Lesson One, Question 3

3. Why was Zechariah rendered unable to speak until the prophecy’s fulfillment? (1:19-20)

[REPOSTED FROM BARBARA T. ALEXANDER (MOM)]

Because Zechariah didn't believe the message that the angel Gabriel's gave him.

3. Zechariah was made speechless because he did not believe the angel Gabriel’s words. To underscore their importance, the angel caused Gabriel to be mute until his prophecy had been fulfilled (the birth of John). In addition, Gabriel made it impossible for Zechariah to publicly doubt the truth of Gabriel’s words.

Tara Bernard wrote:3.   Zechariah was made speechless because he did not believe the angel Gabriel’s words.  To underscore their importance, the angel caused Gabriel to be mute until his prophecy had been fulfilled (the birth of John).  In addition, Gabriel made it impossible for Zechariah to publicly doubt the truth of Gabriel’s words.

Gabriel tells Zachariah that because he either did not or would not believe he would be unable to speak until the prophecy was fulfilled, until his son was born.



The study note in the ESV on v 20 says: The sign given by Gabriel is both gracious and a rebuke.



My take on the graciousness of the sign (muteness): Zachariah was unable to speak and thereby was given time to “think on these things”, and when Elizabeth become pregnant he gained some insight/knowledge about nothing being impossible with God.



The sign was also a rebuke. One can imagine Zachariah bursting with pride when Elizabeth got pregnant, and wanting to brag to the whole world. His muteness prevented that, and…again…gave him time to meditate on God’s graciousness and think about what Gabriel had said about his soon-to-be-born son.