When Yeshua came into the town of Nazareth and read from the scroll of Isaiah, He proclaimed: “The Acceptable Year of the LORD(YHWH)”. A powerful proclamation indeed, as it was the trumpet sound of the “Year of the Jubilee”!
Luke 4:16Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, 17the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written: 18“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM DELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO RELEASE THE OPPRESSED, 19TO PROCLAIM THE YEAR OF THE LORD’S FAVOR.”20Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, 21and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”(BSB)
He was sounding the trumpet: proclaiming liberty, the release of debt, the release of slaves, restoration of the land (access to the Kingdom), and inheritance (eternal) through the rightful heir, Himself, as the Kinsman Redeemer.
♦Lev 25:9Then you are to sound the trumpet far and wide on the tenth day of the seventh month, on the Day of Atonement. YOU SHALL SOUND IT THROUGHOUT YOUR LAND. 10So you are to consecrate the fiftieth year and PROCLAIM LIBERTY IN THE LAND FOR ALL ITS INHABITANTS. It shall be your Jubilee, when each of you is to return to his property and to his clan.(BSB)
♦Lev 25:25If your brother becomes impoverished and sells some of his property, HIS NEAREST KIN MAY COME AND REDEEM WHAT HIS BROTHER HAS SOLD. 26Or if a man has no one to redeem it for him, but he prospers and acquires enough to redeem his land,(BSB)
The Kinsman Redeemer, is the relative who restores or preserves the full community rights of disadvantaged family members, to also restore the rightful heir of inheritance(Lev 25:25-27, Lev 25:47-50). This we also see in the Book of Ruth, where Boaz acts as a kinsman. This points us to Yeshua, our Kinsman, as He came in the likeness of flesh, paid our sin debt, so that we may become heirs with Him; through His atonement and forgiveness of sin of the New Covenant.
**If you are not familiar with the Kinsman Redeemer and how it points to Yeshua, or you would would like to read more concerning such, you may enjoy some of of these posts: Sandal Strap not worthy to Loosen, Passed Over, Our Kinsman Redeemer or Purchased, Redeemed, Sealed.
I also came across this commentary, and it was on point with what the Holy Spirit had shown me:
(19) The acceptable year of the Lord.–The primary reference was to the year of Jubilee, when land that had been mortgaged returned to its owner, and debts were forgiven, and Israelite slaves released (Leviticus 25:9-10). It was to our Lord, as it had been to Isaiah, the type of the “year” of the divine kingdom.
What I also found interesting pertaining to the end of Lev 25: 10 “return to his property and to his clan”, was that not only was this an invite to the enter the Kingdom, but it also was an invite to the House of Israel, as they had been previously divorced, to be able to “return”.
The passage that Yeshua quoted from in Luke 4:18-19, was from Isaiah 61:1-2. Upon reading the whole chapter, I found some pretty interesting correlations and references. I will only draw your attention on a few that had really stood out to me right away.
Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD(YHWH) hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES, AND THE OPENING OF THE PRISON TO THEM THAT ARE BOUND; 2 TO PROCLAIM THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD(YHWH), and the day of vengeance of our God; TO COMFORT ALL THAT MOURN; 3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; THAT THEY MIGHT BE CALLED TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE PLANTING OF THE LORD, THAT HE MIGHT BE GLORIFIED.
4And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.5And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.6 BUT YE SHALL BE NAMED THE PRIESTS OF THE LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.(KJV)
- Pertaining to verse 2: ” TO COMFORT ALL THAT MOURN“:
Matthew 5:4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
- Pertaining to verse 3: “THAT THEY MIGHT BE CALLED TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE PLANTING OF THE LORD, THAT HE MIGHT BE GLORIFIED.”:
Mark 8:23And taking the blind man by the hand He led him out of the village. And having spit on his eyes, laying hands on him, He asked him, “DO YOU SEE AT ALL? ”24And he looked up and said, “I SEE MEN LIKE TREES, WALKING.”(ISR 98)
Also, notice that within this passage, Yeshua was restoring the sight of a blind man, as He proclaimed He would do, and what does the blind man see: Men liken to trees. AND ARE WE NOT PLANTED BY STREAMS OF LIVING WATER?
