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I. INQUIRE WHAT IS THAT BROKENNESS OF HEART WHICH IS HERE MEANT. The broken-heartedness is of two kinds.

1. Natural, arising from natural and carnal causes merely, which worketh death (2 Corinthians 7:10). Many who arc very whole-hearted in respect of sin, complain that their hearts and spirits are broken by their crosses, afflictions, and ill-usage which they meet with in the world. Thus Ahab, Haman, and Nabal, their hearts were broken with their respective crosses.

2. Religious, which arises from religious causes, namely, sin and its consequences. There is a twofold religious breaking of heart.

(1) A mere legal one (Jeremiah 23:29). When the heart is broken by the mere force of the law, it is broken as a rock in pieces by a hammer, each part remaining hard and rocky still. This breaks the heart for sin, but not from it.

(2) An evangelical one, when not only the law does its part, but the Gospel also breaks the sinner's heart (Zechariah 12:10).

II. INQUIRE WHAT IT IS IN AND ABOUT SIN WHICH BREAKS THE MAN'S HEART, WHO IS THUS EVANGELICALLY BROKEN-HEARTED. There is —

1. The guilt of sin, by which he is bound over to the wrath of God.

2. The domineering power of sin, or its tyranny, by which he is led captive to

3. The contrariety which is in sin to the holy nature and law of God.

4. The indwelling of sin, and, its cleaving so close to a person that he cannot shake it off (Romans 7:24).

5. Sin's mixing itself with all he does, even with his best duties (Romans 7:21).

6. Frequent backslidings (Jeremiah 31:18).

7. Desertions, hiding of the Lord's face, and interruptions of the soul's communion with God (Isaiah 54:6; Lamentaions 3:18, 44).

8. A Christian's sinfulness, with the bitter fruits springing from his sin (Romans 7:19).

III. SHOW WHAT SORT OF A HEART A BROKEN HEART IS.

1. It is a contrite or bruised heart (Psalm 51:17). Not only broken in pieces like a rock, but broken to powder, and so fit to receive any impression. The heart is now kindly broken and bruised betwixt the upper and nether mill-stones; the upper mill-stone of the law, a sense of God's wrath against sin; and the nether millstone of the Gospel, of Divine love, mercy, and favour, manifested in word and providences.

2. An aching heart (Acts 2:37).

3. A shameful heart (Ezra 9:6; Psalm 40:12).

4. A tender heart (Ezekiel 36:26).

5. A rent heart (Joel 2:13).

6. A pliable heart.

7. A humble heart (Isaiah 57:15).

IV. SHOW HOW THE LORD CHRIST BINDS UP AND HEALS THE BROKEN-HEARTED. The great Physician uses two sorts of bands for a broken heart: He binds them up with inner and with outward bands.

1. With inner bands, which go nearest the sore, the pained broken heart. And these are two.

(1)  The Spirit of adoption.

(2)  Faith in Christ (the band of the covenant), which He works in the heart by His Spirit. Faith is a healing band, for it knits the soul.

2. Outward bands. There are also two.

(1)  His own word, especially the promises of the Gospel.

(2)  His own seals of the covenant (Acts 2:38).

(T. Boston.)

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KJV: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

WEB: The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound;