Luke 4:19
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Various Bible translations word this prophetic utterance differently. The most common translation being that the Messiah would proclaim a time of great favor which is something that can be readily understood. Some years are better than others in the life of a nation and in the life of an individual.
On December 7, 1941 America was attacked at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. It was a terrible year for war was no longer impending, it was a tragic reality. In contrast to 1941, 1945 was a glorious year for victory was won in Europe, and then in Japan. Military personnel came home, and the economy moved from austerity to prosperity. The year 1945 became a year of divine grace and favor.
Most people can point to a happy year in their life where something special happened. Perhaps it was the birth of a child, a marriage proposal, or a wedding ceremony. Perhaps it was a vacation, or an unusual event that took place bringing lasting and fond memories.
Upon reflection one of the happiest years of my life was 1969. I was fifthteen that summer having finished the ninth grade. I look back upon that school year as one of great tranquility before life suddenly took a turn that would leave me going to four high schools, in three years, in two states, due to disruption in the family. For me 1969 was a year of divine favor.
When He was thirty years of age Jesus began His public ministry, and declared that what He would preach and what He would do would make the year one of divine favor. Those who heard became excited, for the Jews were familiar with a year of favor called the Year of Jubilee.
The word “jubilee” comes from a Hebrew word meaning the horn of a ram. When the horn was made into a trumpet the people could be called for a general assembly. Once every fifty years, on the tenth day of the seventh month called Tishri (lit. to begin; 30 days / September and October) on the Day of Atonement the trumpet call was sounded, and a year of Jubilee was announced. It was to be a year manifesting Divine favor on all the people.
“Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land” (Lev. 25:9).
In the Year of Jubilee some wonderful events were to take place.
First, in the Year of Jubilee all real property was to automatically revert to its original owner. After the land had been initially allocated to the various tribes and families, God never intended that the property be sold, though it could be leased.
Second, those who felt compelled by poverty or economic hardship to place themselves in servitude as indentured servants were also to be set free.
“And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family” (Lev. 25:10).
It has often been widely taught that the ethics of the New Testament covenant ordains slavery. One of the great arguments for slavery in America was that it is not condemned in the Scriptures, especially the New Testament.
Slavery is condemned in the strongest language in the New Testament in 1 Timothy 1:9-10. Writing to Timothy Paul says,
“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.”
The word for men stealers is andrapodistais. It comes from two words meaning literally [andrapodizoo] from aneer, man, and pous, foot], to catch by the foot, to enslave.
Those who enslave others whether by kidnapping free men from Africa, or stealing the slaves of other men are classified with the unrighteous. Using this word andrapodistais Paul strikes a blow at the slave trade. Man, made in the image of God was designed to be free.
And so it was, on the Day of Atonement, in the month that marked the beginning of the Jewish New Year the land was returned to its original family ownership and individuals were set free.
The spiritual symbolism associated with the Year of Jubilee cannot be neglected. When Jesus comes into our lives He restores what has been lost or given away. When Jesus comes the soul is set free from years of bondage and servitude to the Master Called Satan and his law of bondage.
“Free from the law,
Oh, happy condition!
Jesus has bled,
and there is remission.”
In addition to the land being restored, and to personal freedom being gained during the Jubilee Year, the land was to rest as a long holy Sabbath. There was to be neither sowing nor reaping nor pruning of vines. Everybody was expected to live on what the fields and the vineyards produced “of themselves.” No attempt was to be made at storing up the products of the land (Lev. 25:11ff). In this manner the people of the covenant would always remember that life and nourishment come from the hand of God. A conscious dependency upon the Lord will keep the heart tender, sensitive and grateful. When gratitude is expressed it is appreciated and it is remembered.
The world knew her as Mother Theresa of Calcutta. She was born in 1910 and died in 1997. At the National Prayer Breakfast in 1994 she told the following story. One evening we went out, and we picked up four people from the street. And one of them was in a most terrible condition. I told the sisters, “You take care of the other three; I will take care of the one who looks worst.” So, I did for her all that my love could do. I put her in bed, and there was such a beautiful smile on her face. She took hold of my hand as she said two words only: “Thank you.” Then she died.
I could not help but examine my conscience before her. And I asked: What would I say if I were in her place? And my answer was very simple. I would have tried to draw a little attention to myself.
I would have said, “I am hungry, I am dying, I am in pain,” or something. But she gave me much more; she gave me her grateful love. And she died with a smile on her face. Gratitude brings a smile and becomes a gift.
The Year of Jubilee is designed to cause the heart to say to God,
“Thank you, Father.
Thank you for taking care of my physical needs.
Thank you for taking care of my spiritual needs.
Thank you for being who you are.
Thank you for the gift of life.
Thank you for giving all that is necessary to enjoy life – health, family, friends, and freedom.”
