Justice and the Prophets
God Promises a Just Kingdom
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)
The Lord Loves Justice
Luke 4:14-21 New International Version
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day, he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[ a]
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
For Reflection
The Scribes and Pharisees were students of the scriptures. When they spoke, they cited scripture. They spoke from the authority or the testaments. Jesus, on the other hand, spoke as an authority. The Holy Spirit spoke through Jesus as he taught the scriptures. When he read the scroll of Isaiah, he announced God's commission and his ministry.
Pray
Pray prayers of praise to the living God. Pray so that your witness carries the authority of a loving God. Pray so that you can minister to the poor, the blind, and the oppresses.
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