** This response is biblically sound, well written, and personable. The response has logical flow, answers the question with clear explanations, demonstrates good hermeneutics, and provides practical application. The tone is genuinely kind. **

Question: Why was Zechariah’s mouth struck mute and Mary not? Their responses to Gabriel seem to be the same. Zechariah saying that him and his wife were old and Mary saying that she was a virgin.

Profile: Male, Oceania, Christian, 46–60

Answered by: Gary Meredith, who has been a volunteer with us since July, 2013.

Answer: At first glance the response to Zechariah’s question does seem a bit unfair compared with Mary’s.  After all, both were greatly startled by the surprise arrival of God’s awesome messenger Gabriel (Luke 1:12, 29) and both questioned how their respective miracles would be accomplished (Luke 1:18, 34).  But when we look more closely at their exact words, we see the fundamental difference between their questions—while Zechariah expressed doubt, Mary revealed faith.

Zechariah was deserving of this mild, miraculous form of rebuke for at least three reasons:

1) Gabriel’s announcement was an answer to Zechariah’s and his wife’s own prayers of the childless couple.  “Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.  Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son…” (Luke 1:13)  As James later wrote about praying in faith, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt…” (James 1:6) 

2) As a priest serving in the temple in Jerusalem, Zechariah would be very familiar with Scripture, especially the five books of Moses.  He would know very well that the same promise made to him in his old age was also made to his forefather Abraham when he was about 100 and Sarah 90 years old (Genesis 17:17).  Luke doesn’t reveal Zechariah’s age, only that he and Elizabeth were both old and likely well past child-bearing age (Luke 1:7, 18).  Zechariah should have recalled God’s own words to Abraham about doing such a miracle: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)

3) After hearing Gabriel’s full message, Zechariah expressed not faith but doubt: “How can I be sure of this?  I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” (Luke 1:18).  In other words, I can’t see how you can pull off this miracle in view of my wife’s and my human limitations.  To be unsure is to doubt, to be without faith, which is a sin because “everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23). 

Now compare his response to Mary’s: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34)  Zechariah was asking “how can I be sure” as though it might not really happen.  Mary believed the miracle would happen (how “will” it happen, not “how can I be sure it will happen”), but didn’t know exactly what her role as an obedient servant would be in the process.  Perhaps she thought she would need to hurry up her wedding date with Joseph.  The angel didn’t rebuke her honest question at all, because it was grounded not in doubt but rather in faith and obedience—the kind of questioning Scripture always commends (Proverbs 25:2; Acts 17:11).  Gabriel then explained how the miracle would take place—something brand new, something no human could have ever guessed, a miracle never before occurring in Scripture or in all human history—that she, a mere human, would be impregnated by God Almighty through his Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)

Gabriel concluded his message with words that echoed what God told Abraham: “For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke :137)  Mary did not doubt. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.  “Let it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)

So the different treatments we see come down not to anything arbitrary or unfair, but rather to each person’s reaction to the message—one doubted, the other believed.  Yet despite his momentary doubts, God abundantly blessed Zechariah, his wife, and all the witnesses who saw the miraculous transformation of the priest after the birth of his son John, and heard his glorious prophecy about both him and the coming Savior whose way John would soon prepare.  (Luke 1:67-79)  As always, despite our doubts, whether Zechariah’s or yours and mine, “God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)