Question concerning Luke chapter 1?

Question

Ever wonder why the angel Gabriel punished Zecharia by making him mute but yet sort of let Mary off the hook?

If you remember the story, they both doubted the pregnancies that were about to occur (Elizabeth with John....Mary with Jesus)

As a side note, let me also say that I believe that scripture is 100% God-breathed and contains absolutely no contradictions. I am a blood-bought, born-again Christian to the bone.

Any thoughts on this?

Reguis:
Sorry about the thumbs down.....your answer just said "sure" for the longest time. I didn't realize that you were probably typing in that time.
Sorry about that......

Answer 1

This is like Abraham and Sarah. Both laughed at the news they were going to have a child in their old age. Abraham laughed for joy, while Sarah laughed in disbelief.

Zechariah had more evidence to believe since having a child in your old age is a documented possibility as seen with Abraham and Sarah. His disbelief is based on the amount of revelation he had at hand, and he did not believe it to be possible.

For Mary, having a child without the seed of the husband (ie the Seed of the women prophesied in Genesis) has never been documented in scripture, there was no other revelation by which to base her faith. So grace was imparted to her.

I have always said that we will not be judged as individuals by what we do not know, or by what was not available to us. We will be judged by what we DO know, and the access we had to the Bible. Everyone on the Internet has no excuse for not knowing the truth--it is there for all to read.

Answer 2

Zechariah was visited by Gabriel the angel and told that his prayers for a son would be answered. Zechariah asked for a sign as a further assurance. Because of his weakness as to believing the angel he was struck mute until the child was born.
On the 8th day after the baby was born, Elizabeth rejected suggestions as to what the child should be named and insisted the baby be named John. After appealing to the father he took out and wrote on it John is it's name. Instantly his speech was restored and he uttered a prophecy concerning the work of his son and that of the Messiah.

Answer 3

Notice Zechariah too says "How can I be sure of this?" meaning he is asking for a sign-- testing God because of his doubt.

Mary just asked "how can this be since I am a virgin?" she was more curious to know how it would "work" and when the angel told her she accepted it, and said she was a servant of God. So yes they both had doubt, but I do not see it as the same, just from reading the texts....I too believe it is 100% God breathed, and that God's ways are right. So therefore whatever God does, is right! I may not be right at all with what I just said....but this was an interesting question!

Answer 4

I think that the attitude behind the question was different. Zecharia was married and we can assume, having sex with his wife. In his situation, everything was in place to have a baby, so his question was more of unbelief and not trusting what Gabriel told him.

Mary on the other hand, was not having sex with anyone, so her question was "how?" and then after being told how, she responded -- v38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her --

Mary trusted what she was told. Maybe her questioning was to ask if she needed to sleep with Joseph real quick or what? Like, was it her responsibility to make this happen?

Answer 5

Zechariah doubted Gabriel's words that his wife Elizabeth would be pregnant with a child, thus he was muted and no longer able to speak until his son was born.

Joseph, on the other hand, had doubts about Mary's virginity, which was NOT revealed to him until he had a dream where God explained to him what was going on.

Answer 6

Dear Primo,

We discussed this very question in Sunday school not so very long ago. I wish you could have been there!

You've received several good answers already so I would just like to add that perhaps "punishment" is not the best word to use. Zecharias was given some quiet time in which to ponder the situation. It was exactly what he needed.

Answer 7

I believe that God punished Zacharia because Zacaria was more doubting God, and Mary just more or less wanted to know what was going on...I mean a virgin birth had never happened before as an old lady having a child, although rare had happened before(Abrahams wife) so you can see how Mary would want to know what was going on.

Answer 8

Zechariah's affliction was for a sign to him and others who were waiting when he came out of the temple, and it is also noteworthy that he was not the one that said let it be unto my wife according to your will. Also his age and his wife's age that was a factor causing him to doubt God's miracle working ability.

Mary's question was just that - a WOW God how can you do this.
She was very young and certainly didn't have the depth of faith or experience that Zechariah had because he had already walked with God for many, many years. Also notice that Mary's response, in spite of her wonder at this great miracle was, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Because of her youth and inexperience with God she didn't understand and rightly questioned how she could be with child but have never had sex with a man. Seems to me that any woman would seriously wonder about that. It is her response that shows her to have faith well beyond her years.

Answer 9

First, it should be noted where they were when they received their visions:
Zechariah was in the temple, Mary was at home.

Second, the person whom the prophecy concerns should be noted. Zechariah was told about John, Mary about Christ.

Here's why I think this matters, and I am admittedly speculating.

In fulfilling his priestly role, Zechariah would have been expected to hold to the law, and would be subject to the punishment for any violation. You will recall that the Israelites were subject to wandering in the wilderness for forty years for their doubts about God. The prophecy had to do with the last of the old covenant prophets, and its greatest: John. All that John said and did was entirely about adherence to the Law of God, and also to announce the arrival of the Messaiah. Seeing as Zechariah was acting as a priest and was in the temple which housed the very law of God, his doubt of God subjected him to that law. We can not conclusively say whether or not he would have answered in faith after the angel reproved him, but I suspect it would not have mattered.

Mary received a prophecy about the one who was the end of the Law of God and the beginning of the age of Grace. Accordingly, when she questioned the angel, she was not only reproved, but she was given the opportunity to respond in faith, which she did: "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord! May it be unto me even according to your word." In accordance with her faith, she received grace.

Hope this helps!
Tom

Answer 10

The two actually reacted in opposite ways.

Zecharias said: "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." In other words, "how can this be true, since my wife and I are too old to produce a child?"

Mary said: "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" In other words, "I don't understand how this can happen, since I'm a virgin?"

Zacarias reacted with disbelief; Mary reacted with confusion and obedience. That's the difference.