ISB ~ Luke 4 v25 - 30

Jesus recalls the mission of Elijah and Elisha to explain his own.

• These prophets lived during dark times, when God looked unfavorably upon the northern kingdom of Israel and sent blessings to the Gentiles instead. Elijah was sent to a widow in Sidon (1 Kings 17:1-16), and Elisha cleansed a Syrian leper (2 Kings 5:1-14). Jesus declares that the “acceptable year of the Lord” (4:19) will likewise be a time of blessing, even outside of Israel. This collided with Jewish perspectives that anticipated only punishment for Gentile nations.