Isaiah 66:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 66:1-4

Here, I. The temple is slighted in comparison with a gracious soul, Isa. 66:1, 2. The Jews in the prophet's time, and afterwards in Christ's time, gloried much in the temple and promised themselves great things from it; to humble them therefore, and to shake their vain confidence, both the prophets and Christ foretold the ruin of the temple, that God would leave it and then it would soon be desolate. After it was destroyed by the Chaldeans it soon recovered itself and the ceremonial services... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 66:1

Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is my throne ,.... The third heaven, the heaven of heavens, where angels and glorified saints are, and some in bodies, as Enoch and Elijah, and where now Christ is in human nature; this is the seat of the divine Majesty, where he in a most illustrious manner displays his glory; and therefore we are to look upwards to God in heaven, and direct all our devotion to him there, and not imagine that he dwells in temples made with hands; or is confined to any place,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:1

Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool (comp. Psalms 11:4 ; Psalms 103:19 ). The Hebrews, while they earnestly desired to have a material emblem of the presence of God in their midst, were deeply impressed with the feeling that no temple could be worthy of him, or other than most unworthy. "Will God," said Solomon, "indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heavens of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?" ( 1 Kings 8:27 ). And... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:1

God to be worshipped in buildings, though no building can be worthy of him. Of a surety, God "dwelleth not in temples made with hands" ( Acts 7:48 ) in any such sense as to be accessible in such places exclusively. There is truth, as well as grandeur, in the words— ''My altars are the mountains, and the ocean, Earth, air, sea, all that springs from the Great Whole, Who hath produced, and will receive, the soul." And it is always to be borne in mind that we are in his presence... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:1-2

( Vide homily on Isaiah 57:15 , Isaiah 57:16 .)—C. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:1-2

The place of God's rest. This passage should be associated with that second temple which was raised by the returned captives from Babylon, at the direction of Ezra and Nehemiah, and under the inspirations of the prophets Isaiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. A subtle peril lies in building any house for God. That peril lay in the building of the first house. It still lies in the erection of every new house. It is the danger of thereby limiting and materializing our idea of God. If, in our... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:1-4

SECTION XII .— FINAL THREATENINGS AND PROMISES ( Isaiah 66:1-24 .). THE UNGODLY EXILES REBUKED . Israel, being about to return from the Captivity, had the design of rebuilding the temple and re-establishing the temple worship. God rebukes this design in persons devoid of any spirit of holiness, and warns them that mere formal outward worship is an abomination to him ( Isaiah 66:1-3 ). In Isaiah 66:4 he threatens them with punishment. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 66:1

The heaven is my throne - (See the notes at Isaiah 57:15). Here he is represented as having his seat or throne there. He speaks as a king. heaven is the place where he holds his court; from where he dispenses his commands; and from where he surveys all his works (compare 2 Chronicles 6:18; Matthew 5:34). The idea here is, that as God dwelt in the vast and distant heavens, no house that could be built on earth could be magnificent enough to be his abode.The earth is my footstool - A footstool is... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 66:1-2

Isaiah 66:1-2. Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne That is, the throne of my glory and government; the place where I most manifest my power, and show myself in my majesty. Hence we are taught to pray, Our Father which art in heaven. And the earth is my footstool Or, a place on which I set my feet, (Matthew 5:35,) overruling all the affairs of it according to my will. Where is the house that ye build me? Can there be a house built that will contain me, who encompass and fill... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 66:1-6

Attitudes towards ritual (66:1-6)This chapter continues the contrast between the majority of Israel who were the people of God in name only, and the godly minority who were his true people. The returning exiles were glad to hear that the temple was to be rebuilt, but the prophet reminds them that they are mistaken if they think that God’s sole dwelling place is a temple. God dwells everywhere. They are also mistaken if they think that God’s chief requirement for people is that they carry out... read more

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