Expert: Clifford H. Readout, Jr. - 6/3/2007

Question
IF THIS IS BEING READ OUT OF THE TORAH, WHY IS IT NOT EXACTLY THE SAME READING. I KNOW THE INTENT IS THE SAME BUT THE TEXT IS NOT?

Answer
Greetings, Calvin.

Thank you for your question.  It is a common question, but relatively simple to answer once one has studied textual theory and history. I am happy to share with you the summary of my studies on this issue.

There are four primary reasons why the texts you read vary.

1. The Lord Jesus probably did not read out of a copy of the Hebrew Torah.  This event took place in a synagogue in Nazareth, which may not have been able to afford its own genuine copy of the Hebrew Torah.  In any case, the record in the Greek text of Mark reveals that Jesus read and quoted from the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Torah.
2. There are many translational difficulties to be considered. Translating from one language into another cannot be accomplished with the same precision and diligence of making a copy of an original. A translation does not have a letter by letter and word by word comparison to follow.
The Septuagint translated ancient Hebrew into a more recent, but still ancient Greek. The Book of Mark was written in a newer (but ancient to us) form of Greek and then translated into the modern language you now read in your copy of the Bible (assuming you are not reading from an ancient Greek text).  Each step in the translation process allows for human interpretation of the definition nuances of the words being translated. So, while we can see there are no obvious differences in meaning between the various stages in the translation process, there often are differences in the words used to convey the meaning. (This is why it is very important to carefully and wisely choose which “translation” of the Bible you use for serious study. Some are not “translations” at all, but merely “interpretations.”  A translation tries to bring over into the new language every word from the original (which is seldom possible if the translation is to make sense to its readers), while “interpretations” are only concerned with conveying the meanings.  If we believe the original manuscripts to have been divinely inspired with every word being chosen by God, interpretations are a problem. Interpretations are subjective. Translations can be objective, dictated by historical linguistic understanding.
3. The Lord Jesus was speaking the precise meaning of the text, and applying it to Himself and His ministry as Messiah, rather than reading it as a yet unfulfilled prophecy of a Messiah yet to come. Since He was God manifest in the flesh, His understanding gives us the best definition of the original words and meaning! What is most interesting is the portion of the text He did not read, and did not say was fulfilled by His earthly ministry.
4. The Lord Jesus excluded the words of judgment also contained in the Isaiah text and left them out of His message to the people. He focused their attention to the immediate benefit He intended the people to receive from His ministry. Since He was not going to speak to them of the vengeance of God, He did not read it from the text.

Isaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

Luke 4:16-22 “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?”

The people may have expected a sermon about the day of vengeance of our God, since Israel was still suffering under the oppression of the Roman occupation. It was a common theme in their experience.  But, the Lord Jesus completely excluded it from His exposition.  Why?  Because the fulfillment of the judgment was NOT going to be fulfilled in the days of His earthly life.  That day of God’s vengeance was put far into the future by the Grace exhibited in Christ Jesus.

This explains the close attention the people gave to Him:
Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

His own words explain why He did not read the judgment words:
Luke 4:21-22 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

And the reaction of the people demonstrates that they noticed the lack of judgment in His message, their pleased amazement at the grace He exhibited, and wonderment at this obvious claim that He is the prophesied Messiah:
Luke 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?”

I hope this helps.

Yours for Truth,

CR