Isaiah 58

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 58

The prophet, in this chapter, has his commission and charge renewed to reprove the sinners in Zion, particularly the hypocrites, to show them their transgressions, Isa. 58:1. It is intended for admonition and warning to all hypocrites, and is not to be confined to those of any one age. Some refer it primarily to those at that time when Isaiah prophesied; see Isa. 33:14; Isa. 29:13. Others to the captives in Babylon, the wicked among them, to whom the prophet had declared there was no peace... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 58:1-2

When our Lord Jesus promised to send the Comforter he added, When he shall come he shall convince (John 16:7, 8); for conviction must prepare for comfort, and must also separate between the precious and the vile, and mark out those to whom comfort does not belong. God had appointed this prophet to comfort his people (Isa. 40:1); here he appoints him to convince them, and show them their sins. I. He must tell them how very bad they really were, Isa. 58:1. 1. He must deal faithfully and plainly... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 58:3-7

Here we have, I. The displeasure which these hypocrites conceived against God for not accepting the services which they themselves had a mighty opinion of (Isa. 58:3): Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? Thus they went in the way of Cain, who was angry at God, and resented it as a gross affront that his offering was not accepted. Having gone about to put a cheat upon God by their external services, here they go about to pick a quarrel with God for not being pleased with... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 58:8-12

Here are precious promises for those to feast freely and cheerfully upon by faith who keep the fast that God has chosen; let them know that God will make it up to them. Here is, I. A further account of the duty to be done in order to our interest in these promises (Isa. 58:9, 10); and here, as before, it is required that we both do justly and love mercy, that we cease to do evil and learn to do well. 1. We must abstain from all acts of violence and fraud. ?Those must be taken away from the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 58:13-14

Great stress was always laid upon the due observance of the sabbath day, and it was particularly required from the Jews when they were captives in Babylon, because by keeping that day, in honour of the Creator, they distinguished themselves from the worshippers of the gods that have not made the heavens and the earth. See Isa. 56:1, 2, where keeping the sabbath is joined, as here, with keeping judgment and doing justice. Some, indeed, understand this of the day of atonement, which they think... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 58

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 58 From the wicked and antichristian party the prophet is bid to turn to the professors of the true religion, and openly, boldly, and sharply, reprove them for their sins, particularly their hypocrisy and formality in worship, Isaiah 58:1 , who yet were angry, and complained that the Lord took no notice of their religious services, particularly their fasting, which is put for the whole; the reason of which was, because they did not fast aright; it was attended with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 58:1

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet ,.... These words are directed to the prophet; and so the Targum expresses it, "O prophet, cry with thy throat;' and so it is in the original, "cry with the throat" F4 קרא בגרון "clama in gutture", Pagninus, Montanus; "exclama gutture", Junius & Tremellius; "exclama pleno gutture", Piscator; "clama pleno gut ture", Cocceius. , which is an instrument of speech; and it denotes a loud, strong, vehement cry, when a man... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 58:2

Yet they seek me daily ,.... Which may be considered as an acknowledgment of their external piety; or as a caution to the prophet not to be imposed upon by outward appearances; or as a reason why they should be rebuked sharply: they sought the Lord, either by prayer, or in the ministry of the word; they sought doctrine, as the Targum; they sought him, and that every day, or, however, every Lord's day; and yet they did not seek him with that diligence and intenseness of spirit, with their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 58:3

Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not ?.... Our fasting; takest no notice of it; expresses no approbation of it, and pleasure in it: this is put for all religious services, being what was frequently performed under the Old Testament, not only at certain times appointed by the Lord, but on other occasions, and of their own fixing; in which they put their confidence, and often boasted of, Luke 18:12 , "wherefore have we afflicted our soul", by fasting, "and thou takest no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 58:4

Behold, ye fast for strife and debate ,.... Brawling with their servants for not doing work enough; or quarrelling with their debtors for not paying their debts; or the main of their religion lay in contentions and strifes about words, vain hot disputations about rites and ceremonies in worship, as is well known to have been the case of the reformed churches: and to smite with the fist of wickedness ; their servants or their debtors; or rather it may design the persecution of such whose... read more

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