Isaiah 61

Christ sheweth that he is anointed, and wherefore; as also what excellent mercies he would bestow upon his church, verse 1. And he likewise speaketh again of the calling of the Gentiles, 5. Of the mercies which God will bestow upon his people, 6. The joy that there ariseth unto the Church of God, 10.

1. The spirit of the Lord LORD is upon me, [This Christ speaketh, as may be gathered from Luke 4:17,etc. See Joh.1.33.] because the LORD hath anointed me [by this anointing is meant, that Christ according to his humane nature was endued and adorned with the gifts of the holy Ghost without measure, and according to his whole person was ordained by God the father to be our King, Priest, and Prophet. See Heb.1.9.] to bring glad tidings [or, to publish or preach good tidings. What tidings or message is that? Concerning the forgiveness of sins. See Psa.40.10. and 96.2.] unto the meek: [or lowly. In Luke 4:18. where these words of the Prophet are quoted, it is said unto the poor; to wit, unto the poor in spirit, Matth.5.3. for unto such is the Gospel preached, Matth.11.] he hath sent me to hind up the broken in heart, [Understand this in a spiritual way, namely of comforting the soul, which is done by the preaching of the Gospel. (the broken in heart) these are those that are grieved and wounded in heart, by reason of their manifold sins and transgressions. See Psal.34.on vers.19. and 51.19. and above chap.57.15.] to proclaim [or to [preach, to publish liberty to captives, [that is, to them that are held captive under the power of the Devil, or his adherents, for their sins committed, Rom.7.23. and 2 Tim.2.26. and 3.6. see above chap.42.7.] and to them that are bound to the opening of the prison. [This is that which was said immediately before in other words.]

2. To proclaim the year of the LORDS pleasure, [That is, the time, or the year, wherein it shall please the Lord to manifest and declare his grace and mercy unto troubled and grieved consciences, to wit, by the preaching of the Gospel. See above chap.49.8.2. Cor.6.2. Tit.3.4.] and the day of vengeance of our God: [that is, that day which God hath ordained or appointed, wherein he will cast all infidels, impenitent, and enemies to his Church, together with the Devil into eternal damnation. See above chap.34.8. and 63.4. Luke 18:7. and 2 Cor.10.6.] to comfort all sorrowly ones. [to wit, those that mourn and grieve for their sins whereby they have provoked God to anger, 2 Cor.7.10,11. Jam.4.9. or those that grieve for the miseries of the Church, below chapter 66.10. for unto such Christ Promiseth comfort, Matth.5.4.]

3. To appoint unto the mourners of Zion, [That is, of the Church of God] that unto them may be given ornament; [that is, beautiful garments, or glory which word is used, Matth.6.29. for goodly apparel. Heb. To give them ornament, etc.] for ashes, [which they were wont to strew upon their heads, and to sit in them when they mourned] the oil of joy, [they were wont in ancient times to anoint their faces with oil in time of joy. But here is spoken of the joyful oil of the Holy Ghost; Joh. 14. Vers, 26, 27 and 15.11. compare with the words of the prophet, that which is written Heb.1.9.] for mourning the garment of praise [that is, a garment that is worthy of praise by reason of its beauty and comeliness. Or, a garment that was worn on a stival day, when congregation met together to praise God for mercies received. But understand here by the beautiful garments, the gifts and graces of Gods Spirit] for a troubled spirit: [that is, mind or, distressed Spirit. Heb. Spirit wrung together which is as it were contracted together through grief and heaviness] that thy may be called oak-trees of righteousness, [by these trees are meant those that are engrafted into Christ by faith and that bring forth fruits of righteousness, that is, good works. See above chapter 60.21. the oak trees of righteousness are opposed unto the oak-trees which they had abused unto Idolatry: and believers are called oak-trees in regard to their strength in Christ] a planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

4. And they shall build the old waste places, [see above chapter 58. The annotate. On verse. 12. This being taken in a spiritual way signifieth, that they shall convert the unbelieving Gentiles unto God, that have lain a long time as it were dead in their sins, Eph. 2. Vers.1 and verse 5.] raise up the former desolation, and renew the waste cities that were destroyed from generation to generation] that is, many generations ago.]

5. And foreigners [those that were converted of the Gentiles] shall stand and feed [to wit, with the word of God] your flock: [or sheep; that is, churches or congregations: the meaning is, God will also from among the gentiles raise up Pastors and Ministers of the word, for the building up of his Church in the New Testament. Acts 20:28. 1 Pet. 5.1,2.] and strangers [Heb. The children of the stranger] shall be the husbandmen, and your wine dressers. [that is, shall be your teachers; Matth. 21.33, 1 cor. 3.9.]

6. But ye shall be called the priests of the LORD, [to wit, spiritual Priests, to offer up the calves of your lips, and to present your bodies as a reasonable services unto God. See Exodus 19:6 Romans 12:1 , Heb. 13,15. 1 pet.2.5,9. Revel. 1.6. and 5.10.] they call you the ministers of our God: [or, and it shall be said unto you, O ye ministers of our God] ye shall eat the wealth of the Gentiles, [that is, ye shall enjoy the goods which the Gentiles shall communicate unto you, when they shall be converted unto Christ. See above chapter 60.5.] and in their glory [that is, riches] shall ye boast your selves.

7. For your double shame and reproach, [which ye have suffered at the hand of the enemies of the Church] thy [to wit, the godly Israelites, or the children of God] shall shout [or, cry aloud] in their portion: therefore in their land [to wit, as well their own land, as that which they had gotten of their enemies, by whom they had been persecuted a foretime] they [to wit, they that had formerly suffered such shame and had been persecuted] shall hereditarily possess the double, they [to wit, the Godly] shall have everlasting joy.

8. For i the Lord love judgement, i hate robbery in burnt-offering, [that is, i hate those burnt-offerings which are done by iniquity, serving me outwardly but in the mean while oppressing their neighbour. See Proverbs 15:8 and 21, 27.] and i will grant that their work shall be in truth: [that is, the service which they perform to mine honour and glory, shall be done in spiritual and in truth, job. 4.24. others, their ways] and i will make an everlasting covenant with them. [see Jerem.34.18.]

9. And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles [that is, their posterity, or those that belong unto them; to wit, those that belong to the church of God they shall be no more confined to one certain nation, but they shall spread themselves abroad among all the gentiles] and their posterity [Heb. Their offspring] in the midst of the nations: all that shall see them shall know them, [as well by their holy and godly conversation, as by the blessing of God, which will be apparently with them] that they are the seed which the Lord hasth blessed.

10. I am very joyful in the Lord, [this is spoken by the Christian Church, and by every member thereof, praisng the Lord for his mercies manifested unto them. Heb. Being joyful i am joyful] my soul rejoyceth in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath put the cloak of righteousness about me: [or hath covered me with the cloak of righteousness; that is, with righteousness, as with a garment, meaning with his own righteousness which he hath imputed unto me] as a bridegroom adorneth himself with a priestly ornament, [that is, a glorious ornament, for the priest were gloriously and beautifully arrayed. See exod. 28. Others princely ornament: for the Hebrew word signifieth the one as well as the other] and as a bride adorneth herself with her furniture. [that is, ornament, dressing, trimming, attire. Heb. Vessels, or instruments.]

11. For as the earth bringth forth her bud, and a garden causeth that which is sown in it [or, his sown (things) or her sown (things) to spring forth: so the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to sprig forth before the nations [that is, the Lord shall make that the Church of Christ being gathered out of all the heathen shall grow and increase in true righteousness and shall praise the Lord more and more.]