Today’s passage: Isaiah 61
Helpful thoughts:
- Jesus read this passage and claimed to be it’s fulfillment, the Messiah, in the synagogue in Luke 4:16-21.
- Jesus is the preacher of this message and He is the payment for it’s purchase. The covenant being purchased with His own blood.
- The marriage imagery is repeated in Ephesians 5:22-33.
Questions to consider:
- The Lord’s love of justice (Verse 8) is the reason Jesus had to suffer on the cross and die. Why was Christ’s death necessary? What did it accomplish? If sin was ever paid for twice would that be justice?
- In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn.” (See Matthew 5:2-12) What are God’s people mourning? Is it political issues or is it their sin? What did Jesus die to redeem, a government or people who were slaves to sin? How can this right understanding of Isaiah 61 help us when we think about the government in this country today so that we don’t make the same mistake the Pharisees did during Jesus’ earthly ministry? What is our greatest need? What is your neighbor’s greatest need?
- How will righteousness come to the earth? Will our efforts bring about perfection on this earth? Who will cause righteousness to grow? (Verse 11)