Biblion Bible Commentary
Read the introduction to Isaiah · About this commentary
The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh Is on Me
Isaiah 61:1-11
1 The Lord Yahweh’s Spirit is on me, because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to those who are bound, · WEB
The passage Jesus read in Nazareth, and he stopped reading in the middle of a sentence.
The Lord Yahweh's Spirit is on me, because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to those who are bound Isaiah 61:1.
Jesus stood up in the synagogue at Nazareth, was handed this scroll, found this place, read it, sat down, and said today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing Luke 4:21.
The anointing is what the word messiah means, and here the anointed one describes his own commission. Every item in it concerns people who cannot help themselves — the poor, the broken-hearted, prisoners.
Liberty to the captives is the technical term for the jubilee release Leviticus 25:10, when debts were canceled, slaves freed and land returned. It happened once in fifty years, and the announcement of one was the best news a poor family could hear.
To proclaim the year of Yahweh's favor and the day of vengeance of our God Isaiah 61:2.
And this is where he stopped. Luke records that he closed the book after the year of Yahweh's favor, in the middle of the verse, leaving the day of vengeance unread. The two are in one sentence here, separated by nothing, and the reading divided them.
To give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness Isaiah 61:3.
Three exchanges, and each swaps a sign of grief for a sign of celebration. Ashes on the head for a wreath; the oil a guest was anointed with; a cloak instead of a bowed spirit. The Hebrew of the first is a pun that cannot survive translation.
That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh Isaiah 61:3.
They will rebuild the old ruins. They will raise up the former devastated places Isaiah 61:4.
The first thing the released do is building work, and what they build is the places that have been down longest.
But you will be called Yahweh's priests Isaiah 61:6.
The promise of Exodus 19:6, and Peter applies it to the church 1 Peter 2:9.
Instead of your shame you will have double Isaiah 61:7.
He has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels Isaiah 61:10.
The clothing is put on by someone else, and the two comparisons are the most dressed-up people at any occasion in that culture.
settled What this mark means