How does the prophecy in Isaiah 61 flow in comparison to Psalm 2?
The Isaiah 61 prophecy does not stop at the acceptable year; it flows on to the day of God's wrath and vexation, which matches Psalm 2's sequence, and then to comfort and mourning, which points to the Kingdom. Psalm 2 likewise moves through wrath and vexation to God setting His King on Zion.
Les explains that in Luke 4, Jesus read Isaiah 61:1 and stopped after “the acceptable year of the Lord,” where Luke has a period, but Isaiah has a comma. Les teaches that the sentence continues to “the day of God,” which corresponds to Psalm 2's wrath and vexation. The prophecy, like Psalm 2, flows right on through. The next part, “to comfort all and mourn,” points to the Kingdom. Psalm 2 says He will pour out wrath and vexation, yet God has set His King on the holy hill of Zion; that is the process. Jesus, knowing the end from the beginning, knew where to stop and said this Scripture was fulfilled in their ears; the rest would not be.
More Questions
What sequence of future events does Psalm 2 outline after Christ's rejection and crucifixion?
Psalm 2 outlines that after the crucifixion/rejection of Christ there would be an undetermined period with derision of the nations, then the seven-year tribulation, then the King returns and Israel could have the Kingdom.
Why did Jesus stop reading Isaiah 61 in the middle of the verse?
Jesus stopped reading in the middle of Isaiah 61 in Luke 4 because He knew the rest of that verse would not be fulfilled until about 2,000 years later.