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Luke 1:6

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 1:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Luke 1:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;
4that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.
5There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years.
8Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest`s office before God in the order of his course,
9according to the custom of the priest`s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they were both righteous before God, etc.] Not as the Pharisees, only righteous before men, but in the sight of God, who sees the heart, and whose judgment is according to truth; and therefore were not justified by the deeds of the law; for by them no man can be justified in the sight of God; but were made righteous through the righteousness of Christ, by which the saints were made righteous before the coming of Christ, as those after it: see (<441511>Acts 15:11, <661308>Revelation 13:8). God beheld them in his Son, as clothed with that righteousness he engaged to bring in, and as cleansed from all sin in that blood of his which was to be shed: and they appeared to him, and in the eye of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“commandments and ordinances--The one expressing their moral--the other their ceremonial--obedience [CALVIN and BENGEL], (Compare Eze 11:20; Heb 9:1). It has been denied that any such distinction was known to the Jews and New Testament writers. But Mar 12:33, and other passages, put this beyond all reasonable doubt.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Both righteous - Both “just” or holy. This means here more than external conformity to the law. It is an honorable testimonial of their “piety” toward God. Walking in ... - Keeping the commandments. To walk in the way that God commands is “to obey.” Ordinances - Rites and customs which God had ordained or appointed. These words refer to all the duties of religion which were made known to them. Blameless - That is, no fault or deficiency could be found in them. They were strict, exact, punctual. Yet this, if it had been mere “external” observance, might have been no proof of piety. Paul, before his conversion, also kept the law “externally” blameless, Philippians 3:6. But in the case of…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Walking in all the moral commandments, and ceremonial ordinances, blameless - How admirable a character! May our behaviour be thus unblamable, and our obedience thus sincere and universal! Luke 1:10”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“righteous: Luk 16:15; Gen 6:9, Gen 7:1, Gen 17:1; Job 1:1, Job 1:8, Job 9:2; Rom. 3:9-25; Phi 3:6-9; Tit 3:3-7 walking: Kg1 9:4; Kg2 20:3; Psa 119:6; Act 23:1, Act 24:16; Co1 11:2; Co2 1:12; Phi 3:6; Tit 2:11-14; Jo1 2:3, Jo1 2:29, Jo1 3:7 blameless: Phi 2:15; Col 1:22; Th1 3:13; Pe2 3:14 Luke 1:7”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification