Luke 1:79

79 to shine upon them who were sitting in darkness and in [the] shadow of death, to guide our feet into [the] way of peace.

Luke 1:79 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 1:79

To give light to them that sit in darkness
God's elect among the Jews, who were not only in a state of unregeneracy, which is a state of darkness, ignorance, and unbelief; but in the darkness of the legal dispensation, and at this time under more than ordinary darkness and ignorance; having lost the knowledge of the righteousness of God, and of the spirituality of his law, the true sense of the Scriptures, and right notions of the Messiah; being led by blind guides, the Scribes and Pharisees;

and,
were as it were also,

in the shadow of death;
in a state seemingly irrecoverable, when Christ, the great light arose, and shone upon them; and communicated spiritual light, life, and heat unto them; see ( Isaiah 9:2 ) compared with ( Matthew 4:13-16 ) though Christ is also a light, to lighten his chosen ones among the Gentiles, ( Luke 2:32 ) but the Jews seem chiefly to be intended here:

to guide our feet into the way of peace;
which we knew not: not that he came to teach us how to make our peace with God, but to make peace for us, by the blood of his cross; and so by his Spirit and word, lead us into the true way of enjoying spiritual peace here, and eternal peace hereafter.

Luke 1:79 In-Context

77 to give knowledge of deliverance to his people by [the] remission of their sins

78 on account of [the] bowels of mercy of our God; wherein [the] dayspring from on high has visited us,

79 to shine upon them who were sitting in darkness and in [the] shadow of death, to guide our feet into [the] way of peace.

80 -- And the child grew and was strengthened in spirit; and he was in the deserts until the day of his shewing to Israel.