A Homecoming—Jubilee

We’ll be taking two posts on the next passage.

The Passage

Matthew 4:13-16; Luke 4:16-30[1]

          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. 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:​

​​“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;

​​To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

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. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”​

So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’ ”

Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:​

​​“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

​​By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,

​​Galilee of the Gentiles:

​​The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,

​​And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death

​​Light has dawned.”

A Little Background

After Jesus spent two extra days with the Samaritans, we read that, “...He departed from there and went to Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.” (John 4:43, 44) Jesus passed by Nazareth and went to Galilee. He did not go to Nazareth right away because He knew he would not be received there.  

It was customary in synagogue worship for a few leaders to read from the scrolls (Old Testament), and they would often invite an honored guest to read. Jesus had been getting much attention by traveling around Galilee teaching and healing. Now, here He was in His old hometown, so they gave him the honor of reading the scroll.  Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1-2a which was a well-known prophecy about the Messiah, the Anointed One.

Some Explanation

​​“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me...” The act of anointing someone or something was done to set it apart for God’s use only. Anointing was often done with oil that was smeared on the object or person. When this was done that object was considered “holy” unto God’s use. The act of anointing did not magically change the item into something of a mystical holy nature. The idea of being holy meant to be “separated unto” for one purpose only. It could not be used for any other purpose. The articles of worship for the tabernacle were for God only. To use them otherwise would have been a sentence of death. When Uzzah touched the ark (2 Samuel...) he died instantly because the ark was holy.

“To proclaim liberty to the captives... To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Both of these phrases refer back to Leviticus 25:10 (which by the way, for all our history buffs...is the verse inscribed on our Liberty Bell.) What is referred to there is known as Jubilee. The Law of Moses required that every seventh day be a day of rest or Sabbath. Likewise, every seventh year was also to be a year of rest for the land. No crops were to be planted. God promised to provide an abundant enough harvest from the previous year so that the land could replenish itself. Then, after seven sets of seven years (49), the following year (50^th) was to be known as Jubilee.

Jubilee refers to the ram’s horn that was blown in celebration of the 50^th year when all debts were to be forgiven, all slaves[2] set free, labor ceased and all land returned to its original owner.[3] Jesus was declaring that He was the One promised by Isaiah 62; He was the fulfillment of Jubilee.

Observations and Insights

A mortgage—a car payment—a school bill—medical bills and credit card debt—all of them wiped away in one payment—oh what joy! What relief! Many of us have all of these debts. Yet no matter how massive these debts seem, they pale in comparison to the sin-debt I owe my Creator. Even the national debt is a drop in the proverbial bucket compared to this.

I find that it is easy for me to get caught up in the everyday circumstances and chores of life. I can become oblivious to the reality of God and His truth. Jesus is the fulfillment of Israel’s Jubilee that frees me from the debt of sin that keeps me enslaved. The website www.gotquestions.org explains it well: 

The Jubilee presents a beautiful picture of the New Testament themes of redemption and forgiveness. Christ is the Redeemer who came to set free those who are slaves and prisoners to sin (Romans 8:2; Galatians 5:1; 3:22). The debt of sin we owe to God was paid on the cross as Jesus died on our behalf (Colossians 2:13-14), and we are forgiven the debt forever. We are no longer in bondage, no longer slaves to sin, having been freed by Christ, and we can truly enter the rest God provides as we cease laboring to make ourselves acceptable to God by our own works (Hebrews 4:9-10).[3]

It is ever and always all about Jesus—Jesus is our Jubilee! Oh, the freedom! Did you catch that? HE SETS THE CAPTIVES FREE! That's me and every single human being. Do you have a particular sin that keeps you in bondage? I would like to recommend a ministry to you that focuses wholly on the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. Every addictive bondage is addressed through the Word of God, and the Bible studies there are great for everyone. Please check out www.settingcaptivesfree.com

Enjoy the following song of praise as you worship the Lord Jesus and praise your Jubilee. I pray that we will all have a greater understanding of the depth and nature of our own sin debt and then become overwhelmed by the grace and love of the Lord Jesus Christ who paid its price for us.       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I15coFa1ug0

To be so completely guilty, given over to despair
To look into your judge’s face, and see a Savior there...

Next reading: Matthew 4:13-16; Luke 4:16-30 (part 2)

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[1] Note:  Much of the Harmony readings will be pieced together like a puzzle putting the four Gospels together into one narrative.  I am copying the order or format from A Simplified Harmony of the Gospels, George W. Wright, Holman Bible Publishers, 2001.  However, I am using the New King James rather than the HCSB.  This order is from the research of Wright and is open to discussion.  Of course, you can also read the passages side by side separately if you prefer.

[2] Slavery in Hebrew Old Testament culture was not the same as we identify slavery today. For an excellent explanation see: http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-slavery.html

[3] For more information:  http://www.gotquestions.org/Jubilee.html

A Homecoming—Rejection

The Passage

Matthew 4:13-16; Luke 4:16-30[1]

          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. 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:​

​​“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;

​​To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

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. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”​

So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’ ”

Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:​

​​“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

​​By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,

​​Galilee of the Gentiles:

​​The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,

​​And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death

​​Light has dawned.”

