Luke 4:19

Luke 4:19 Meaning and Explanation

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

King James Version (KJV)

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The reading closes with the proclamation of the acceptable year of the Lord, the time of God's favor.

What Does Luke 4:19 Mean?

The line gathers up the Jubilee of Leviticus 25, the appointed year when debts were released, slaves went free, and land returned to its families. Isaiah lifted that institution into a promise of God's great restoration, and Jesus stands up in Nazareth to proclaim its arrival.

Strikingly, he stops mid-sentence. Isaiah's next phrase speaks of the day of vengeance of our God, but Jesus rolls the scroll shut before it. His first coming announces favor; judgment is real but waits. The accent of his ministry falls on welcome, on the now of grace that Paul would echo: behold, now is the accepted time. The door of the acceptable year stands open, and he is the one holding it.

Luke 4:19 in the Original Language

dektos (δεκτός), 'acceptable' -- welcome, favorable.

Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 4:19

What does Luke 4:19 mean?

The reading closes with the proclamation of the acceptable year of the Lord, the time of God's favor.

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