The Feast of Trumpets

Why Jesus Did Not Read All of Isaiah 61:2

Given on Sep 16, 2023 by William Bradford Listen

MP3 Audio (32.56 MB)

Jesus, at the very beginning of his ministry, read in his home synagogue just one and a half verses of Isaiah and then sat down. Why did Jesus not keep reading? The answer provides us with what the Feast of Trumpets represents, what Christ will fulfill in his return as King of Kings and Lords as the Kingdom of this World becomes the Kingdom or our Lord.

Let’s see something interesting that we see recorded by Luke.

Jesus goes to his home Synagogue in the small town of Nazareth on the Sabbath Day and reads from the scrolls and Jesus reads a specific section from Isaiah chapter 61

SCRIPTURE: Luke 4:14 - 14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. 15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

Jesus had something specific for them to understand and Luke records this account for us.

Jesus had a purpose for what he was going to read.

It was not a random selection. He reads this.

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus wanted those there listening to know He was fulfilling that part of the prophecy from Isaiah.

From then on, Jesus began to fulfill what he had just read in the synagogue at Nazareth.

The four gospels record Jesus fulfilling this passage from Isaiah, chapter 61.

Preaching good tidings to the poor,
healing the brokenhearted,
and proclaiming liberty to the captives.

I would like us to consider where Jesus stopped reading in Isaiah 61 on this day.

Chapters and scriptures were not added until after this time, so it looks like Jesus just read the first part of verse 2 and stops in mid-verse.

Let’s see where Jesus was reading from in Isaiah and turn to Is. 61 to see where Jesus stopped reading and closed the book.

And consider why JESUS didn’t keep reading. There is a very good reason.

Let’s turn to Isaiah 61:1 – 2 - “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

Jesus stopped reading at this point because he understood very well what was next.

We should ask, what does the next part of verse 2 say?

Is 61:2b - And the day of vengeance of our God;

Jesus stopped before reading this…

Why? Because Jesus was not fulfilling this part of the prophecy at that time.