Isaiah 61:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1

The coming Saviour. "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me," etc. These words are specially memorable as being those which the Saviour read in the synagogue at Nazareth. We have had it described to us "with its pillared portico of Grecian architecture, with its scats on one side for the men; on the other, behind a lattice, are seated the women, shrouded in their long veils." When the lesson from the Pentateuch was over, Jesus ascended the steps of the desk, and the chazzan , or clerk,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1

Messiah's mission, to the troubled. Those more especially addressed by Messiah are called the "meek," the "broken-hearted," the "captives," and the "bound." It at once comes to mind that precisely such persons were addressed in the sermon on the mount: and it may be remarked, as distinguishing Christ from all ordinary human teachers, who have their own personal gain and success to consider, that he never sought out the great, the rich, or the learned, but gave his best to the heart-sore, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-2

The beneficent mission. These words are undeniably Messianic; that is their secondary, if not their primary, import. Of the mission of Christ they remind us— I. THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS SENT OF GOD . Our Lord not only stated but insisted that he came forth from God. He constantly took up the position here asserted, "the Lord hath anointed me" ( John 4:34 ; John 5:19 , John 5:30 ; John 8:28 ; John 9:4 ; John 12:49 ). II. THAT HE WAS FILLED WITH THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-3

THE MISSION OF THE SERVANT OF THE LORD . The words of our Lord in Luke 4:21 , "This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears," preclude the application of this passage to any other than the Lord himself. It is simply astonishing that some Christian commentators (Ewald, Hitzig, Knobel) have not seen the force of this argument, but, with the Jews, imagine the prophet to be speaking of his own ministry. It is contrary to the entire spirit of Isaiah's writings so to glorify... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-3

The purposes of Messiah's mission. We are not to suppose that the prophet unfolds to us in the present passage the whole purpose of God in sending his Son into the world. Such logical exactness is alien to the spirit of prophecy, and especially unsuited to the rhetorical tone which everywhere characterizes Isaiah. Still, as the subject is one of transcendent interest, and as our Lord himself cites the passage as descriptive of his mission, it may be useful to note how many, and what... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-9

Message of grace to Zion. I. THE ANOINTING OF THE MESSENGER . Under the Law, the priests were anointed ( Exodus 29:7 ; Le 7:36), and also the kings ( 1 Samuel 9:16 ; 1 Samuel 10:1 ; 1 Samuel 16:13 ). It was the sign of appointment to a high office or commission from God. Hence, by a figure, it is applied to the appointment of Elisha to the prophetic office ( 1 Kings 19:16 ), and to the designation of Cyrus as the instrument of the purpose of Jehovah. Similarly, in 1 John... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:1-12

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:2

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord . An "acceptable year," or "year of acceptance," is a space of time during which God would be pleased to accept such as repented and turned to him. It is, of course, not intended to limit the space to a "year." The space is rather the term of our sojourn here below. The day of vengeance. The "day" of vengeance is contrasted with the "year" of acceptance, to indicate God's long-suffering and patience towards sinners (comp. Isaiah 34:8 ; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:2

The year of acceptance and the day of vengeance. Very striking is the frequency with which this, and other prophets, set together the two sides of Messiah's work. Deliverance of those who trust him goes together with judgment on those who reject him. In a most impressive way the Old Testament canon closes with this dual aspect of Divine dealings, "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble But unto you that fear... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 61:3

To appoint … to give . The latter expression is a correction of the former, which was not wide enough. Messiah is sent to give to the godly mourners read more

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