Isaiah 55:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 55:1-5

Here, I. We are all invited to come and take the benefit of that provision which the grace of God has made for poor souls in the new covenant, of that which is the heritage of the servants of the Lord (Isa. 54:17), and not only their heritage hereafter, but their cup now, Isa. 55:1. Observe, 1. Who are invited: Ho, every one. Not the Jews only, to whom first the word of salvation was sent, but the Gentiles, the poor and the maimed, the halt and the blind, are called to this marriage supper,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 55:2

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread ?.... Lavish away time, opportunities, and strength, in reading and hearing false doctrine, which is not bread, but chaff; is not wholesome, does not nourish, but is harmful and destructive; eats as does a canker, instead of feeding and refreshing; such as the vain philosophy of the Gentiles, the traditions of the Jews, and the errors and heresies of false teachers: and your labour for that which satisfieth not ? labouring to seek... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 55:2

Wherefore do ye spend - Why should ye be so zealously attached to a doctrine from which your souls derive neither comfort nor nourishment? read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 55:1-5

The Messianic blessings. I. THE INVITATION . "Ho!" A cry arousing attention ( Isaiah 1:4 ) or expressing pity ( Isaiah 17:12 ). 1 . It is addressed to thirsty ones. The figure occurs in Isaiah 44:3 also. What more powerful figure can there be for desire , and for the pain of unsatisfied desire ? It is especially Oriental. It brings up the image of the hot, sandy waste, and by contrast that of the cool, bubbling fountain. Hunger and thirst are the "eldest of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 55:1-7

AN EXHORTATION TO SPIRITUALITY AND REPENTANCE . The prophet passes from the ideal to the actual, from the glorious future to the unsatisfactory present. The people are not ripe for the blessings of the Messianic kingdom—they do not sufficiently value them. Hence a tender exhortation is addressed to them by God himself, inviting them to become more spiritually minded ( Isaiah 55:1-3 ), and fresh promises are held out to the obedient ( Isaiah 55:3-5 ). The disobedient are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 55:2

Wherefore do ye spend money? literally, wherefore do ye weigh silver?- silver being the ordinary currency, and money transactions, in default of a coinage, being by weight (cf. Genesis 23:16 ; Zechariah 11:12 ). For that which is not bread ; i.e. "for that which has no real value—which cannot sustain you, which will do you no good." The affections of the great mass of the Israelites were set on worldly things, on enriching themselves—adding field to field, and house to house ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 55:2

The earthly objects of desire do not satisfy; the heavenly objects not only satisfy, but delight. Man is so constituted as to desire a great variety of objects, often with extreme eagerness, but rarely to find in these objects, when they are attained, the satisfaction for which he looked. "Man never is , but always to be , blest," says one of our poets; and the fact is so nearly universal, that some tell us it is the pursuit of an object, not its attainment that gives us pleasure.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 55:2

Foolish investments. "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?" This is man's great misery, that he has the "deceived heart ' which leads him to false investments. I. SOUL - SATISFACTION . The soul is made for God, and there is no bread that will satisfy man but God himself. "I am the living Bread," says Christ. Bread of fortune, bread of gold, bread of aesthetic beauty, bread of worldly honour,—these only satisfy the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 55:2

Vain expenditure on things. Comp. Isaiah 44:20 , "He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside." A very striking illustration of unsatisfying food is given by the Rev. H. Macmillan. "A strange plant, called the nardoo, grows in the deserts of Lento, Australia. Its seeds formed for months together almost the sole food of the party of explorers who, a few years ago, crossed the continent. When analyzed, the nardoo bread was ascertained to be destitute of certain nutritious... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 55:2-3

Wasted strength. It has often been remarked of the criminal population that, if they would only give to honest and honourable pursuits the same patient attention, the same untiring energy, the same keen ingenuity, which they now devote to illegal schemes, they would soon rise to competence and honour. Perhaps the essence of this great mistake may be found in those who are very far removed from the criminal class; there are many in all vocations and positions of life who are wasting their... read more

Group of Brands