6 Also the sons H1121 of the stranger, H5236 that join H3867 themselves to the LORD, H3068 to serve H8334 him, and to love H157 the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 to be his servants, H5650 every one that keepeth H8104 the sabbath H7676 from polluting H2490 it, and taketh hold H2388 of my covenant; H1285
For G1063 they G518 themselves G846 shew G518 of G4012 us G2257 what manner G3697 of entering in G1529 we had G2192 G2192 unto G4314 you, G5209 and G2532 how G4459 ye turned G1994 to G4314 God G2316 from G575 idols G1497 to serve G1398 the living G2198 and G2532 true G228 God; G2316 And G2532 to wait for G362 his G846 Son G5207 from G1537 heaven, G3772 whom G3739 he raised G1453 from G1537 the dead, G3498 even Jesus, G2424 which G3588 delivered G4506 us G2248 from G575 the wrath G3709 to come. G2064
And G2532 thou shalt love G25 the Lord G2962 thy G4675 God G2316 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 heart, G2588 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 soul, G5590 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 mind, G1271 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 thy G4675 strength: G2479 this G3778 is the first G4413 commandment. G1785 And G2532 the second G1208 is like, G3664 namely this, G3778 G846 Thou shalt love G25 thy G4675 neighbour G4139 as G5613 thyself. G4572 There is G2076 none G3756 other G243 commandment G1785 greater G3187 than these. G5130 And G2532 the scribe G1122 said G2036 unto him, G846 Well, G2573 Master, G1320 thou hast said G2036 the G1909 truth: G225 for G3754 there is G2076 one G1520 God; G2316 and G2532 there is G2076 none G3756 other G243 but G4133 he: G846 And G2532 to love G25 him G846 with G1537 all G3650 the heart, G2588 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 the understanding, G4907 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 the soul, G5590 and G2532 with G1537 all G3650 the strength, G2479 and G2532 to love G25 his neighbour G4139 as G5613 himself, G1438 is G2076 more G4119 than all G3956 whole burnt offerings G3646 and G2532 sacrifices. G2378 And G2532 when Jesus G2424 saw G1492 that G3754 he G846 answered G611 discreetly, G3562 he said G2036 unto him, G846 Thou art G1488 not G3756 far G3112 from G575 the kingdom G932 of God. G2316 And G2532 no man G3762 after that G3765 durst G5111 ask G1905 him G846 any question.
Blessed H835 is the man H582 that doeth H6213 this, and the son H1121 of man H120 that layeth hold H2388 on it; that keepeth H8104 the sabbath H7676 from polluting H2490 it, and keepeth H8104 his hand H3027 from doing H6213 any evil. H7451 Neither let the son H1121 of the stranger, H5236 that hath joined H3867 himself to the LORD, H3068 speak, H559 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 hath utterly H914 separated H914 me from his people: H5971 neither let the eunuch H5631 say, H559 Behold, I am a dry H3002 tree. H6086 For thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 unto the eunuchs H5631 that keep H8104 my sabbaths, H7676 and choose H977 the things that please H2654 me, and take hold H2388 of my covenant; H1285
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 56
Commentary on Isaiah 56 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 56
Isa 56:1-12. The Preparation Needed on the Part of Those Who Wish to Be Admitted to the Kingdom of God.
1. judgment—equity. John the Baptist preached similarly a return to righteousness, as needed to prepare men for Messiah's first coming (Lu 3:3, 8-14). So it shall be before the second coming (Mal 4:4-6).
near to come—(Mt 3:2; 4:17), also as to the second coming (Isa 62:10, 11; Lu 21:28, 31; Ro 13:11, 12; Heb 10:25).
righteousness—answering to "salvation" in the parallel clause; therefore it means righteousness which bringeth salvation (Isa 46:13; Ro 3:25, 26).
2. (Lu 12:43).
the man—Hebrew, enosh, "a man in humble life," in contradistinction to Hebrew, ish, "one of high rank." Even the humblest, as "the stranger" and "the eunuch" (Isa 56:4, 6), are admissible to these privileges.
this … it—what follows: "keeping the Sabbath," &c. (Isa 58:13, 14; Eze 20:12). A proof that the Sabbath, in the spirit of its obligation, was to be binding under the Gospel (Isa 66:23). That gospel times are referred to is plain, from the blessing not being pronounced on the man who observed the sacrificial ritual of the Jewish law.
layeth hold—image from one grasping firmly some precious object which he is afraid of having forcibly snatched from him. The "Sabbath" here includes all the ordinances of divine worship under the new gospel law.
keepeth … hand … from … evil—The observance of the second table of the law; as the "Sabbath" referred to the first table. Together, they form the whole duty of man, the worship of God and a holy life.
