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. (Lk. 4:18)
In his own person and in his ministers, Christ does not act
by human authority, or in a private capacity, but has been sent by God to
restore salvation to his Church. He does nothing by the suggestion or advice of
men, but everything by the guidance of the Spirit of God; and this he declares,
in order that the faith of the godly may be founded on the authority and power
of God.
The next clause, because he hath anointed me, is
added by way of explanation. Many make a false boast, that they have the Spirit
of God, while they are destitute of his gifts: but Christ proves by the anointing,
as the effect, that he is endued with the Spirit of God.
He then states the purpose for which the graces of the Spirit
were bestowed upon him. It was, that he might preach the Gospel to the poor Hence
we conclude, that those, who are sent by God to preach the Gospel, are
previously furnished with necessary gifts, to qualify them for so important an
office.
It is, therefore, very ridiculous that, under the pretense
of a divine calling, men totally unfit for discharging the office should take
upon themselves the name of pastors. We have an instance of this in the Papacy,
where mitred bishops, who are more ignorant than as many asses, proudly and
openly vaunt, that they are Christ’s Vicars, and the only lawful prelates of
the Church. We are expressly informed, that the Lord anoints his servants,
because the true and efficacious preaching of the Gospel, as Paul says, does
not lie “in the enticing words of man’s wisdom,” but in the heavenly power of
the Spirit. (Commentaries)
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