For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
great.
Luke 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Genesis 48:19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
and shall.
Luke 7:33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
Numbers 6:2-4 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: …
Judges 13:4-6 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: …
filled.
Zechariah 9:15 The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
Acts 2:4,14-18 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance…
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
even.
Psalm 22:9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
He shall never take wine or strong drink,
This vow reflects the Nazirite lifestyle, a special consecration to God described in Numbers 6:1-21. Nazirites abstained from wine and strong drink as a sign of their dedication. John's abstinence underscores his prophetic role and separation for God's work. This lifestyle choice also connects him to figures like Samson (Judges 13:4-5) and Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11), who were similarly set apart for divine purposes.
and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
This unique filling of the Holy Spirit from the womb signifies John's extraordinary role in salvation history. It highlights the divine orchestration of his life and mission, emphasizing the Holy Spirit's work in empowering and guiding God's servants. This pre-birth filling is unparalleled, indicating John's pivotal role in heralding the coming of Christ. It also foreshadows the New Testament theme of the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence in believers (Acts 2:4, Ephesians 5:18).
– Gabriel’s words identify John’s greatness not by human metrics but “in the sight of the Lord.” That shifts the lens from public applause to divine approval (1 Samuel 16:7).
• Jesus later echoes this when He says, “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John” (Luke 7:28).
• John’s greatness flows from his role: preparing the way for Christ (Luke 1:76; Isaiah 40:3).
• True greatness remains tied to humble obedience; John declares, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
Application: Pursue God’s commendation above all, trusting that faithfulness—more than fame—defines real success (Matthew 25:21).
– This lifelong abstinence recalls the Nazirite pattern (Numbers 6:2-3; Judges 13:5).
• The prohibition underlines separation unto God, marking John for a unique prophetic task.
• By avoiding intoxicants, John models clarity and self-control, virtues later commended to all believers: “Do not get drunk on wine... but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
• His austere lifestyle (Luke 1:80; Matthew 3:4) underscores singular devotion, contrasting worldly excess.
Application: While Scripture allows moderate use of lawful pleasures (1 Timothy 4:4-5), it calls every disciple to live distinctly, removing hindrances that dull spiritual sensitivity (Hebrews 12:1).
– John’s Spirit-filling begins before birth, highlighting God’s sovereign choice (Jeremiah 1:5; Galatians 1:15).
• Evidence appears when unborn John leaps as Mary greets Elizabeth (Luke 1:41-44).
• Spirit empowerment equips him to “turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God” (Luke 1:16) and to preach with courage (John 1:29-34).
• This verse affirms the personhood and value of life in the womb, cherished and purposeful in God’s plan (Psalm 139:13-16).
Application: Dependence on the Spirit, not personal charisma, fuels effective ministry (Acts 4:8, 31). Seek continual filling for bold witness and holy living (Romans 15:13).
Luke 1:15 sketches John the Baptist as heaven’s definition of greatness: a man wholly consecrated and Spirit-empowered from the very start. His example urges us to prize God’s approval, embrace a set-apart lifestyle, and rely daily on the Holy Spirit for fruitful service.
(15) And shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.--The child now promised was to grow up as a Nazarite (Numbers 6:4), and to keep that vow all his life, as the representative of the ascetic, the "separated," form (this is the meaning of the term) of a consecrated life. He was to be what Samson had been (Judges 13:4), and probably Samuel also (1Samuel 1:11), and the house of Jonadab the son of Rechab (Jeremiah 35:6). The close connection between the Nazarite and the prophetic life is seen in Amos 2:11-12. The absence of the lower form of stimulation implied the capacity for the higher enthusiasm which was the gift of God. The same contrast is seen in St. Paul's words, "Be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). . . . Verse 15. - Great in the sight of the Lord. To the pious old Jewish priest the strange visitant's words would bear a deep signification. Zacharias would quickly catch the angel's thoughts. His son was not to be the Messiah of the people's hope, but was to be like one of those great ones loved of God, of whom the women of Israel sang on their solemn feast-days - one like Samson, only purer, or Samuel, or the yet greater Elijah. Could all this deep joy be true? Shall drink neither wine. The old curse then as now. God's heroes must be free from even the semblance of temptation. They must stamp their high lives, from the beginning, by the solemn vow of self-denial and abstinence. It is remarkable how many of the great deliverers and teachers of the chosen people were commanded from childhood to enroll themselves among the abstainers from all strong drink. Nor strong drink. The word δεήσις includes all kinds of fermented drink except that made from the grape; it was especially applied to palm wine.