Luke 1:79

79 ¹TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the ²way of peace."

Luke 1:79 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 1:79

To give light to them that sit in darkness
God's elect among the Jews, who were not only in a state of unregeneracy, which is a state of darkness, ignorance, and unbelief; but in the darkness of the legal dispensation, and at this time under more than ordinary darkness and ignorance; having lost the knowledge of the righteousness of God, and of the spirituality of his law, the true sense of the Scriptures, and right notions of the Messiah; being led by blind guides, the Scribes and Pharisees;

and,
were as it were also,

in the shadow of death;
in a state seemingly irrecoverable, when Christ, the great light arose, and shone upon them; and communicated spiritual light, life, and heat unto them; see ( Isaiah 9:2 ) compared with ( Matthew 4:13-16 ) though Christ is also a light, to lighten his chosen ones among the Gentiles, ( Luke 2:32 ) but the Jews seem chiefly to be intended here:

to guide our feet into the way of peace;
which we knew not: not that he came to teach us how to make our peace with God, but to make peace for us, by the blood of his cross; and so by his Spirit and word, lead us into the true way of enjoying spiritual peace here, and eternal peace hereafter.

Luke 1:79 In-Context

77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,

78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,

79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace."

80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 9:2
• 2. Isaiah 59:8; Matthew 4:16