BURKITT : | Lu 1:1-4 | Lu 1:5 | Lu 1:6 | Lu 1:7 | Lu 1:8-9 | Lu 1:10 | Lu 1:11 | Lu 1:12 | Lu 1:13 | Lu 1:14-17 | Lu 1:18-22 | Lu 1:23-25 | Lu 1:26-33 | Lu 1:34-38 | Lu 1:39-45 | Lu 1:46-55 | Lu 1:56-58 | Lu 1:59-66 | Lu 1:67-79 | Lu 1:80 | KJV
Reference
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. 57 Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. (Luke 1:56-58 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Two things are here observable, 1. The civil courtesy of the Virgin Mary, towards her cousin Elizabeth. She stays with her for three months, probably till she was delivered and brought to bed, not leaving her just at the time of travail: for the angel told Mary, Lu 1:36, that it was then the sixth month with Elizabeth, after which Mary stays with her three months, which made up the full time. To visit and accompany our friends in the time of their distress, is not only an act of civil courtesy, but of religious piety; not a matter of indifference, but of duty, Jas 1:27. “Pure religion, and undefiled is this, to visit in affliction;” that is, this is an eminent act and exercise of religion, the evidence and fruit of sincere religion; and the virgin’s doing this was an act and instance of her piety, as well as of her civil courtesy.
Observe, 2. The religious joy, and spiritual rejoicing, which the neighbours and kindred expressed at the lying-in of Elizabeth: they did not meet together upon that great occasion, only to eat and drink and make merry; ” but they rejoiced that the Lord had showed great mercy upon her.” Oh, how rarely is this example followed in our age! At the delivery of the mother, and at the birth of the child, how little is God taken notice of! How little is his power magnified, and his goodness celebrated, in opening the womb, in giving strength to bring forth! And how rarely is this the subject of discourse at the woman’s labour! Verily, if the mercy of a child, and the safe delivery of the mother, be not the first and principal things taken notice of at such rejoicing meetings, they look more like Pagan than Christian rejoicings.