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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Luke 4:18 - 4:18
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Anointed me (echrisen me). First aorist active indicative of the verb chriō from which Christ (Christos) is derived, the Anointed One. Isaiah is picturing the Jubilee year and the release of captives and the return from the Babylonian exile with the hope of the Messiah through it all. Jesus here applies this Messianic language to himself. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” as was shown at the baptism (Luk 3:21) where he was also “anointed” for his mission by the Father’s voice (Isa 3:22).
To the poor (ptōchois). Jesus singles this out also as one of the items to tell John the Baptist in prison (Luk 7:22). Our word Gospel is a translation of the Greek Euaggelion, and it is for the poor.
He hath sent me (apestalken me). Change of tense to perfect active indicative. He is now on that mission here. Jesus is God’s Apostle to men (Joh 17:3, Whom thou didst send).
Proclaim (kēruxai). As a herald like Noah (2Pe 2:5).
To the captives (aichmalōtois). Prisoners of war will be released (aichmē, a spear point, and halōtos, from haliskomai, to be captured). Captured by the spear point. Common word, but here only in the N.T.
Set at liberty (aposteilai). First aorist active infinitive of apostellō. Same verb as apestalken, above. Brought in here from Isa 58:6. Plummer suggests that Luke inserts it here from memory. But Jesus could easily have turned back the roll and read it so.
Them that are bruised (tethrausmenous). Perfect passive participle of thrauō, an old verb, but here only in the N.T. It means to break in pieces broken in heart and often in body as well. One loves to think that Jesus felt it to be his mission to mend broken hearts like pieces of broken earthenware, real rescue-mission work. Jesus mends them and sets them free from their limitations.