Isaiah 61 is the portion of scripture that Jesus quoted in Luke 4:18 saying that He was proclaiming liberty to the captives. I think we immediately look at this and think He was likely saying this to the people that were bound by alcohol, drugs or whatever else people are bound to. At least that is what we would think of in this day and age we are living in because I believe the abuse of such things is rampant in our society.

What did Jesus mean when He said He would set the captives free? What was man in captivity to? I believe man was in captivity to sin that was based on one mans disobedience and held captive there by the law. He uses the word liberty there and that word means “to be exempt from liability”. They were captives to a liability that was between them and God. He opened this prison they were in and set them free from the liability they were under due to Adam’s disobedience.

If we still think we are bound by the law and the sin of Adam’s disobedience, which was passed on to the entire world, then you are still living in a prison. The door of this prison has been opened wide at the cross because Jesus said He was here to open the prison doors. If you are still living bound by thinking that you still have a liability to God for the things you do or don’t do, then you are still living in prison. Even though the door is wide open, you can still live in a prison as though the door was still shut. Not only did Jesus say He would open the prison doors but He also said He had the key to the door. So if He opened the prison door and took the key, and you are still living under bondage (prison) then it has nothing to do with Jesus.

You are the one keeping yourself bound in this prison of the sin of Adam’s disobedience and the law. He took away the liability this demanded before Jesus came and fulfilled all at the cross. You are no longer under any liability to try and get yourself right with God. Jesus proclaimed liberty to the captives. If you will hear Him proclaiming this today, walk out of your prison that you are bound in and see that the door was open all the time.

This door will never be shut again. It was opened once and for all time and that also for all mankind. Your sentence has been fully served so there is no need to have to stay in prison. There is no parole period of time in this either. When Jesus set the captives free He set them totally free. You don’t have to serve any part of that sentence at all. It was all fully served on your behalf by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is finished. Take advantage of the open prison door and walk freely, never to be condemned again. The only thing that keeps you captive now is your own mind.

See the redemption that was provided for all mankind and also the judgment that was taken for all mankind as well, and you will begin a process of freedom from whatever prison you are in that you never dreamt was possible. The door is open. There’s been a prison break.