Bible Study Luke 1:21-23

[clark thompson]

Luke 1:21-23
King James Version (KJV)
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

Luke 1:21-23
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. 23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

These are my thoughts, please share yours.
21 They would have remained outside until he was done and had returned. They did not tie a rope to him in case he died this did not happen. They would have known the time each task would take because they did them often.
22 They knew by the way he gestured that something had happened and soon figured it out. He was unable to speak as the angel told him.
23 He finished his purpose and then went home. We should not stop serving God because of future promises. He was patience to the Lord’s promises and remained because his inability to speak.

 

[Chopper]

Luke 1:21-23
King James Version (KJV)
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

Luke 1:21-23
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. 23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

These are my thoughts, please share yours.
21 They would have remained outside until he was done and had returned. They did not tie a rope to him in case he died this did not happen. They would have known the time each task would take because they did them often.
22 They knew by the way he gestured that something had happened and soon figured it out. He was unable to speak as the angel told him.
23 He finished his purpose and then went home. We should not stop serving God because of future promises. He was patience to the Lord’s promises and remained because his inability to speak.

 

[stovebolts]

Hi Clark,

21. I believe you are correct about being tied with a rope. I believe the only time they tied a rope to the ministering priest would be Yom Kippur, when the High Priest would have entered the Holy of Holies. Only the High Priest was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies, and then only once a year. I'm only vaugly familiar with the priest getting tied with a rope when he entered the sanctuary and I can't remember where I read that from, but again, and I may be wrong, but I thought it was only for Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Since Zacharias was simply doing the regular priestly ministries, I believe you are also correct that they would have known how much time it normally took, and Zacharias was taking a bit longer than expected since his ministry was a routine ministry.

22. I agree. I'm sure they greeted him when he came out, and I'm sure he looked a bit different than when he entered. They knew something happened inside because I'm sure it showed on his face and because he was in there much longer than expected.

23. We have to keep in mind that not every Levite could serve in the Temple. Only those from the line of Aaron could serve and David put together a schedule for them accordingly (1 Chronicles 24:1-19). As such, Zacharias has an obligation to serve in the Temple, but he also had an obligation to serve in his community as well. To be from the line of Aaron and serve to the capacity that Zacharias served was a once in a lifetime experience (by way of lot) that was both a privilege and an honor.

 

[About the Son of God]

Luke 1:21-23
21 They would have remained outside until he was done and had returned. They did not tie a rope to him in case he died this did not happen. They would have known the time each task would take because they did them often.
22 They knew by the way he gestured that something had happened and soon figured it out. He was unable to speak as the angel told him.
23 He finished his purpose and then went home. We should not stop serving God because of future promises. He was patience to the Lord’s promises and remained because his inability to speak.

21. It's curious that the people "waited" at all. Luke assumes the reader knows why they "waited." but it's not very clear what they were thinking.

I know that Zecharias went into the "holy" place inside the temple, eg: the inner temple but just outside of the room which held the arc of the covenant in times past. It is at the entrance to the other room that there was a small golden altar placed -- and which an under-priest, such as Zechariah, would daily offer incense on, at a set time -- during the "time of prayer". (Luke 1:10)

Perhaps, then, the people would have noticed the smoke rising -- or the smell of the incense; and from those signs would have known to pray, since they didn't have actual watches on the wrist to know when this was to happen?

I know that the smoke rising was a sign that their prayers were ascending to heaven, by the angels/messengers/priests to be heard by God.

Revelation 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

22. And I know that sometimes when a person has a vision, it's not lawful to tell anyone... Isaiah required purified lips, Ezekiel wasn't read to Jewish children -- but only upon a certain maturity, even Paul simply didn't tell everything he saw calling it unlawful to speak of, and even John -- I think sealed some things up too...

I'm not sure if there was a blessing the people expected to get from Zechariah afterward so that they were actively waiting, or if it was merely the fact that he made signs but couldn't 'lawfully' speak that was the clue that something awesome had happened.... for, assuredly, a priest might occasionally take extra time in a job if the fire was fickle, the incense moist, or any number of incidental reasons that aren't miraculous.... but the people knew this delay was very unusual.

The message from the angel can be read in under a minute. It's Hardly the kind of delay that I would expect to be noticed except by the most snoopy of people -- esp. of a priest in a room that no one could see from the outside. So, there must have been more implied by scripture than is actually said...

 

[TOG]

Hi Clark,

21. I believe you are correct about being tied with a rope. I believe the only time they tied a rope to the ministering priest would be Yom Kippur, when the High Priest would have entered the Holy of Holies. Only the High Priest was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies, and then only once a year. I'm only vaugly familiar with the priest getting tied with a rope when he entered the sanctuary and I can't remember where I read that from, but again, and I may be wrong, but I thought it was only for Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Since Zacharias was simply doing the regular priestly ministries, I believe you are also correct that they would have known how much time it normally took, and Zacharias was taking a bit longer than expected since his ministry was a routine ministry..

The whole rope thing is a myth. They didn't do it on Yom Kippur either. God gave very specific instructions on what the high priest was supposed to do that day, including exactly what he was to wear. There were no bells on the clothes he was wearing, and nobody besides the high priest was even allowed in the courtyard while he was performing his duties.

The TOG​

 

[Deborah13]

The whole rope thing is a myth. They didn't do it on Yom Kippur either. God gave very specific instructions on what the high priest was supposed to do that day, including exactly what he was to wear. There were no bells on the clothes he was wearing, and nobody besides the high priest was even allowed in the courtyard while he was performing his duties.

The TOG​

Just to expound on your teaching, which I agree with.

I see two sets of garments. One with colors of embroidery and with bells, and gold threads (golden garments). Exo.
Then I see the the other set which is all white and only 4 pieces rather than 8 like the golden ones.
The white garments are pure linen.
The white garments were only worn in the holy of holies on the day of atonement.

I see the golden garments as representing the idea of kingship.
I see the white garments as representing the idea of priest.

Exo 28:33 And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
Exo 28:34 A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.
Exo 28:35 And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.

Lev 16:2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
Lev 16:3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
Lev 16:4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.

Rev_1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

 

[TOG]

I see the golden garments as representing the idea of kingship.
I see the white garments as representing the idea of priest.

I agree. Like pretty much everything else about the tabernacle, sacrifices and priesthood, the high priest's clothes are symbolic. I addition to what you said, I also think that the more "fancy" royal clothes with the gold embroidery was to show the glory of God to the ordinary people, but the more simple, all white linen clothing was to show humility before God.

The TOG​

 

[Deborah13]

I agree. Like pretty much everything else about the tabernacle, sacrifices and priesthood, the high priest's clothes are symbolic. I addition to what you said, I also think that the more "fancy" royal clothes with the gold embroidery was to show the glory of God to the ordinary people, but the more simple, all white linen clothing was to show humility before God.

The TOG​

Good point.
These clothes the royal clothes make me think about how God told them they didn't need or shouldn't want a King over them.