3. God welcomes all believers, without distinction of persons, under the new economy (Ac 10:34, 35).
joined … to … Lord—(Nu 18:4, 7). "Proselytes."
separated—Proselytes from the Gentiles were not admitted to the same privileges as native Israelites. This barrier between Jews and Gentiles was to be broken down (Eph 2:14-16).
eunuch—(Ac 8:27, &c.). Eunuchs were chamberlains over harems, or court ministers in general.
dry tree—barren (compare Lu 23:31); not admissible into the congregation of Israel (De 23:1-3). Under the Gospel the eunuch and stranger should be released from religious and civil disabilities.
4. please me—sacrifice their own pleasure to mine.
take hold—so "layeth hold" (see on Isa 56:2).
5. in mine house—the temple, the emblem of the Church (1Ti 3:15). They shall no longer be confined as proselytes were, to the outer court, but shall be admitted "into the holiest" (Heb 10:19, 20).
a place—literally, "a hand."
than of sons—Though the eunuch is barren of children (Isa 56:3), I will give him a more lasting name than that of being father of sons and daughters (regarded as a high honor among the Hebrews) (Joh 1:12; 10:3; 1Jo 3:1; Re 2:17; 3:12).
6. join … Lord—(Jer 50:6). Conditions of admission to the privileges of adoption.
7. Even them—(Eph 2:11-13).
to my holy mountain—Jerusalem, the seat of the Lord's throne in His coming kingdom (Isa 2:2; Jer 3:17).
joyful—(Ro 5:11).
burnt offerings … sacrifices—spiritual, of which the literal were types (Ro 12:1; Heb 13:15; 1Pe 2:5).
accepted—(Eph 1:6).
altar—(Heb 13:10), spiritually, the Cross of Christ, which sanctifies our sacrifices of prayer and praise.
house … for all people—or rather, "peoples." No longer restricted to one favored people (Mal 1:11; Joh 4:21, 23; 1Ti 2:8). To be fully realized at the second coming (Isa 2:2-4). No longer literal, but spiritual sacrifice, namely, "prayer" shall be offered (Ps 141:2; 51:17; Mal 1:11; Mt 21:13).
8. Jehovah will not only restore the scattered outcasts of Israel (Isa 11:12; Ps 147:2) to their own land, but "will gather others ('strangers') to him (Israel), besides those gathered" (Margin, "to his gathered"; that is, in addition to the Israelites collected from their dispersion), (Joh 10:16; Eph 1:10; 2:19).
9. beasts—Gentile idolatrous nations hostile to the Jews, summoned by God to chastise them (Jer 12:7-9; 50:17; Eze 34:5): the Chaldeans and subsequently the Romans. The mention of the "outcasts of Israel" (Isa 56:8) brings in view the outcasting, caused by the sins of their rulers (Isa 56:10-12).
to devour—namely, Israel.
10. His watchmen—Israel's spiritual leaders (Isa 62:6; Eze 3:17).
dumb dogs—image from bad shepherds' watchdogs, which fail to give notice, by barking, of the approach of wild beasts.
blind—(Mt 23:16).
sleeping, lying down—rather, "dreamers, sluggards" [Lowth]. Not merely sleeping inactive, but under visionary delusions.
loving to slumber—not merely slumbering involuntarily, but loving it.
11. greedy—literally, "strong" (that is, insatiable) in appetite (Eze 34:2, 3; Mic 3:11).
cannot understand—unable to comprehend the wants of the people, spiritually: so Isa 56:10, "cannot bark."
look to … own way—that is, their own selfish interests; not to the spiritual welfare of the people (Jer 6:13; Eze 22:27).
from his quarter—rather, "from the highest to the lowest" [Lowth]. "From his quarter"; that is, from one end to the other of them, one and all (Ge 19:4).
12. fetch wine—language of the national teachers challenging one another to drink. Barnes translates, "I will take another cup" (Isa 5:11).
to-morrow, &c.—Their self-indulgence was habitual and intentional: not merely they drink, but they mean to continue so.