Today is fulfilled Christ did not merely affirm in a few words, but proved by a reference to facts, that the time was now come, when it was the will of God to restore his ruined church. The object of his discourse was, to expound the prediction clearly to his hearers: just as expositors handle Scripture in a proper and orderly manner, when they apply it to the circumstances of those whom they address. He says that it was fulfilled in their ears, rather than in their eyes, because the bare sight of the fact was of little value, if doctrine had not held the chief place.

This scripture - This writing, or this part of the Scriptures.
Fulfilled - It is coming to pass; the thing originally intended by it is about to be accomplished.
In your ears - In your "hearing;" or you hear, in my preaching, the fulfillment of this prophecy. It is probable that he said much "more" than is here recorded, but Luke has preserved only the "substance" of his discourse. This was the "amount" or "sum"" of his sermon, or his explanation of the passage, that it was now receiving its accomplishment.

And he began to say unto them,.... To preach from those words; the explanation of which he gave, though not here recorded, and applied them to himself, to whom they belonged, saying:
this day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears; which is as if he should say, I am the person here spoken of; and at this present time the Spirit of God is upon me; I am anointed with the Holy Ghost, and now preach glad tidings to you, and all the good things here mentioned, and for the several ends proposed; and this Scripture has its full accomplishment which has been read unto you, and you have heard this day. So the Syriac version renders it, "which is in your ears"; that is, which you have now heard. The Jews themselves acknowledge, that these words are spoken of the Messiah. One of their writers (i) says,
"these are the words of the prophet with respect to the Messiah; for the Messiah shall say so, "because the Lord hath anointed me", &c.''
And so said the true Messiah Jesus. Another of them expresses himself thus (k):
"these are the words of the prophet with respect to the Messiah; for the Messiah shall say thus, "because the Lord hath anointed me", &c. or they are the words of the prophet concerning himself.''
And elsewhere it is said by them (l),
"the holy, blessed God, will send his Messiah to us, and he shall be worthy of this, (i.e. the character of a meek person) as it is said, Isaiah 61:1 "he hath sent me to preach glad tidings to the meek."''
(i) Kimchi in Sepher Shorash. rad. (k) R. Song. Hamelec in Miclol Yophi in loc. (l) Juchaain, fol. 69. 1.

began to say, &c.--His whole address was just a detailed application to Himself of this and perhaps other like prophecies.

This day is this Scripture fulfilled. By the preaching to which they were now about to listen.

To - day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears - By what you hear me speak.