Luke 1:51

“He hath showed strength with his arm, etc.] Of almighty power, in the business of the incarnation, and in working out salvation for his people; which is done by his own arm, he being mighty to save, and travelling in the greatness of his strength; (see <236301>Isaiah 63:1,5). He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts; whom he always resists, and both in providence and grace, takes such methods, as tend to humble and confound them: here particularly, it may regard the proud and haughty Jews; who imagined nothing less, than that the Messiah would be born of one of the rich and noble families in Judea; that he would appear as a temporal prince, and set up a temporal kingdom…”

“Hath showed strength with his arm - The “arm” is the symbol of strength. The expression in this and the subsequent verses has no particular reference to his mercy to Mary. From a contemplation of His goodness to her, she enlarges her views to a contemplation of His goodness and power in general, and to a celebration of the praises of God for all that he has done to all people. This is the nature of true piety. It does not terminate in thinking of God’s mercy toward ourselves. It thinks of others, and praises God that others also are made partakers of His mercy, and that His goodness is manifested to all His works. He scattereth the proud - He hath often done it in time of battle and war.…”

“He hath wrought strength with his arm - That is, he hath shown the exceeding greatness of his power. She speaks prophetically of those things as already done, which God was about to do by the Messiah. He hath scattered the proud - Visible and invisible. Luke 1:52”

“1:51 His mighty arm personifies God’s mighty power (see Ps 98:1; Isa 40:10).”

“showed: Exo 15:6, Exo 15:7, Exo 15:12, Exo 15:13; Deu 4:34; Psa 52:9, Psa 63:5, Psa 89:13, Psa 98:1, Psa 118:15; Isa 40:10, Isa 51:9, Isa 52:10, Isa 63:12; Rev 18:8 he hath scattered: Exo 15:9-11, Exo 18:11; Sa1 2:3, Sa1 2:4, Sa1 2:9, Sa1 2:10; Job 40:9-12; Psa 2:1-6, Psa 33:10; Psa 89:10; Isa 10:12-19; Jer 48:29, Jer 48:30; Dan 4:37, Dan 5:25-31; Pe1 5:5 the imagination: Gen 6:5, Gen 8:21; Deu 29:19, Deu 29:20; Rom 1:21; Co2 10:5 Luke 1:52”