THE GOSPELS: The Ministry of Yeshua the Messiah begins – Luke 4:19 the GOOD NEWS: Announcing THE YEAR of YHVH’s FAVOR/ THE YEAR of JUBILEE (LIBERTY/FREEDOM)

16 January 2026

We are proceeding to study Luke 4:14-32 about the beginning of the MINISTRY of YESHUA THE MESSIAH.

We are mainly reading from the Complete Jewish Study Bible – insight for Jews and Christians. And use the Hebrew letters for the name of God, YHVH (Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh) where the word LORD in English is indicated in capital letters in the Scriptures. The reason being that the Jewish writers removed the vowels in God’s name out of fear of transgressing the third Commandment of taking His Name in vain. And today there is a lot of controversy about the pronunciation of His Name.  We also refer to Him as Abba Father and use the Hebrew Name Yeshua the Messiah instead of the English Name Jesus Christ translated from the Greek.

We read in Luke 4:18a and 19 Yeshua saying: “The Spirit of YHVH is upon Me; because He has anointed Me…to proclaim (announce, declare) a year of the favor (kindness/ compassion) of YHVH.” Yeshua read these words from the scroll of Isaiah 61:1-2.

But there is more prophecies in Isaiah confirming that Yeshua would be born and anointed for a specific purpose, including declaring the year of favour of YHVH. We read in Isaiah 8:23 and 9:1-2 “But there will be no more gloom (despair, sadness) for those who are now in anguish (referring to Israel, the Northern Kingdom, the ten tribes under Ephraim who were captured by the Assyrians in 722 BC and scattered throughout the nations). In the past the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali (two of the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom under Ephraim who were assimilated into the nations) were regarded lightly; but in future He (referring to the coming Messiah) will honour THE WAY to the lake, beyond the Jordan, Galilea of the Goyim (this is a Hebrew word referring to the Gentile nations, people who were not Jewish/ not from the tribe of Judah or Benjamin, also called pagans/ unbelievers and here we clearly see it included people from the tribes of Zebulun and Naftali).The people living in darkness have seen a GREAT LIGHT; upon those living in the land that lies in the shadow of death, LIGHT HAS DAWNED (appeared).”

This is confirmed later in Matthew 4:13-16 after Yeshua’s 40 days of testing in the wilderness He returned to Galilee and we read: “but He left Nazareth (His home town), and came to live in Capernaum, a lake shore town near the boundary (of the land) between Zebulun and Naphtali. This happened in order to fulfil what Isaiah the prophet had said (referring to Isaiah 8:23 and 9:1-2)” And we read in Matthew 4:17 “From that time on, Yeshua began proclaiming, ‘TURN from your sins TO GOD, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!’”

And in Isaiah 9:6-7 we read: “For a CHILD is born to us, a SON is given to us; dominion (power) will rest on His shoulders, and He will be called Pele-Yo’etz (Wonder of a Counsellor) El Gibbor (Mighty God), Avi-‘Ad (Father of Eternity), Sar-Shalom (Prince of Peace), in order to EXTEND the DOMINION (the power) and PERPETUATE (to continue) the PEACE of the throne of David, to SECURE it and SUSTAIN it through JUSCTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS henceforth and FOREVER. The zeal (enthusiasm, passion, fervour/ eagerness/ commitment) of YHVH-Tzva’ot (YHVH of Hosts/ Angel Armies) will accomplish this.”

The Complete Jewish Study Bible explains, Isaiah is referring here to a future blessing of the people of ISRAEL (the Northern Kingdom, comprised of the Ten Tribes under Ephraim) who were taken captive by the Assyrians in 722 BC and were assimilated into the nations, and would someday in the future experience God’s blessing, mediated through the birth of a Child (the Messiah) who would rule on the throne of David.

