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 ¹⁸ "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor [in Spirit]; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted [who mourn due to their slavery to sin], to preach release to the captives [imprisoned in the world's darkness and slavery to sin], and recovery of sight to the [spiritually] blind, to deliver [free] those who are oppressed [in slavery to sin],² [The gospel is the ministry of the Spirit to totally free you from sin, as you repent from your old ways of selfishness on the inward cross of self-denial; to be washed, cleansed, and purified; to then be translated into the kingdom of Christ; and then to live in union with Christ and God, while on earth and then forever.]

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 ³⁹ And Jesus said, "I have come into the world for judgment, that the blind might see; and that those who see might be made blind."² [He came into the world to give sight to the spiritually blind and to make blind those who think they can see, (those in darkness with no light who think they are righteous, puffed up on their fleshly mind's knowledge of the scriptures; but not taught directly and perfected by the Spirit of God). From the Word of the Lord within: "I work with the blind; but if you think you can see, and you are not with me in heaven, I will make you a laughingstock."]

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 ¹⁷ Because you say, 'I am rich and increased with possessions, and am in need of nothing;' and do not know that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,⁵ [From the Word of the Lord within: "I work with the blind; but if you think you can see, and you are not with me in heaven, I will make you a laughingstock."]

 ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined and tried in the fire, so that you may be rich; and white garments, so that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, so that you may see. [Gold refined and tried in the fire is faith that has been tested and tried by fire: trials, suffering, and tribulations are all part of the cross that every believer must endure in order to enter the kingdom; then you are clothed white with purity, and you see by the light of God.]