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A Gospel for Those in Poverty

A Gospel for Those in Poverty

Last updated on: January 23, 2025 at 1:29 pm by Herb Montgomery

A Gospel for Those in Poverty 2025-01-23T13:29:22-04:00 Herb Montgomery

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Part 1 of A Gospel of Economic Justice

And our reading this week is from the gospel of Luke. Luke is considered by many to be a gospel of economic justice especially written for those living in poverty.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

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He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to those in poverty.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:14-21)

Out of all of the passages in the Hebrew Scriptures that the author of Luke could have chosen, they connected Jesus with these words from the book of Isaiah regarding good news for those living in poverty:

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to those in poverty.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Luke’s gospel squarely places Jesus in the Hebrew prophetic justice tradition, speaking truth to power, on behalf of those living in poverty in this case. And it has special application to us, today. Considering how many times Luke’s gospel mentions those living in poverty, it is no wonder that many consider Luke to be the gospel of economic justice.

We’ll begin unpacking applications to us today, next, in part 2.

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Politics and Religion

About Herb Montgomery

Herb Montgomery, director of Renewed Heart Ministries, is an author and adult religious re-educator helping Christians explore the intersection of their faith with love, compassion, action, and societal justice. You can read more about the author here.

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January 17, 2025

Fully Alive: Justice, Faith, Love and the Glory of God

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January 23, 2025 A Gospel of Wealth Redistribution

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