Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 4:21

"And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears." — Luke 4:21 (ASV)

The only comment of Jesus that Luke records is short but of the highest importance. He announces the fulfillment of the reading from Isaiah concerning the subject of the prophecy (Jesus) and the time of God’s gracious work (“today”; GK 4958).

The term “fulfilled” (GK 4444) is not as prominent in Luke as it is in Matthew. Only here and in the Emmaus conversation (24:44) does Luke use the word in relation to the fulfillment of OT prophecy . In other words, these two references to prophetic fulfillment stand out at the beginning and end of Jesus’ public appearances, emphasizing the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose in Christ’s ministry.