“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV)
Do you ever wonder, Who should I spend my life helping? If you’re a follower of Jesus, the answer is simple: Live your life focused on the same people Jesus was focused on.
When he was just starting his public ministry, Jesus stood up in his local synagogue and read a passage from Scripture—what we call the Old Testament. That passage explained what Jesus’ ministry was all about: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD” (Luke 4:18-19 NKJV).
Jesus wants you to spend your life focusing on the same kinds of people he did. Here are the five types of people Jesus came to help—the same people he wants me to help as well.
First, Jesus helped the poor—which can mean many different things. Some people experience material poverty; they don’t have enough money to provide for their basic needs. Others are poor morally, not knowing or caring about the difference between right and wrong. And others are spiritually poor; they don’t know that Jesus died for their sins and wants to spend eternity with them in heaven.
Second, Jesus also came for the brokenhearted. Hearts break for all kinds of reasons—including disappointment, rejection, and resentment. But the Bible promises, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18 NIV).
Third, Jesus came for the imprisoned—both those in literal, physical prisons and people in prisons of addiction, secrets, ignorance, and fear. He came proclaiming freedom for them—and that’s what he wants me to do too.
Fourth, Jesus came for the blind. Millions of people are physically blind—which can be a major challenge in some cultures. But Jesus also cares about things like relational and spiritual blindness, where people don’t have strong relationships with each other or with God.
Finally, Jesus came for the oppressed. Our world is full of people who are kicked around, taken advantage of, and put down. Countless people are affected by things like war, abuse and neglect, and even spiritual oppression. Jesus offered liberty to these people—and that’s what he expects from me as well.
The poor, brokenhearted, imprisoned, blind, and oppressed. These are the people Jesus cared for—and they’re who he wants me to care for.
In summary:
Jesus made His mission clear: He came to bring good news to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, free the captives, restore sight to the blind, and lift up the oppressed—and as His followers, we’re called to care about the same people. Whether someone is financially, morally, or spiritually poor; hurting from rejection or loss; trapped in addiction or fear; unable to see truth or build healthy relationships; or weighed down by injustice or oppression, Jesus moved toward them with compassion and freedom. His life sets the pattern for mine: to focus my time, energy, and love on those who are hurting, overlooked, or bound, extending the same hope and healing He offered.
Bottom line:
If I want to live like Jesus, I must focus my life on helping the hurting, the overlooked, and the oppressed—offering the same compassion and freedom He came to bring.
Next step:
I believe my next step is to prayerfully identify one hurting or overlooked person I can intentionally support this week—someone who is poor in spirit, brokenhearted, trapped, confused, or weighed down. Then take one concrete action: encourage, listen, pray with them, meet a need, or offer guidance.
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