To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord
Not an exact year, but time in general; for such are wrong, who
from hence conclude that Christ's public ministry lasted but a
year, since it is certain, by the passovers he kept, that it must
be at least three or four years; the whole time of Christ on
earth was an acceptable and desirable time, what many great
personages desired to see, and did not: this time may take in the
whole Gospel dispensation, which was ushered in by Christ: the
allusion, as before observed, is to the year of jubilee, when
there was a proclamation of liberty; of release of debts; of
restoration of inheritances, and of cessation from work; all
which must make it an acceptable year: and this proclamation was
made on the day of atonement; and Jarchi interprets the phrase
here of a "year of reconciliation"; or "the year of atonement to
the Lord", as it maybe rendered F19; this was made by the
sacrifice of Christ, and is proclaimed in the Gospel, and makes a
most considerable part of it. It may be rendered, "the year of
the good will of the Lord" F20; and such was the time of
Christ's coming on earth, to save men, and make peace and
reconciliation for them, ( Luke 2:14 ) and was an
"acceptable time" indeed; acceptable to the Lord himself; as were
the incarnation of Christ, his obedience and righteousness, his
sufferings and death, his sacrifice and satisfaction; since
hereby the perfections of God were glorified, his purposes
fulfilled, his covenant confirmed, and his people saved:
acceptable to men; as were the birth of Christ; the things done
by him; peace made, pardon procured, righteousness brought in,
and salvation wrought out; all which must be acceptable to such
who are lost, and know it, and are sensible that nothing of their
own can save them; see ( 1 Timothy
1:15 ) the day of vengeance of our God;
when vengeance was taken on sin, in the person of Christ; when he
destroyed the works of the devil, the devil himself, and spoiled
principalities and powers; when he abolished death, and was the
plague and destruction of that and the grave; when he brought
wrath to the uttermost on the Jews for the rejection of him, who
would not have him to reign over them; and who will take
vengeance on antichrist at his spiritual coming, and upon all the
wicked at the day of judgment. Kimchi understands this of the day
when God shall take vengeance on Gog and Magog. To comfort
all that mourn:
that are under afflictions, and mourn for them; and under a sense
of sin, and mourn for that; who mourn for their own sins,
indwelling sin, and their many actual transgressions; and for the
sins of others, of profane persons, and especially professors of
religion; these Christ comforts by his Spirit, by his word and
ministers, by his promises, by his ordinances, and by the
discoveries, of pardoning grace and mercy,