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Isa_61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;
Ver. 1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me.] Christ had graciously promised to accomplish his people’s happiness in its due time. {Isa_60:22} Here he showeth how and when he will do it - viz., by himself, anointed and appointed by his heavenly Father to be "Messiah the Prince"; {Dan_9:25} "Christ the Lord"; {Act_4:26} Priest, prophet, and king of his Church; a Saviour ex professo, consecrated as the priests of old were, first with oil, and then with blood. So was he (1.) By the Holy Spirit, invisibly at the first instant of his conception, and visibly, at his baptism; (2.) By his own blood sprinkled upon him at his circumcision, but especially at his Passion, which was another baptism. {Mat_20:23 Luk_12:50}
Because the Lord hath anointed me.] Prae, consortibus et pro consortibus {Psa_46:7} "Above thy fellows," and also for thy fellows, as some render that text. See Joh_1:33; Joh_3:34 Luk_4:18 Act_10:38 Heb_1:8 Psa_105:15 2Co_1:21-22 1Jn_2:20; 1Jn_2:27. "Only unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gifts of Christ"; {Eph_4:7} "but God gave not the Spirit unto him by measure," {Joh_3:34} he had it in an abundant and transcendent manner, "good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over," even as much as his human nature was capable of. Let the saints love him for this, {Son_1:2} and labour to be more and nmre made partakers of his holiness, for "of his fulness we all receive grace for grace"; {Joh_1:16} a perfection in some sort answerable to Christ’s own perfection. There are those who observe in this text, and not amiss, the mystery of the Holy Trinity - viz., God the Father anointing his Son Christ with the Holy Ghost. See the like at Christ’s baptism. {Mat_3:16} [See Trapp on "Mat_3:16"}
To preach good tidings unto the meek.] "To preach." This referreth to Christ’s prophetic office; as doth "binding up the broken hearted" to his priestly, and "proclaiming liberty to the captives," to his kingly office. To these three offices as God he was consecrated - set apart for a mediator; {as Exo_30:30} and as man he was qualified, as before. That which Christ came to preach was good tidings, goodspel or gospel, as we call it, the best news that ever came into the world. {Luk_2:10} This he came and preached not in his own person only, but by his prophets and apostles, {Eph_2:17} in whom he spake, {2Co_13:3} and before all whom himself preached the first gospel to our first parents, {Gen_3:15} even the gospel of grace.
Unto the meek.] Or, Lowly; for humility and meekness are sorores collectaneae, twin sisters. There are those poor that are gospelised - viz., the poor in spirit, sensible of their utter indigence and nothingness; {Mat_5:3} whereby also our Saviour proveth himself to John’s disciples, sent unto him for the purpose, to be the true Messiah foreshown by Isaiah, and foreshadowed in him. {Mat_11:5 Luk_7:22}
He hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted.] This Christ doth as a fit high priest, sensible of our miseries. {Heb_4:15} He hath manum medicare, hand of healing, he is the true Samaritan; not the physician only, but the surgeon of his people, cataplasmans et obligans, {a} plastering and binding up their wounds given them by the devil, that wicked thief, then when the priest and the Levites - the law - had passed them by, and yielded them no help at all.
The broken hearted.] Broken with the sense of sin and fear of wrath; so broken as if all their bones were rattling within their skin. This was David’s case, {Psa_51:8} and this he pleads, as one in case and capacity for mercy. {Psa_51:17} He knew well enough that God poured not the oil of his mercy, save only into broken vessels; for whole vessels are full vessels, and so this precious liquor would run over, and be spilt upon the ground.
To proclaim liberty to the captives.] Liberty from the tyranny of sin, and terror of hell. This Christ doth as a king, with great power. {Joh_8:32; Joh_8:34; Joh_8:36 Rom_6:17-18 Col_1:13 2Ti_2:26}
And the opening of the prison,] i.e., Of hell, called here koach from lakach, to receive, because it is capacious, and still taking in more company; sic infernus dicitur ab inferendo, ut aliqui volunt.
{a} Pangit et ungit ut sanet.