To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

To preach {G2784} the acceptable {G1184} year {G1763} of the Lord {G2962}.

to proclaim a year of the favor of ADONAI."

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

Commentary on Luke 4:19 (KJV)

The verse Luke 4:19, "To preach the acceptable year of the Lord," is a pivotal part of Jesus' inaugural sermon in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth, as recorded by Luke. It concludes a direct quotation from the prophet Isaiah, revealing the core purpose of His earthly ministry.

Context

In Luke 4:16-17, Jesus stands up to read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. The passage He reads, spanning Luke 4:18-19, is a direct quote from Isaiah 61:1-2a. This particular verse, Luke 4:19, marks the climax of His reading, immediately before He boldly declares, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:21). This moment serves as Jesus' public declaration of His mission and identity.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The "Acceptable Year of the Lord": This phrase directly alludes to the ancient Israelite concept of the Year of Jubilee, described in Leviticus 25:10. The Jubilee was a sacred year, observed every 50 years, when debts were forgiven, slaves were set free, and ancestral lands were returned to their original owners. It was a time of restoration, liberation, and divine favor. Jesus' proclamation signifies that He is ushering in a spiritual Jubilee, a time of ultimate freedom and favor from God for all who believe.
  • Jesus' Mission Statement: This passage from Isaiah is often considered Jesus' inaugural address, outlining the comprehensive nature of His ministry. It encompasses bringing good news to the poor, healing the brokenhearted, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and setting at liberty those who are bruised (Luke 4:18). The "acceptable year" encapsulates this period of God's gracious intervention through Christ.
  • Proclamation of God's Favor, Not Judgment: Significantly, Jesus intentionally stops His reading of Isaiah 61:2 before the phrase "and the day of vengeance of our God." This omission highlights that His first coming was for salvation, grace, and reconciliation, initiating a period of divine favor. The "day of vengeance" awaits His second coming (Revelation 19:15).

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "acceptable year" is eniauton dektón Kuriou (ἐνιαυτὸν δεκτὸν Κυρίου). The word dektón means "acceptable," "favorable," or "well-pleasing." This emphasizes God's gracious disposition and willingness to extend salvation and reconciliation to humanity through Jesus Christ. It underscores that this period is a time specially appointed by God for mercy and deliverance, reflecting the profound significance of the Jubilee concept.

Practical Application

For believers today, Luke 4:19 reminds us that we live within the "acceptable year of the Lord." This period of God's grace and favor, inaugurated by Christ, continues throughout the New Covenant era. It calls us to:

  • Embrace God's Freedom: Recognize the spiritual liberation from sin, guilt, and the power of darkness that Christ offers (John 8:36).
  • Live in God's Favor: Understand that through Christ, we have access to God's unwavering love and grace, not based on our merit, but on His finished work.
  • Participate in His Mission: As followers of Christ, we are called to continue His work of proclaiming good news, bringing healing, and advocating for justice and liberation in our world, reflecting the very essence of His mission statement.

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the expansive and liberating nature of Jesus' ministry, offering hope and restoration to all.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
  • Isaiah 61:2

    To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
  • Isaiah 63:4

    For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
  • Luke 19:42

    Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things [which belong] unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
  • Leviticus 25:8

    ¶ And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.
  • Leviticus 25:13

    In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession.
  • Leviticus 25:50

    And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him.
  • Leviticus 25:54

    And if he be not redeemed in these [years], then he shall go out in the year of jubile, [both] he, and his children with him.

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