Further reflection upon the purpose of the essential features of the Jubilee Year bring forth the following thoughts.
First, it is good to live in a theocratic kingdom. The world recognizes many forms of government. There are republics and democratic societies. There are dictatorship and monarchies. There are limited or constitutional monarchies such as England. But only the church recognizes a theocratic form of government whereby God rules His people through His Word by His Spirit in association with the apostles and elders.
During the Old Testament era, in as far as Israel was guided by God the nation was blessed with the miraculous. In the early years God showed His power to Pharaoh and delivered His people from Egypt. He guided the nation in the night by a pillar of fire and in the day by a cloud. The presence of God and the Word of God was the focal point of the assembly. But the time came when the nation did not want to exist as a theocratic kingdom, and a monarchy was established so that Israel could be like the other nations on the earth.
With the coming of Christ, a new theocratic kingdom was established in the form of the church. Peter speaks of this in his epistle when he writes, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Pet. 2: 9).
It is good to live in a theocratic kingdom for in the kingdom of God there is life and liberty, security and spiritual prosperity unequal to any earthly nation or ruler. Furthermore, King Jesus has never hurt any of His subjects. He has never denied His people food, clothing or shelter. “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed” (Ps 37:25-26).
King Jesus has never siphoned off resources for His personal pleasure while His subjects suffered. Rather, Jesus gives and keeps on giving. It is the nature of grace. It is His nature.
In the kingdom of God justice is always properly administered. And when a harsh judgment is rendered, it is mingled with love and grace so that the principle of Romans 8:28 is established. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Ps 34:8). When Jesus declared, He had come to preach the acceptable year of the Lord He was saying He had come to remind individuals of His sovereignty and His kingdom. Why? Because, though it is a truth forgotten, it is still good, very good to live in a theocratic kingdom.
Second, it is good to learn in a theocratic kingdom. I have given to several families a set of notes numbering 1,000 pages in length on Basic Bible Doctrines. Much of the material has been taught; much more needed to be taught.
The material reflects only the tip of the iceberg of the information I have produced to make available to the assembly and does not include the sermons and other expressions of Biblical teaching. God has many truths He wants His people to know, which is why the royal command comes,
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15).
As the Bible is studied God is felt and enjoyed.
The story is told of a young lady who was reading her Bible in a public park. A man passed by and noticed and stopped to ask why she was reading that Book. “Because it is the Word of God”, she answered.
“Nonsense!” came the unexpected response.
“Who told you that it is the Word of God?”
“God Himself,” the young lady replied.
“Impossible!” insisted the man.
“How could God tell you?”
The young lady was silent for a moment then she asked the man,
“Who told you there was a sun in a blue sky?”
“Why, nobody,” the man replied.
“I do not need anybody to tell me. The sun tells me.”
“Yes”, said the girl. “And that is the way God tells me. As I read, I feel His warmth and light. I see Him for myself.”
It is good to learn in a theocratic kingdom for the same Holy Spirit that wrote the Bible will come to teach it to the heart of those who sincerely desire to know the truth.
Third, is good to love in a theocratic kingdom. If there were just one word that could be used to summarize the essence of the theocratic kingdom it is the word love.
Love is a grand word when used properly and understood correctly. The Bible has much to say about love especially in relation to those who live and exist within the sphere of the theocratic kingdom.
There are some things which love will and will not do as per 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
Love will suffer long.
Love is kind.
Love does not envy what others have.
Love will not exalt itself.
Love does not behave in an unseemly manner.
Love is not selfish or self-centered.
Love will not provoke others to anger.
Love will not think the worse of others.
Love will not rejoice in hearing that others have fallen into sin.
Love will always rejoice when the truth is told.
Love will beareth all things, believe all things, hope for all good things.
Love will never fail.
In the last great highly priest prayer of Jesus recorded in Scripture in John 17, Jesus asked that love might characterize His people. “[Father] I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:26).
In the Jewish temple and tabernacle there burned a lamp, a light of sacrifice that never went out. Day and night summer and winter, it shed its soft and mystic glow within the holy place.
In the temple of the life our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ there was a lamp, a light that never went out. The oil that supplied it was never exhausted. No scorn, no hostility, no hatred could ever quench it. It was the light of love. In the church of God there is a lamp, and light that must never go out. This light is fueled by the love of God, and is attended by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
We must never allow scorn, hostility, hatred, or any other ungodly word or deed quench the light of God’s love in our church for when that happens the darkness of God’s disapproval will settle down on the congregation and the presence of the Holy Spirit will quickly leave.
It is good to live, learn and love in the theocratic kingdom. And Jesus said, “I have come to preach the acceptable year.” It is the year of favor, it is the year of Jubilee when the heart listens to the message of the Messiah, responds in a positive way and goes forth to follow Him. Come to Christ. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