REMEMBER, Judah (the Southern Kingdom, comprising of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, known as the Jews today), were REGATHERED by YHVH after their 70 years of captivity in Babylon, spanning from 609 BC to 539 BC. They were allowed to rebuild their Temple by Cyrus the king of Persia because YHVH gave them favor in his eyes (read 2nd Chronicles 36:22) and they therefore remembered YHVH’s TORAH (Genesis to Deuteronomy summed up in the Ten Commandments) including YHVH’s SEVEN FEASTS but ISRAEL (the Northern Kingdom, comprised of the Ten Tribes under Ephraim) after their captivity by the Assyrians was dispersed into the nations and never found their way back, until Yeshua the Messiah was born and commenced with His ministry. And that is the reason why He says in Matthew 15:24 “I was sent only to the LOST SHEEP of the HOUSE of ISRAEL (that is the Northern Kingdom, the ten tribes under Ephraim and everyone from other nations who graft in on the OLIVE TREE referring to ISRAEL, read Romans 11:17), and He also says in John 10:15b-16 “– and I lay down My life on behalf of the sheep. Also I have OTHER SHEEP (referring to the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Benjamin, the Jews) which are not from this pen (house), I need to bring them, and they will hear My voice; and there will be ONE FLOCK, (with) ONE SHEPHERD (also read the prophecy in Ezekiel chapter 37 explaining this). This is in line with God the Father’s PROMISE that He will REGATHER ISRAEL (all twelve tribes) in the end of days.

Especially Paul was called and tasked to work under the so called “gentiles” of which the TEN LOST TRIBES are part because they assimilated into the nations. Read Acts 26:12-20. With the death of Yeshua the Messiah He already had broken down the enmity (hostility, hatred) between Jew (the Southern Kingdom) and Gentile (the Northern Kingdom, including all people grafting in)  as Paul explains in Ephesians 2:14-22, but the final reuniting of the Southern and Northern Kingdoms (including all nations grafting in on Israel) as ONE REUNITED ISRAEL, will only take place during the thousand year reign of Yeshua the Messiah as prophesied in Isaiah 11:12-13, chapter 51, Jeremiah 31:31-33, Ezekiel 37:15-22 and Revelation 20:1-6.

We also read the prophesy of the coming Messiah in Isaiah 42:1-7 saying: “Here is My SERVANT, whom I support, MY CHOSEN ONE, in whom I take pleasure. I have put MY SPIRIT on HIM; HE will bring JUSTICE to the nations. He will not cry or shout; no one will hear HIS voice in the streets (meaning He will not react loud nor aggressively). He will not snap off a broken reed or snuff out a smouldering wick (meaning He will be gentle and have compassion for the broken hearted). HE WILL BRING FORTH JUSTICE ACCORDING TO TRUTH; He will not weaken of be crushed until He has established JUSTICE on the EARTH. Thus says God, YHVH, who created the heavens and spread them out, who stretched out the earth and all that grows from it, who gives breath to the people on it; ‘I, YHVH, CALLED You RIGHTEOUSLY, I took hold of You by the hand, I shaped You and made You (Messiah Yeshua) a COVENANT for the people, to be a LIGHT for the nations, so that You can open blind eyes, free the prisoners form confinement (imprisonment/ bondage), those living in darkness from the dungeon (referring to a spiritual prison).” Being confirmed by Yeshua in Matthew 12:18-21 as the words of Isaiah in chapter 42:1-4 being fulfilled in Matthew 12:18d and 21: “He will announce JUSCTICE to the GENTILES (and)…In Him the Gentiles will put their HOPE.” Also read 1st Corinthians 15:20-28

The Complete Jewish Study Bible explains this passage speaks of the MINISTRY and FUNCTION of God’s Messiah. The chapter marks the beginning of the “Servant Songs” of Isaiah as depicted in chapters 49, 50 & 52. These songs focus on the responsibility of the Messiah to establish JUSTICE and ENLIGHTEN those in darkness, to RESTORE NATIONAL ISRAEL (all twelve tribes including the Southern and Northern Kingdoms) and bring SALVATION to ALL NATIONS.

Please note that ISRAEL remains the term used for the PEOPLE of YHVH. Just as nations (the mixed multitude we read about in Exodus 12:38) who joined ISRAEL (all twelve tribes, including Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh) during the EXODUS out of Egypt. Similarly all nations accepting the death of Yeshua the Messiah as a free gift for the payment of their sins, dying to the old sinful nature and following Yeshua the Messiah in obedience to the Father with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit form part of God’s ISRAEL. Therefore the Messiah will finally bring REDEMPTION to ALL those who accept the ATONEMENT provided through His sacrificial death, irrespective from which nationality they are. These people will then be called the ISRAEL of GOD (also read Galatians 6:15-16). They are then in turn called to be a LIGHT to the nations (those people that have not yet accepted the Messiah as their Redeemer and Savior), not just in words preached but also through the DEMONSTRATION of God’s WAY of life (by living in obedience to His Word).

This is in line with Yeshua our Messiah’s calling of His disciples known as the GREAT COMMISION as we read in Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore, go and make people from ALL NATIONS into talmidim (DISCIPLES, STUDENTS), immersing (baptizing) them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit), and TEACHING them to OBEY EVERYTHING that I have COMMANDED you. And remember! I will be with you ALWAYS, yes, even until the END of the age.” Also read, Mark 16:15-18 as well as the prophecy in Isaiah 52:7-10.

Please also REMEMBER, the main reason only the Southern Kingdom (of Judah and Benjamin known today as the Jews) were regathered by YHVH, is because Judah was the identified tribe, the line of David from which the Messiah would be born, and therefore they had to be preserved. And they never lost their WAY in the same way as Israel (the Northern Kingdom, the ten tribes under Ephraim), did. The Southern Kingdom kept the WAYS of YHVH (His guidelines in the Torah, Genesis to Deuteronomy, the Prophets and the Psalms). And that is the reason why we read in Zechariah 8:20-23 “YHVH Tzva’ot (YHVH the God of Hosts/ Angel Armies) says (to Judah, the Jews), ‘In the FUTURE, peoples and inhabitants of many cities will come; the inhabitants of one city will travel to another and say , ‘We must go to ask YHVH’s favour and CONSULT YHVH Tzva’ot. I’ll go too’. Yes, MANY PEOPLES and POWERFUL NATIONS will come to CONSULT YHVH Tzva’ot (YHVH the God of Hosts/ Angel Armies) in JERUSALEM and to ASK YHVH’s FAVOR. YHVH Tzva’ot (YHVH the God of Hosts/ Angel Armies) says, ‘When that TIME comes, TEN men will TAKE HOLD – speaking ALL the LANGUAGES of the NATIONS – will GRAB HOLD of the cloak of a JEW and say, ‘We want to GO WITH you, because we have heard that GOD IS WITH you.”

And as prophesied here we see many believers today (including us) learning from the Jewish people (the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Benjamin) how to RETURN to the ANCIENT PATHS (obeying His Ten Commandments and keeping His Seven Feasts) as depicted by Jeremiah 6:16, just as Abba Father said it would be!

Also read Zechariah 10:6-9 where YHVH promises to “…STRENGTHEN the HOUSE of JUDAH  (the Southern Kingdom comprising of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, called the Jews) and SAVE the HOUSE of JOSEPH (the Northern Kingdom comprising of the ten tribes under Ephraim, including ALL nations grafting in on Israel according to Romans 11:17). I will BRING THEM BACK in My COMPASSION for them; they will be as if I hadn’t driven them out; for I am YHVH their GOD, and I will answer them. Ephraim’s men will be like WARRIORS; their HEARTS will be cheered as if from wine. Their children will see it and REJOICE, their HEARTS will be GLAD in YHVH. I will WHISTLE for them and GATHER them, because I have REDEEMED them; they will be as numerous as before; and I will SOW them among the peoples. In DISTAND LANDS they will REMEMBER ME; they will rear their children and THEN RETURN.

In Jeremiah 23 we read about the evil shepherds, destroying and scattering the sheep and in verses 3-7 YHVH promises: “I Myself will GATHER what REMAINS of My flock from ALL the COUNTRIES where I have driven them and BRING them BACK to their HOMES, and they will be FRUITFUL and INCREASE their members. I will APPOINT SHEPHERDS over them who will shepherd them; then they will no longer be afraid or disgraced; and NONE will be missing, says YHVH. ‘The DAYS are coming,’ says YHVH when I will raise a RIGHTEOUS BRANCH for David. He will REIGN as KING and succeed, He will Do what is JUST and RIGHT in the land, in His DAYS JUDAH (the Southern Kingdom) will be SAVED, ISRAEL (the Northern Kingdom) will live in SAFETY, and the NAME given to Him will be YHVH Tzidkenu (YHVH our RIGHTEOUSNESS).

So let’s focus again on the meaning of Yeshua our Messiah’s words in Luke 4:19 that He has been anointed “to proclaim (announce, declare) a year of the favor (kindness/ compassion) of YHVH.”

We see a shadow (a picture) of the YEAR of the FAVOR of YHVH in the TORAH in Leviticus 25:10 in what is commonly known as a YEAR of JUBILEE or a YEAR of LIBERTY (FREEDOM).

We read in Leviticus 25:1-22 the following GUIDELINES provided by YHVH:

• When the Israelites (all twelve tribes at that stage who left Egypt, including the mixed multitude that were with them) enter the land that YHVH is giving them, the LAND itself is to OBSERVE a SHABBAT (Sabbath) REST for YHVH.

• Six years they should SOW their field, prune their grapevines and gather their produce, but the SEVENTH YEAR is to be a SHABBAT (Sabbath) REST for YHVH, and they should not sow the fields or prune the grapevines. They are not to harvest what grows by itself from the seeds left by your previous harvest, the grapes from their untended vine, IT IS TO BE A YEAR OF COMPLETE REST FOR THE LAND. But everything the land produces in the SABBATH YEAR may be used as FOOD for you, your servants (employees), anyone living near you, your livestock and the wild animals on your land. Also read Exodus 23:10-11.

• They were to count SEVEN SHABBAT (SABBATH) YEARS, seven times seven years that is FORTY NINE (49) YEARS.

• Then on the 10^th DAY of the 7^th MONT, on Yom-Kippur (the DAY of ATONEMENT, Feast 6 of YHVH on 10 Tishrei) they were to sound a blast on the shofar (the ram’s horn) all through the LAND; and they had to CONCECRATE the 50^th YEAR, proclaiming FREEDOM throughout the land to ALL its inhabitants (Leviticus 25:8-10). It will be a yovel (JUBILEE) for you; you will RETURN EVERYONE to the LAND he OWNS and EVERYONE is to RETURN to his FAMILY. 

• In the JUBILEE YEAR they were not to sow, harvest what grows by itself or gather grapes of untended vines. It will be a HOLY year. Whatever the fields produced will be FOOD for everyone. YHVH will bless them in the 6^th year so that the land brings forth ENOUGH PRODUCE for THREE years. The eight year they are to sow seed, but eat the old STORED PRODUCE until the ninth year.

• If they sold anything to their neighbour or buy anything from him, neither of them is to exploit (take advantage of) the other. They had to fear God and KEEP His regulations and act accordingly, then they will live securely in the land.

The Word JUBILEE is a Hebrew word meaning “ram’s horn” or “trumpet”. The JUBILEE year was launched with a blast from a ram’s horn on the DAY of ATONEMENT, signifying a call to CELEBRATE, LIBERATION (FREEDOM) and the BEGINNING of a YEAR for “doing justice” an “loving mercy”. And that is exactly what Messiah Yeshua, the Ramshorn of Abba Father was sent to earth to do, being a MIGHTY DELIVERER to FREE us from the strongholds of sin, sickness and death (read Psalm 18:2 and Luke 1:69).

We find the instruction of Abba Father for the Day of Atonement in:

Leviticus 23:26-32

“YHVH said to Moses: The tenth day of this seventh month (10 Tishrei) is Yom-Kippur (the Day of Atonement), you are to have a holy convocation (assembly, gathering, congregation), you are to deny yourselves (to fast), and you are to bring an offering made by fire to YHVH. You are not to do any kind of work on that day, because it is Yom-Kippur (the Day of Atonement), to make atonement (amends/ recompense/ penitence/ repentance) for you before YHVH your God. Anyone who does not deny himself on that day is to be cut off from his people; and anyone who does any kind of work on that day, I will destroy among his people. You are not to do any kind of work; it is a permanent regulation through all your generations, no matter where you live. It will be for you a Shabbat of complete rest, and you are to deny yourselves; you are to rest on your Shabbat from evening the ninth day of the month until the following evening. ”

This Fire offering entails taking a decision to rededicate our lives to YHVH our God as a pleasing living sacrifice (read Romans 12:1-2), showing our love and commitment to Him by following in the footsteps of our Messiah Yeshua in obedience to the Father. And praying for fellow believers and those still lost or spiritually blinded (read Deuteronomy 6:5-7 and John 14:15).

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT, LIKE ALL THE OTHER FEASTS OF ABBA FATHER ARE and WILL BE FULFILLED BY YESHUA THE MESSIAH

Hebrews 9:12 tells us:

• Yeshua the Messiah fulfilled the spiritual aspects of the Day of Atonement when He went into the heavenly Holy of Holies with His own blood, He shed for the sins of the world;
• Believers have been FORGIVEN and made CLEAN once and for all by the blood of Messiah Yeshua. His blood did not just cover our sins; it took them away to be remembered no more;
• We receive this great blessing of FORGIVENESS once and for all when we REPENT of our sins with a broken and contrite spirit and accept Yeshua as the innocent substitutionary sacrifice who died in our place;
• At that moment our future is sealed by the Holy Spirit, and our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life;
• Even though God has forgiven us of our sins we still need a continuous cleansing (repentance for accidental sins) in our daily lives (read 1 John 1:6-9);
• God does not cause difficult times in our lives but He will use it as tests and trials to purify and discipline us so that we may turn from our sin and seek Him;
• Yeshua desires to PURIFY us by HIS WORD (see John 15:3); and He
• Baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Luke 3:16-17).

There is also a FUTURE FULFILMENT: The Day of Atonement points to the RETURN OF YESHUA the MESSIAH to JUDGE the EARTH – it will literally be fulfilled on the FINAL GREAT DAY of ATONEMENT as depicted in FEAST 6 of YHVH the Father.

• God established every 50^th year as a YEAR of JUBILEE. As we discussed this was a SPECIAL YEAR for PROCLAIMING LIBERTY throughout the land and was a time of GREAT REJOICING:

 

• All prisoners were set free;
• Property was returned to its original owner and,
• The LAND RESTED, without being worked.

The YEAR of JUBILEE begins on the DAY of ATONEMENT – it points to the GREAT YEAR of JUBILEE when MESSIAH YESHUA will RETURN TO EARTH to JUDGE THE WORLD. It will be a day of mourning for those who will be judged BUT a DAY OF REJOICING FOR BELIEVERS when:

• God’s people (believers and followers of Yeshua the Messiah), will be SET FREE once and for all from all the trials and burdens of life.
• The RULE OF EARTH will be RESTORED to the godly (those who live set apart and serve YHVH the Father in obedience to His laws, rulings and statutes), who will REIGN with YESHUA the MESSIAH, SAR SHALOM (the Prince of Peace) for a thousand years prior to eternity and
• There will be REST in the land.