A Little Background

Elijah and Elisha were both prophets who ministered in the northern kingdom (Israel) of a split nation. Israel had no kings who followed God. Because Jereboam had divided the nation and set up his own worship system, the Israelites were given over to false worship and idolatry. Their act of leaving the faith is called apostasy. In each of these situations, the miracle performed by the prophets was for the benefit of pagans who were not Israelites, God’s chosen people.

The frenzied anger of the Nazarenes[2] was extreme. By taking Jesus to the edge of the cliff, they were preparing to stone Him. The first step was to throw the victim over the cliff. Next they would have thrown huge rocks at him with the intent to crack his skull until it split open and the brains gushed out. But it was not yet Jesus’ time to die. He miraculously slipped through the angry mob.

The second quote is from Isaiah 9:1, again prophesying about the reach of Messiah’s ministry. Zebulon and Naphtali were two of Jacob’s sons, and thus the names of two tribes of Israel. Their lots of land were on the far northern border of Israel. When the Jews returned from exile in Babylon, the people that settled in these regions soon mixed with the Gentile nations bordering them. In contrast to the Samaritans who also mixed with pagans, these mixed-race Jews adopted Judaism more for political purposes than religious. A people religiously Jewish would be loyal to Israel.  Jesus would go to these Jews who lived beyond Judea to light their way to His salvation.

Some Explanation

When Jesus was born, an angel told Joseph in a dream to leave Israel and take the family to Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous reach. Later, an angel again appeared to Joseph when Herod the Great was dead. But as they traveled back (apparently to settle near Jerusalem), Joseph heard that Herod’s son (Archelaus) had taken his place so Joseph took the family to the obscure little town of Nazareth. This put plenty of distance between the family and Herod. It would have been to their advantage not to tell the stories of Jesus’ birth. Would Jesus have done miracles as a boy? Not likely; why draw unnecessary attention? No doubt Jesus grew up like every other boy in Nazareth. And wasn’t that part of His purpose—to grow up experiencing life just as we all do without miraculous advantages?

Still, the shepherds told of their experience seeing and hearing the angels that wonder-filled night: “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ...Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” (Luke 2:17-20)  Anna had also spread the word about who the baby was. (Luke 2:38) Surely these rumors were still floating around and would have easily confirmed the fishermen’s stories from Capernaum who had met the Messiah while following John.

“‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’” Now the people of Nazareth were hearing that this same Jesus who had grown up in their village was preaching, healing, and performing many signs and wonders in Jerusalem and nearby Galilee. Why didn’t He come to His own people if all the hype were true?

Observations and Insights

At first the response of the people at the synagogue was to marvel at Jesus’ gracious words until they realized, “Hey, isn’t this just the carpenter’s son we’ve always known?” Who did He think He was making the claim that He was the fulfilment of Messianic prophecies? He wasn’t doing any miracles for them. He should prove Himself to them.

When Jesus read their hearts’ motive, His response enraged them even more. He hit a nerve. How dare He suggest that uncircumcised pagans were more deserving of miracles than they were! The Nazerenes did not respond to Jesus in faith, but in doubt. And their pride was wounded. The issue was really about them! 

Oh, how this passage hits home with me, too! I am pained to admit how often I’ve felt jealousy at another’s testimony. Someone else had a prayer answered when mine are not. Another person shares some blessing that I have not known. Regardless of the others’ circumstances, my first heart response often puts me into a tailspin. Why doesn’t that happen to me? Does God really care? Suddenly the issue is about me, and my wicked heart is revealed. In some cases, I’ve sat in that sewage for many years. How ironic that I choose the bondage of self-pity when my Jubilee has set me free!

Then, in His sovereign faithfulness, God often brings a trial into my life to show me the depravity of my heart. I need this favor of His grace. If I could only learn to see my heavenly Father’s loving discipline to focus my heart’s attention back to Jesus. Instead, I reject Him, and there’s the rub. Oh, sure, I’ve put on my Christian happy face and say all the right words. I even learned how to pray the “right” words, and gin up faith for “my miracle”. It’s a lovely mask to hide my jealous heart.

He came to His own and His own did not receive Him, John 1:11 tells us. Jesus put on human flesh, but mankind rejects Him; the Jews reject Him; the Nazerenes rejected Him. Sometimes, I still reject Him. It has taken me too long to learn this lesson, but I am brought to tears when I think of all the “no’s” God has blessed me with. How thankful I am that God does not always give me the things I want.

Jesus is my Jubilee. May I trust Him more and love Him more until the day I see Him face to face.

Next reading: Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11

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[1] Note:  Much of the Harmony readings will be pieced together like a puzzle putting the four Gospels together into one narrative.  I am copying the order or format from A Simplified Harmony of the Gospels, George W. Wright, Holman Bible Publishers, 2001.  However, I am using the New King James rather than the HCSB.  This order is from the research of Wright and is open to discussion.  Of course, you can also read the passages side by side separately if you prefer.

[2] Not to be confused with “Nazirites”. A “Nazirite” was not associated with any town, but was a person who took a particular vow as described in Numbers 6. The vow and the town have nothing to do with one another.

