ISB ~ Luke 1 v6

righteous before God:Zechariah and Elizabeth live in faithful observance of the Old Covenant (Deut 6:25; Is 48:18).

See word study:Righteousness at Mt 3.

• Luke places the couple in an OT stream of righteous figures: Noah (Gen 6:9), Abraham (Gen 15:6), Phineas (Ps 106:30-31), David (2 Sam 22:21-25), and others had exemplified similar devotion to the Lord.

• Mystically (St. Bede, In Lucam): Zechariah and Elizabeth represent the priesthood and Law of the Old Covenant. Both were righteous, as the priesthood was holy and the Law was good; but together they were unable to bear children for God or bring forth the grace of Christ. The couple thus signifies the aging Old Covenant awaiting the blessings of the New.