Luke 1:6–7 tells us something that initially sounds confusing:
“Both of them were righteous in the eyes of the Lord…”
Yet elsewhere Scripture plainly states:
“There is no one righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:10)
So how can both statements be true?
Righteousness Under the Old Covenant
Under the Old Covenant, God did evaluate people according to:
- faithfulness
- integrity
- obedience within the sacrificial system
This is why Scripture can speak positively about certain individuals without contradicting later New Covenant teaching.
For example:
- Noah was called “righteous” (Genesis 6:9)
- Job was described as “blameless and upright” (Job 1:1)
- David did what was “right in the eyes of the Lord” (1 Kings 15:5)
We know that none of these men were sinless. All of them still needed mercy, sacrifice, and forgiveness.
Luke Explains What He Means
Luke does not leave the phrase “righteous in the eyes of the Lord” undefined.
He immediately clarifies what kind of righteousness he is referring to:
“Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.” (Luke 1:6)
That explanation is critical.
Their righteousness was:
- measured by commandments
- defined by requirements
- expressed by walking blamelessly
In other words, Luke is saying that they tried their best to keep the law to the best of their ability.
Paul Recognizes This Same Category
Interestingly, the apostle Paul—who later insists that no one is righteous—acknowledges this same category of righteousness.
In Philippians 3:6, Paul says:
“As to righteousness under the Law, blameless.”
That is the same Paul who goes on to argue forcefully in Romans 3 that no one possesses true righteousness before God.
There is no contradiction.
Paul is saying that he tried to keep the law to the best of his ability, and hence he was blameless, BUT, he was still NOT righteous in the eyes of the Lord.
Because when you face judgement on the basis of your works, it is not about whether you did obey the laws to the best of your ability, but whether you did it perfectly. And the Bible is clear that there is no one who does it perfectly!
Heart of the Matter
Here is the heart of the matter.
Did Zechariah and Elizabeth keep the Law to the best of their ability?
Yes.
Did that Law have the power to impart righteousness?
No.
The Law could:
- define righteousness
- measure obedience
- expose sin
But it could not produce righteousness in the human heart.
That is precisely Paul’s argument in Romans and Galatians. The Law reveals the problem; it does not solve it.
Final Thought
Zechariah and Elizabeth were keeping the Law to the best of their ability, but were they righteous in the terms mentioned in Rom 2-3? No.
However, believers today are righteous in Christ, not because of what they did, but by faith, we received His righteousness as a gift.
Understanding that distinction doesn’t create confusion—it brings clarity, consistency, and a deeper appreciation for what Christ has accomplished.
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