A newsletter of weekly mediations on biblical theology and curated resources from The Carson Center

January 28, 2026

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.” Isaiah 61:1–2 (ESV)

“And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…’” Luke 4:17–18 (ESV)

Read Exodus 1; Luke 4; Job 18; 1 Corinthians 5

“Give me liberty or give me death,” Patrick Henry famously declared at the Second Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775. A year later, the Declaration of Independence affirmed that all people are endowed with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Throughout American history, people have called for liberty from tyranny and freedom from slavery.

The Gospel of Luke recounts Jesus’s mission “to seek and save the lost” (19:l0), and his public ministry begins with a bold sermon in his hometown synagogue. Luke vividly describes the scene: Jesus stands to read from the scroll of Isaiah, he returns the scroll, sits down, and announces to a rapt crowd, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (4:16–21).

The Gospel records a lengthy quotation of Isaiah 61:1–2, which is combined with a line from Isaiah 58:6: “to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” The key word “liberty” links these verses in Isaiah and indicates an important emphasis in Luke 4. What sort of “liberty” does Jesus bring to the captives and oppressed? Many Jews of that time longed for liberty from Rome’s tyranny. The prophet John even waited in Herod’s prison while his disciples asked Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come?”

Elsewhere in Luke and Acts, “liberty” (aphesis) consistently refers to “the forgiveness [aphesis] of sins” for all who repent and receive God’s salvation (for example, Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38). We see Jesus doing good and healing those oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38), but he also proclaims freedom from the deeper spiritual bondage to sin that separates us from God. Christ not only speaks about this liberty; he also secures it as the messianic savior, in whose name forgiveness is heralded to all the nations. – Brian Tabb

Reflect: What sorts of freedom or liberty does our culture emphasize today? Compare this with the freedom that Jesus proclaims and secures for us. What have you been set free from? What does this experience of spiritual liberty look like in your life?

‘He Will Be Called a Nazarene’: Matthew’s Messianic Clue

Matthew’s infancy narrative ends with a passage that has baffled biblical scholars: “And [Joseph] went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene” (Matt. 2:22–23).

The problem is that the Old Testament never says the Messiah would be called a “Nazarene.” In fact, Nazareth isn’t mentioned in the Old Testament, and it’s believed that the town didn’t even exist when the Old Testament was written.

Various theories have been suggested for Matthew’s meaning here, but I suggest the clue is to be found in the mystery (and even foolishness) associated with a Messiah coming from the obscurity of this small town in Galilee.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS MESSIANIC CLUE

This video is the first in a 14-part series, tailored for young adults, from Don Carson that explores the grand narrative of scripture. In this basic introduction to faith, Carson takes seekers, new Christians, and small groups through the big story of Scripture. The video and companion leader’s guide helps evangelistic study groups, small groups, and Sunday school classes make the best use of this book in group settings. Dr. Carson starts the series with a lecture titled, “The God who Made Everything,” looking at Genesis 1-2.

In this week’s featured essay, Jonathan Leeman considers the relationship between church and state. This timely topic is met with much confusion today. This essay is a timely guide. As Leeman summarizes, “God has given the power of the sword to governments and the power of the keys to churches, and he intends for them to work separately but cooperatively toward the greater end of worship.”

READ "The Relationship of Church and State" by Jonathan Leeman

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