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Could some parents foresee how wicked some of their children would become, instead of rejoicing, they would grieve at their birth; they would wish they had never been born. John, however, was to be a great comfort and honour to his parents. And many besides of their acquaintances, and of the people at large, were to rejoice when they should see that the circumstance of his birth, and of his early life, prognosticated that he was to become a public blessing. Four leading particulars are mentioned, on account of which men should rejoice.

1. His eminence in wisdom and piety. "Great in the sight of the Lord." A holy and devoted servant of God, and preacher of righteousness.

2. His unworldliness. A Nazarite (Numbers 6.). Not only the ministers, but all the people of God, should abstain from sin, be temperate in all things, superior to earthly pleasures and cares, and a peculiar people in all respects, distinguished from men of the world.

3. His spiritual-mindedness. Conceived in sin like others, yet "filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb." Argument in favour of infant baptism: born in sin, and capable of regeneration, why should they not be admitted to the sacrament? Happy they who are indeed filled with the Holy Ghost and sanctified from infancy! They never know what it is to have a mind altogether dark, or a heart altogether depraved. They cannot remember the time when there was not in them a prevalent tendency to what is good.

4. His usefulness. Resembling Elijah

(a)  in the bent of his mind;

(b)  in the success of his ministry.

(James Foote, M. A.)

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KJV: And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

WEB: You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.