61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] a upon me; because the
LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek;
he hath sent me to bind up the b brokenhearted, to
proclaim liberty to the c captives, and the opening of
the prison to [them that are] bound;
(a) Thus belongs to all the prophets and ministers of God,
but chiefly to Christ, of whose abundant graces
everyone receives according as it pleases him to
distribute.
(b) To them that are lively touched with the feeling of
their sins.
(c) Who are in the bondage of sin.
61:2 To proclaim the d acceptable year of the LORD, and the
day of e vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
(d) The time when it pleased God to show his good favour to
man, which Paul calls the fulness of time,
(Ga 4:4).
(e) For when God delivers his Church, he punishes his
enemies.
61:3 To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them
beauty for f ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they
may be called g trees of righteousness, the planting of
the LORD, that he may be glorified.
(f) Which was the sign of mourning.
(g) Trees that bring forth good fruits, as in (Mt 3:8).
61:4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up
the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste
cities, the desolations of many h generations.
(h) That is, for a long time.
61:5 And foreigners shall i stand and feed your flocks, and
the sons of the alien [shall be] your plowmen and your
vinedressers.
(i) They will be ready to serve you in all your needs.
61:6 But ye shall be named the k Priests of the LORD: [men]
shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the
l riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye
boast yourselves.
(k) This is accomplished in the time of Christ, by whom all
the faithful are made priests and kings,
(1Pe 2:9, Re 1:6,5:10).
(l) Read (Isa 6:11:16).
61:7 For your shame [ye shall have] m double; and [for]
confusion n they shall rejoice in o their portion:
therefore in their land they shall possess the p double:
everlasting joy shall be to them.
(m) Abundant recompence as this word is used,
(Isa 40:2).
(n) That is, the Jews.
(o) That is, of the Gentiles.
(p) While the Gentiles had dominion over the Jews in times
past, now they will have double authority over them and
possess twice as much.
61:8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate q robbery for burnt
offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will
make an everlasting covenant with them.
(q) I will not receive their offerings who are
extortioners, deceivers, hypocrites or that deprive me
of my glory.
61:9 And r their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and
their offspring among the people: all that see them shall
acknowledge them, that they [are] the seed [which] the LORD
hath blessed.
(r) That is, of the Church.
61:10s I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be
joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments
of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of
righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with
ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her
jewels.
(s) He shows what will be the affection, when they feel
their deliverance.
