Luke Chapter 1, Verse 72
From BibleWiki
72: ποιησαι ελεος μετα των πατερων ημων και μνησθηναι διαθηκης αγιας αυτου
72: To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember
his holy covenant;
72: To perform mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy
testament.
To perform the mercy. To show the mercy promised. The expression in
the original is, "To make mercy with our fathers " -- that is, to show
kindness to our fathers; and the propriety of it is founded on the fact
that mercy to children is regarded as kindness to the parent. Blessing
the children was blessing the nation; was fulfilling the promises
made to the fathers, and showing that he regarded them in mercy.
His holy covenant. The word covenant means compact or agreement. This is in use among men. It implies equality in the parties; freedom from constraint; freedom from previous obligation to do the thing now covenanted; and freedom from obligation to enter into a compact, unless a man chooses so to do. Such a transaction evidently can never take place between man and God, for they are not equal. Man is not at liberty to decline what God proposes, and he is under obligation to do all that God commands. When the word covenant, therefore, is used in the Bible, it means sometimes a command; sometimes a promise; sometimes a regular law -- as the covenant of the day and night; and sometimes the way in which God dispenses mercy -- that is, by the old and new covenants. In the place before us it means the promise made to Abraham, as the following verses clearly show.
