“Opening the Eyes”

Text: Luke 4:14-21

​Sermon:
This is another scripture that is referenced and taught a lot. So, when I chose it, I really
wanted to look at it from another point of view. In this passage you will see Jesus quoting
Isaiah 61:1-2.

It is my understanding that Isaiah was written as a prophecy, but my question is: Was this
prophecy specifically written for Jesus? Many people believe so. While I was looking
through my study bible and the notes available, it states, “That passage the deliverance of
Isreal from exile in Babylon as a year of Jubilee-a year when all debt is cancelled, all
slaves are free, and all property is returned.”

 It also adds, “The release from Babylon exile had not brought the expected fulfillment;
the Jews were still a conquered and oppressed people. So, Isaiah must have been referring
to a future messianic age.”

This implies that the original script was not directly written for Jesus. It was speaking
about the oppressed gaining freedom and when that didn’t happen in the way that they
thought it should; it was decided that Isaiah was writing about a Messiah that would bring
that freedom.

Jesus uses this verse to proclaim that he is the Messiah, the one who would bring the
Good News to pass, but he would do so in a way that the people were not able to grasp. It
is because of this record we can believe that Jesus was accepting this role and working
for the freedom of his people.

Looking at Isaiah 61, there is a verse that states, “To proclaim liberty to captives and
freedom to the prisoners” The word “Freedom” means “The combination word peqach-
qôach literally means "opening of the eyes." Here it reflects Messiah's mission to
proclaim liberty to captives”

While everyone at the time thought that Jesus would be some political leader that
overthrows the oppressors through power, but the term “opening of the eyes” indicates
that the freedom that we are given through Jesus is not political, but it is an eye-opening
event that reveals the brokenness of this world to us.

We also noticed that Jesus confirms that he is meant to preach the good news, in the
original language, this means “announce good news concerning something.” This is one
way that he is opening our eyes to the brokenness of the world.

In the original language for Isaiah, the word “afflicted” translates to “ʿānāv” which means
“poor, oppressed, afflicted, humble, meek.” More frequently anav seems to denote an
attitude of mind, more characteristic of the poor than of the rich, one of humility and
dependence on God.

It is through Jesus proclaiming the good news, we can open our eyes to the corruption
and brokenness within the world. It is through this knowledge; we can bring healing
through acts of love and compassion. The same love that Jesus showed to the broken
hearted.

Conclusion: Let us be people who are loving and compassionate to all people.