“It strikes us that Mary in this hymn does not utter a single direct word in connection with the Son promised to her. Nevertheless, she assumes throughout that He has indeed been promised her. Her whole hymn is inspired by this fact.”

—Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke

“On the cross we see the great holiness of God’s love, that the light of his pure love will destroy the darkness of sin and evil. On the cross we see the intensity and strength of his love, that it is not an insipid thing at all, but majestically strong as it faces death, battles evil and gives life…Jesus’ self-giving love is entirely unconstrained and free…through the cross we see a God who delights to give himself.” —Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity