In Luke 4:18-19, when Jesus quoted the verses from Isaiah 61:1-2, He omitted the rest of the verse in Isaiah 61:2 which says, “And the day of vengeance of our God.” Why did Jesus not quote that verse in full?

– Thomas, Canada

DR. GEORGY’S RESPONSE:

Jesus told His hearers that the quotation from the book of Isaiah was limited in scope to what “is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). This section of the prophecy in Isaiah was fulfilled in Jesus’ First Coming. If He had read the remaining part of Isa. 61:2, what He said would not have been true because that portion refers to His Second Coming. It is in Jesus’ Second Coming that He is coming as Judge to take vengeance on the ungodly and to reign as King over the whole earth.