Isaiah 65:1-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 65:1-7

The apostle Paul (an expositor we may depend upon) has given us the true sense of these verses, and told us what was the event they pointed at and were fulfilled in, namely, the calling in of the Gentiles and the rejection of the Jews, by the preaching of the gospel, Rom. 10:20, 21. And he observes that herein Esaias is very bold, not only in foretelling a thing so improbable ever to be brought about, but in foretelling it to the Jews, who would take it as a gross affront to their nation, and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 65:8-10

This is expounded by St. Paul, Rom. 11:1-5, where, when, upon occasion of the rejection of the Jews, it is asked, Hath God then cast away his people? he answers, No; for at this time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. This prophecy has reference to that distinguished remnant. When that hypocritical nation is to be destroyed God will separate and secure to himself some from among them; some of the Jews shall be brought to embrace the Christian faith, shall be added to the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 65:11-16

Here the different states of the godly and wicked, of the Jews that believed and of those that still persisted in unbelief, are set the one over?against the other, as life and death, good and evil, the blessing and the curse. I. Here is the fearful doom of those that persisted in their idolatry after the deliverance out of Babylon, and in infidelity after the preaching of the gospel of Christ. Observe, 1. What the doom is that is here threatened: ?I will number you to the sword as sheep for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 65:1

I am sought of them that asked not for me ,.... That this is a prophecy of the calling and conversion of the Gentiles is not to be doubted, since the Apostle Paul has quoted it, and applied it to that case, Romans 10:20 and is here mentioned as an aggravation of the sin of the Jews, in rejecting Christ, when the Gentiles received him; and was the reason of their being rejected of God, and the Gospel being taken away from them, and given to another people, and of the Lord's removing his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 65:2

I have spread out mine hands all the day unto a rebellious people ,.... Meaning Israel, as the apostle explains it, Romans 10:21 , whom he calls a "disobedient and gainsaying people"; who believed not in Christ, obeyed not his Gospel, but contradicted and blasphemed it; and were rebellious against him, would not have him to reign over them, nor submit to his ordinances; though he most affectionately invited them, earnestly pressed and urged them, and that daily and frequently, to attend... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 65:3

A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face ,.... They committed their sins openly, without any fear of the divine Being, and in defiance of him, not at all awed by his omniscience and omnipresence; they committed them in the open streets, and even in the temple, the place of the divine residence; and these they did constantly, which provoked him to anger and wrath against them; particularly the following sins: that sacrificeth in gardens ; to idols, as the Targum, placed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 65:4

Which remain among the graves ,.... In order to practise necromancy, to consult the dead, where they imagined demons and departed spirits haunted, and of whom they fancied they might get knowledge of future things: and lodge in the monuments : whole nights for the same purposes. The Vulgate Latin version is, "that sleep in the temples of idols"; after the manner of the Heathens, who used to sleep there in order to obtain dreams, whereby they might be able to foretell things to come, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 65:5

Which say, stand by thyself , &c.; According to Aben Ezra, Jarchi, and Kimchi, these are the unclean persons that did the above things; who say to the righteous, "draw near to thyself" F16 קרב אליך "accede ad te", Vatablus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Cocceius; "appropinqua ad te", Piscator. ; so the words are, go to thine own place, or to thine own company: and come not near to me ; keep off at a distance, as unworthy of such company: for I am holier than thou ; but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 65:6

Behold, it is written before me ,.... This account of their sins; it was in his sight and constant remembrance, and punishment for them was determined by him, written in the book of his decrees: I will not keep silence ; but threaten with destruction, and not only threaten, but execute; plead against them really, as well as verbally, with sore judgments: but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom ; full and just recompence of punishment for all their transgressions, as it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 65:7

Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together (saith the Lord) ,.... That is, the punishment both of the one and of the other; these being alike, and continued from father to son, and approved of, and committed by one generation after another, till the measure was filled up; and then the recompence of reward is given for all of them together at once: which have burnt incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills; where they offered incense and other sacrifices... read more

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