“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
– Luke 1:28
And yet, Paul writes in Romans:
“For God does not show favoritism.”
– Romans 2:11
At first glance, these verses feel like a contradiction. If God doesn’t play favorites, why is Mary singled out as “highly favored”? How do we reconcile these two truths?
Let’s take a deeper look—and discover something beautiful about the way God works.
Mary: The One Who Was “Highly Favored”
When the angel Gabriel appears to Mary, he greets her with a stunning phrase: “You who are highly favored.” The Greek word here is kecharitōmenē, a form of the word charis, which means grace.
This isn’t a statement about Mary being more lovable or valuable than others. It’s a declaration that she has received an extraordinary portion of God’s grace. In other words:
Mary was not favored because she was better. She was favored because God is gracious.
God entrusted her with a unique and history-altering task: to carry and give birth to the Messiah. It’s not about favoritism—it’s about calling.
Romans: God Does Not Play Favorites
In Romans 2, Paul makes it clear that God is just. He doesn’t judge based on status, ethnicity, or appearance. Jew or Gentile, rich or poor—all are equal before God’s eyes.
Favoritism, as Paul uses it, refers to partiality. It’s the kind of bias that humans often fall into—favoring those with money, power, or social standing.
But God doesn’t work that way. He doesn’t show love to some and withhold it from others based on merit or background.
God’s love is perfect. His judgment is fair. His grace is unearned.
So What Does “Favor” Really Mean?
It turns out that the kind of favor God shows isn’t about being the teacher’s pet.
In Scripture, favor is often connected to responsibility. Noah “found favor” and was asked to build the ark. Moses found favor and was sent to Pharaoh. Mary found favor and was entrusted with the Savior of the world.
Favor from God is never about spiritual superiority. It’s about being chosen for a purpose.
God’s favor is a calling, not a crown.
The Humble Recipients of Grace
Mary’s story actually proves that God doesn’t show favoritism the way humans do.
- She was a poor teenager,
- From a small village (Nazareth),
- Living in a society where her voice carried little weight.
She didn’t “qualify” by human standards. But God’s grace turns our categories upside-down.
The world elevates the powerful. God lifts up the lowly.
Why This Matters to You
You may not feel “highly favored.” You may feel overlooked, ordinary, or unqualified.
But Mary’s story reminds us:
- God sees the unseen.
- God chooses the unlikely.
- God works through the humble.
You don’t have to earn His favor. You just have to say yes when He calls.
Final Reflection
So, does God show favoritism?
No.
He doesn’t love some people more than others.
He doesn’t bless based on merit.
He doesn’t judge based on appearances.
But yes—He does pour out specific grace for specific purposes.
Mary was highly favored—not because she was God’s favorite, but because she was chosen to play a vital role in His plan. That same grace is at work in your life, too.
What if God is calling you to something, not because you’re qualified, but because you’re willing?