Luke 1:76

“And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest, etc.] Here Zacharias turns himself to his son John, though an infant, and incapable of knowing what was said to him; and for the sake of those that were present, describes his office and work; and says, that he should be “called”, that is, that he should “be”, and be accounted a “prophet”: for he was not only a preacher of Christ and his Gospel, but he also foretold the coming of the Messiah; and the vengeance that should fall on the Jewish nation, for their unfruitfulness, impenitence, and unbelief: and the Prophet “of the Highest”; that is, of God; as the Persic version renders it, of the most high God; and by whom is meant, the…”

“Here are the dying echoes of this song; and very beautiful are these closing notes--like the setting sun, shorn indeed of its noontide radiance, but skirting the horizon with a wavy and quivering light--as of molten gold--on which the eye delights to gaze, till it disappears from the view. The song passes not here from Christ to John, but only from Christ direct to Christ as heralded by His forerunner. thou child--not "my son"--this child's relation to himself being lost in his relation to a Greater than either. prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before him--that is, "the Highest." As "the Most High" is an epithet in Scripture only of the supreme God, it is inconceivable that…”

“And thou, child ... - Zechariah predicts in this and the following verses the dignity, the employment, and the success of John. He declares what would be the subject of his preaching, and what his success. Prophet of the Highest - Prophet of God; a prophet “appointed by God” to declare his will, and to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. The face of the Lord - The Lord Jesus, the Messiah, that was about to appear. To go before “the face of one” is the same as to go immediately before one, or to be immediately followed by another. To prepare his ways - This is taken from Isaiah 40:3. See the Matthew 3:3 niote, and Isaiah 40:3 note. return to 'Top of Page'”

“And thou, child - He now speaks to John; yet not as a parent, but as a prophet. Luke 1:77”

“1:76-77 And you, my little son: Zechariah turned from speaking about the coming Messiah to address his newborn son, John, who would prepare the Messiah’s way. • called the prophet of the Most High: John was the last and greatest in the line of Old Testament prophets (see 7:28). • prepare the way for the Lord: See Isa 40:3.”

“shalt be: Luk 7:28; Mat 14:5, Mat 21:26; Mar 11:32 Highest: Luk 1:32, Luk 1:35, Luk 6:35; Psa 87:5; Act 16:17 thou shalt: Luk 1:16, Luk 1:17, Luk 3:4-6; Isa 40:3-5; Mal 3:1, Mal 4:5; Mat 3:3, Mat 3:11, Mat 11:10; Mar 1:2, Mar 1:3; Joh 1:23, Joh 1:27, Joh 3:28; Act 13:24, Act 13:25 Luke 1:77”