Prior to his conversion Paul felt that he had “the righteousness which is in the law,” and was “blameless” (Phil. 3:6; see Acts 23:1). But conversion brought to him the realization that such “righteousness” was without avail (see Rom. 2:24, 25; 1 Tim. 1:15). In the case of Zacharias and Elisabeth, however, their “righteousness” exceeded that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 5:20), who did their good deeds to be “seen of men” (Matt. 6:1, 5). Zacharias and Elisabeth were righteous “before God.” They were noble successors to heroes of faith such as Noah (Gen. 6:9; 7:1; Heb. 11:7), Abraham (Heb. 11:8), Job (Job 1:8; 2:3), and Daniel (Dan. 5:11, 12; 10:11), of whose righteousness Heaven approved (see Eze. 14:14).
Commandments and ordinances.
In the days of Zacharias and Elisabeth this meant living in harmony with both the moral law and the law of Moses.
Since all men “have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23; see also 1 John 3:4), all stand in need of someone to “deliver” them from death, the penalty of disobedience (Rom. 6:23; 7:24). The Deliverer is none other than Christ Jesus (chs. 7:25 to 8:4). But until the Saviour came into the world, God ordained a system of sacrifices (Heb. 9:1), which He “imposed on them until the time of reformation,” that is, until
Christ should enter upon His priestly ministry (vs. 10, 11). In other words, Zacharias and Elisabeth purposed to obey God, sought salvation through the means provided, and as a result were accounted “righteous before God.”
Righteous.
Apparently Zacharias and Elisabeth belonged to that small group who eagerly studied the prophecies and looked for the coming of the Messiah (DA 44, 47, 98).
Among the Jews the term “righteous” had come to have a technical meaning, and referred to those who strictly observed the ritual law and rabbinical traditions. It is obvious, however, that with Zacharias and Elisabeth righteousness was much more than an external conformity to the law. They were not mere legalists, but conscientious and exemplary in their fixed purpose to worship God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Other members of this small, select circle that awaited the coming of the Messiah were Joseph and Mary (see on Matt. 1:16-19), and Simeon and Anna (see on Luke 2:25, 26, 38).