Pickin'

The Passage

Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5[1]

Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”

But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:  how he entered the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?  Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?  Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple.  But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.[2]”

Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood.

Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep?

Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” But they kept silent.  And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

Then the Pharisees went out, filled with rage, and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

A Little Background

The Old Testament law allowed for passersby to pluck and eat from the grains of wheat in a farmer’s field, but they could not reap it (Deuteronomy 23:25). The Pharisees were not disputing the disciples eating the grain, but that by plucking or picking the grain, they were “working”.

Jesus was reminding the Pharisees about an event in the life of David found in 1 Samuel 21. When David fled from Saul, he ran to the tabernacle and asked for bread from the high priest. The bread was from the table of showbread in the tabernacle. That bread was set aside, made holy, for worship to the Lord. New fresh bread was to be placed on the altar each day. The high priest gave David the old bread that had been replaced by the new bread.

Some Explanation

“Have you not read what David did when he was hungry...” The Pharisees were experts in the fine parts of the law—the Old Testament. Jesus, therefore, used the Old Testament to point out their error. Just as in the case of David’s need of bread, so also Jesus’ disciples were hungry and needed food.

”...on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless...” The law stated that fresh new bread was to be placed on the Table of Showbread every day; therefore, the priest had to “work” on the Sabbath. The Pharisees got around that issue by stating that because the Temple (also the tabernacle) is holy, work on the Sabbath related to Temple worship was allowed. When Jesus said, “Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple,” He was again declaring His authority and superiority over the Sabbath laws and the Temple itself.

“... and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.” The Herodians were one of five sects of Judaism at the time of Christ. As the name suggests, the Herodians were Jews who supported Herod. Pharisees were the polar opposite; yet, the two sects collaborate to destroy Jesus.

Observations and Insights

The Pharisees had added burdensome layers to the Sabbath laws, and then made keeping those Sabbath laws central to Judaism. Colossians and Hebrews gives us insight on the Sabbath. In Paul’s letter to the Gentile Colossians, he tells them not to receive judgment from anyone who tries to burden them with keeping the Sabbath, the Feasts or laws about eating and drinking. All these things from the Old Testament law were a shadow (a prefigure or picture) of Jesus Christ and His ministry which was the substance, or the fulfilment of them (Colossians 2:16, 17).

Hebrews 3 and 4 is a rich passage that explains the excellence and superiority of the Lord Jesus who is Himself our Sabbath rest. God did not command the Sabbath to bind man to a law to prove his faithfulness to it. Rather the Sabbath was a gift. In addition to physical rest for the body one day per week, it also provided rest for the soul. The Sabbath was a day to give thanks to God, and extol His character. But how does that give rest to our souls? In living life day in and day out—especially in ancient times when life was often survival—it would be easy to fall into the belief that life depended on constant work, striving, and fear. By setting a day apart for worship of God, His people would be reminded that it is God alone who gives life and prospers us. The Sabbath was a reminder not to strive in themselves, but to trust the Lord for their salvation and their survival.

But the Sabbath was not just one day a week. The feasts were also considered Sabbaths. Additionally, every seven years was declared a Sabbath year of rest for the land and cancellation of debt, and after seven cycles of seven years, an entire year of rest was celebrated as Jubilee. (See here.) During these times, the Israelites would have to depend on God to sustain them.  

Hebrews 3 and 4 explains that entering the Promised Land was also a rest that God provided for the Israelites. When the people refused to listen to the good report from Joshua and Caleb who trusted in God’s promise of victory in Canaan, God was angered by their unbelief. The Israelites looked at themselves: they were small in size, their army small and untrained. Though they experienced mighty deliverance from the slavery of Pharaoh, and saw the Lord perform spectacular miracles for them, they refused to have faith for His provision in Canaan.

Hebrews explains that in the same way the Israelites refused their “Sabbath rest” in Canaan, they also refused their rest in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is exactly the problem that the Pharisees were facing from our reading today. Jesus Himself is Lord of the Sabbath loving mercy over judgment—loving a man by healing him and giving him true rest.

Good works, keeping Old Testament laws including Sabbath and feasts, self-esteem, modern psychological systems, laws/principles/keys/secrets, etc. for better leadership/relationships/self-awareness, etc. —all of these become our own efforts at pleasing God or striving for self-improvement. Not only are these efforts ineffective, they are actually a rejection of God’s means of grace through faith in the Lord Jesus. We have no “rightness” of our own or in our own sef-efforts. We can only rest in Jesus’ righteousness.

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[1] Note: Much of the Harmony readings will be pieced together like a puzzle putting the four Gospels together into one narrative. I am copying the order or format from A Simplified Harmony of the Gospels, George W. Wright, Holman Bible Publishers, 2001. However, I am using the New King James rather than the HCSB. This order is from the research of Wright and is open to discussion. Of course, you can also read the passages side by side separately if you prefer.

[2] Not to be confused with Lord Sabaoth which means Lord of Hosts. Sabaoth and Sabbath are two different Hebrew words. (See Isaiah 5:16, Romans 9:29, James 5:4)