral climate. As of this writing (March 4, 2019), there are 6 US Senators who have declared themselves as candidates for the Presidency in 2020. Recently ALL SIX declared their willingness not only to allow unborn babies to be murdered all the way to the moment of birth, they also affirmed that babies who survive attempted abortions can be killed OUTSIDE the womb after becoming completely untethered from their mothers.
The Greek language is renowned for its depth and breadth, and our text contains two statements of import for believers. The first is the use of “babe” in verse 41. The word so translated is brephos. Here we see God refer to a preborn child as a babe. In Luke 2:12-16, Luke (who was a physician – Col 4:14), by inspiration referred to the newborn baby Jesus by this same word, brephos. Later, in Luke 18:15, Luke uses brephos in reference to small children being brought to Jesus.
Paul utilized this same word when he told Timothy “that from childhood (brephos) you have known the Holy Scriptures” (2 Tim 3:15).
God makes no distinction of personhood or value between an unborn child, a newborn child, and a child of some age.
The second statement of import is Elizabeth’s reference to Mary as “the mother of my Lord” (Luke 1:43). Mary was not yet at the end of her first trimester of pregnancy, yet the Holy Spirit saw fit to refer to her as a “mother.” To be a mother one must have a child. Mary had a child in her womb. Elizabeth said as much when she said, “blessed is the fruit of your womb” (v 42).
The Bible is clear concerning the personhood of the unborn. Compelling cases can also be made from the language and laws of the Old Testament.
In recent days the news has shown religious leaders gathering together to pronounce their blessing upon abortion clinics. Chelsea Clinton invoked her “Christianity” in declaring that ending abortion was “unchristian.” God help us all if these people ever gain unfettered control of America!
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