♦Psalm 1:3FOR HE SHALL BE AS A TREE PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER, That yields its fruit in its season, And whose leaf does not wither, And whatever he does prospers.(ISR 98)
♦Jer 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 FOR HE SHALL BE AS A TREE PLANTED BY THE WATERS, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.(KJV)
♦John 7:37Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “IF ANYONE IS THIRSTY, LET HIM COME TO ME AND DRINK. 38″He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER.‘”39But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (KJV)
- Pertaining to verse 6: “BUT YE SHALL BE NAMED THE PRIESTS OF THE LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God:)”:
♦1 Peter 2:5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house TO BE A HOLY PRIESTHOOD, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
♦1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen people, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT.
What is interesting about the last passage mentioned, 1 Peter 2:9, is that the verbiage is pretty much directly from Isaiah 49:8-9, which also correlates to Isaiah 61:1-2, as it calls out the prisoners and those in darkness to come into the Light; as well as make reference to the restoring of the land(Kingdom) and the inheritance.
Isa 49:8This is what the LORD(YHWH) says: “In the time of favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people, TO RESTORE THE LAND, TO APPORTION ITS DESOLATE INHERITANCES, 9TO SAY TO THE PRISONERS, ‘COME OUT,’ AND TO THOSE IN DARKNESS, ‘SHOW YOURSELVES.’ They will feed along the pathways, and find pasture on every barren hill.(BSB)
This passage is also spoken by the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 6:2For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!
Indeed it was the acceptable time of the LORD(YHWH), as He lay bare His Set-apart arm and declared salvation, through the proclaiming of the Jubilee!
So what is the practical application of all this?
FORGIVENESS and RESTORATION.
The whole purpose of the “Shemitah” or the 7 year period of release of debt, and ultimately the Sabbath Jubilee, was the fulfillment of debt release through Messiah Yeshua. It also has to do with the debts that we either hold or release concerning ourselves and others. This is why sin is called a debt, and some translations have trespass. It is only repentance, through the blood of Messiah, that releases the debt against us, and when we do not forgive, as our Father has forgiven us, we hold a debt against another. We can also hold ourselves in our own debt, when we refuse to forgive ourselves, and allow healing, forgiveness, restoration and deliverance.
Mat 18:21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: BUT, UNTIL SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN.
(70 x 7 is in reference to the Sabbath jubilee of forgiving all debt~Lev 25)
23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened UNTO A CERTAIN KING, WHICH WOULD TAKE ACCOUNT OF HIS SERVANTS. 24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27THEN THE LORD OF THAT SERVANT WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION, AND LOOSED HIM, AND FORGAVE HIM OF THE DEBT.
28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I FORGAVE THEE ALL THAT DEBT, because thou desiredst me: 33 SHOULDEST NOT THOU HAVE HAD COMPASSION ON THY FELLOWSERVANT, EVEN AS I HAD PITY ON THEE? 34And his lord was wroth, AND DELIVERED HIM TO THE TORMENTORS, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, IF YE FROM YOUR HEARTS FORGIVE NOT EVERY ONE HIS BROTHER THEIR TRESPASSES.(KJV)
When we do not forgive, or we become offended with others, we allow roots of bitterness and unforgiveness to grow within us, which cause defilement(Hebrews 12:15) of our temple. These become strongholds and they “hold” us in bondage. Forgiveness is something we are in need of receiving, and even more so in giving. We must diligently allow the Spirit to search our hearts, and allow Him to root up unforgiveness and allow the debt to be paid in full.
Matthew 6:14For if you forgive men their trespasses(debts), your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.(BSB)
Through the fulfillment of the Jubilee, we are released from our debt, and gain liberty and freedom through Yeshua, our Kinsman Redeemer. We have obtained compassion and forgiveness of our sins, through His love and mercy, that was bought and paid for with His own blood. That we may be a royal priesthood, trees of righteousness, firmly rooted in Messiah and flourish with Living Water.
That as we traverse this wilderness, having received the pledge of our inheritance, we may run in such a way as to obtain our final victory and prize. To enter the Kingdom, and be declared a “faithful servant”.