SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:23
Y fue, que cumplidos los días de su oficio, se vino a su casa.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 1:23
Verse 23. As soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished] Each family of the priesthood officiated one whole week, 2 Kings xi. 17. There is something very instructive in the conduct of this priest; had he not loved the service he was engaged in, he might have made the loss of his speech a pretext for immediately quitting it. But as he was not thereby disabled from fulfilling the sacerdotal function, so he saw he was bound to continue till his ministry was ended; or till God had given him a positive dismission. Preachers who give up their labour in the vineyard because of some trifling bodily disorder by which they are afflicted, or through some inconvenience in outward circumstances, which the follower of a cross-bearing, crucified Lord should not mention, show that they either never had a proper concern for the honour of their Master or for the salvation of men, or else that they have lost the spirit of their Master, and the spirit of their work. Again, Zacharias did not hasten to his house to tell his wife the good news that he had received from heaven, in which she was certainly very much interested: the angel had promised that all his words should be fulfilled in their season, and for this season he patiently waited in the path of duty. He had engaged in the work of the Lord, and must pay no attention to any thing that was likely to mar or interrupt his religious service. Preachers who profess to be called of God to labour in the word and doctrine, and who abandon their work for filthy lucre's sake, are the most contemptible of mortals, and traitors to their God.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration , etc.] In the order of the course, which might be three, four, five, or six days, according to the number of the heads of the house of their fathers in the course; (See Gill on Luke 1:5) were accomplished : for though he was deaf and dumb, he was not hereby disqualified for service. Deafness and dumbness excused persons from various duties but did not disqualify priests: a Levite, if he had lost his voice, was disqualified, but not a priest; the reason was this, because it was one part of the work of the Levites to sing, and therefore could not perform it without a voice; but such was the work of the priests, that though deaf and dumb, they could discharge it; as cleansing the altar, trimming the lamps, carrying the parts to the altar, laying them upon it, and burning them, or offering any sacrifice, burning incense, etc. which was the business of Zacharias; which when he had fulfilled, he departed to his own house; which was not at Jerusalem, but in the hill country, in a city of Judah there; (see Luke 1:39,40).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-25 - The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners as all are, an were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they wer eminent for piety and integrity. They had no children, and it could no be expected that Elisabeth should have any in her old age. Whil Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying without. All the prayers we offer up to God, ar acceptable and successful only by Christ's intercession in the templ of God above. We cannot expect an interest therein if we do not pray and pray with our spirits, and are not earnest in prayer. Nor can we expect that the best of our prayers should gain acceptance, and brin an answer of peace, but through the mediation of Christ, who eve lives, making intercession. The prayers Zacharias often made, receive an answer of peace. Prayers of faith are filed in heaven, and are no forgotten. Prayers made when we were young and entering into the world may be answered when we are old and going out of the world. Mercies ar doubly sweet that are given in answer to prayer. Zacharias shall have son in his old age, who shall be instrumental in the conversion of man souls to God, and preparing them to receive the gospel of Christ. He shall go before Him with courage, zeal, holiness, and a mind dead to earthly interests and pleasures. The disobedient and rebellious woul be brought back to the wisdom of their righteous forefathers, or rather, brought to attend to the wisdom of that Just One who was comin among them. Zacharias heard all that the angel said; but his unbelie spake. In striking him dumb, God dealt justly with him, because he ha objected against God's word. We may admire the patience of God toward us. God dealt kindly with him, for thus he prevented his speaking an more distrustful, unbelieving words. Thus also God confirmed his faith If by the rebukes we are under for our sin, we are brought to give the more credit to the word of God, we have no reason to complain. Eve real believers are apt to dishonour God by unbelief; and their mouth are stopped in silence and confusion, when otherwise they would have been praising God with joy and gratitude. In God's gracious dealing with us we ought to observe his gracious regards to us. He has looke on us with compassion and favour, and therefore has thus dealt with us.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ εγενετο 1096 5633 V-2ADI-3S ως 5613 ADV επλησθησαν 4130 5681 V-API-3P αι 3588 T-NPF ημεραι 2250 N-NPF της 3588 T-GSF λειτουργιας 3009 N-GSF αυτου 846 P-GSM απηλθεν 565 5627 V-2AAI-3S εις 1519 PREP τον 3588 T-ASM οικον 3624 N-ASM αυτου 846 P-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
23. Ministration (leitourgiav). From leitov, belonging to the people, public, and ergon, a work. Hence service of the state in a public office. Trench observes that "when the Christian Church was forming its terminology, which it did partly by shaping new words, and partly by elevating old ones to higher than their previous uses, of the latter it more readily adopted those before employed in civil and political life, than such as had played their part in religious matters." Hence it adopted this word, already in use in the Septuagint, as the constant word for performing priestly and ministerial functions; and so in the New Testament of the ministry of the apostles, prophets, and teachers.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:23 {Ministration} (leitourgias). Our word liturgy. A common word in ancient Greek for public service, work for the people (lews ergon). It is common in the papyri for the service of the Egyptian priesthood as we see it in the LXX of Hebrew priests (see also #Heb 8:6; 9:21; 2Co 9:12; Php 2:17,30).
