Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 61:1

1 THe spirit of the LORD is upon me , because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek, he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted , to proclaim liberty to the captives , and the opening of the prison to them that are bound .

As it were to accomplish that which is foretold, and promised in the foregoing Chapter, whereby this appears to be either the Holy-Ghost, see on, 1 King, 18. 12. or the Spirit of Prophecy; i. e. the gift of Prophecy; so we are often to understand by the Spirit, viz. The gifts, as the Spirit upon Sampson, viz. The gift of valor, & courage and strength, see, 1 Cor. 12. 4. &c. Though the Prophet may speak this of himself in Person, yet that it is principally understood of Christ, is evident, because he applieth this Text unto himself, Luke 4. 18. being the first text he preached upon after his Baptism, at which time the Holy Ghost did descend upon him in a visible shape, of which that Iohn, who Baptized him, was an ocular witness, Iohn 1. 32, 33▪ and so making good the truth of this Prophecy; and it is said to rest upon, and dwell in him, according as it is prophecied, ch. 11. 2. & 42. 1.

Set me apart. i e. both capacitating him with Gifts, and commissionating him with Authority, and yet more, as it is applied to Christ, a Power to make all effectual, from whence he hath also the name of Messiah among the Hebrews, and of Christ among the Greeks; nay Christ alone among the Prophets hath obtained this name, Psal. 45. 7. and the Prophet seems here to describe, first, who Christ is, and then what are his Offices, this being the usual Ceremony for the designing Persons to the Offices of Prophets, Priests, and Kings, as hath been diverse times shewen, in all which respects it doth most eminently belong to Christ, so that the Prophet doth hereby intimate both the final cause of his unction, viz. that he should execute these Offices to which he was anointed, and the effect of it; that unction being upon him as the head, it would flow from thence to his members, and so is an unction more peculiar to them, and in a more general way it hath respect unto all the faithful, 2 Cor. 1. 21, 22. 1 Iohn 2. 20, 27.

Being meant of Christ, this relates to his Prophetical Office. Literally this points at the good news that Isaiah brought of Cyrus his being raised up to bring them out of Babylon, now they are become meek and humble, but if it be thus taken, it must be understood of his Prophecies left behind him, for he died many years before the Captivity. But they chiefly signify the good tidings of the Gospel, that discovers Christ come in the flesh to redeem poor sinners from the Captivity of sin, and Satan, such as are meek, and humble, or afflicted, as the word signifies, because ordinarily afflictions make men meek, and humble, called also the Poor, and our Saviour expresseth it by that word, Luke 4. 18. To these the Gospel, these good tidings are brought, Mat. 11. 5. Whether by Poor you understand, 1. The Gentile void of all Grace, and Salvation, or tenders of it till now. Or, 2. Properly so called, indigent and needy Persons, of which sort were the greatest number that followed Christ, of which the reason might be, because Christ preached the contempt of the World, and Riches, which the Poor would therefore sooner embrace, and the Rich more likely to oppose. Or, 3. The Poor in Spirit.

Now follow several particular expressions to describe the same thing that he mentioned before more generally, a Metaphor taken from Chirurgions, that carefully and tenderly roll up▪ a broken bone, Hos. 6. 1. and this relates to Christs Priestly Office.

The heart dejected, and broken with sorrow, I am sent to ease their pains, whose Consciences are wounded with a sense of Gods wrath.

Those Captives in Babylon, but principally to Satan, that they shall be delivered, and this appertains to Christs Kingly Office, whereby he proclaims liberty from the Dominion, and Bondage of sin, and from the Fear▪ and Terrour of Hell. See ch. 42. 7.

i. e. Supposing them to be in chains, and fetters, yet they should be delivered, though in the greatest bondage: the further explication of these things will be found upon Luke 4. 18. Because there are some passages expresly mentioned here.

Marginal references: Luke 4. 18.