What is the meaning of Luke 1:46? Then Mary said • Mary’s words rise in direct response to Elizabeth’s Spirit-filled greeting (Luke 1:41-45), showing a heart already tuned to God’s voice. • She speaks after faithfully accepting God’s plan for her life in Luke 1:38, revealing that obedience naturally flows into worship. • Like Hannah’s praise after Samuel’s birth (1 Samuel 2:1-2), Mary gives voice to God’s work before it is fully seen, underscoring confident faith in His promises (Luke 1:30-33). My soul • “Soul” points to the deepest part of Mary’s being; her worship is not surface-level but springs from her innermost self (Psalm 103:1). • She demonstrates the greatest commandment—loving God with all heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30). • By highlighting her “soul,” Mary reminds us that genuine praise is personal and wholehearted, not merely spoken words (Psalm 42:1-2). magnifies • To “magnify” means to make much of God, enlarging His greatness in our perception even though He is already infinite (Psalm 34:3). • Mary doesn’t magnify her own role; she magnifies the One who chose her (John 3:30). • True worship shifts attention from self to God, exposing pride and fostering humility (James 4:10). the Lord • The focus is squarely on “the Lord,” Israel’s covenant-keeping God who fulfills ancient promises (Genesis 17:7; Luke 1:54-55). • Mary’s praise anticipates the salvation her child will bring; she calls Him “Lord” here and “God my Savior” in the next verse (Luke 1:47; Isaiah 45:21). • By using God’s covenant name, she connects her song to generations of believers who trusted the same faithful Lord (Psalm 100:3; Exodus 15:2). summary Mary’s first sentence in the Magnificat is a model of heartfelt worship. Out of a surrendered life she lifts her entire inner being to exalt the covenant God who keeps His promises. Her example invites us to let every part of who we are magnify the Lord, spotlighting His greatness rather than our own and trusting Him to accomplish all He has declared. |
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