21 And I will also take H3947 of them for priests H3548 and for Levites, H3881 saith H559 the LORD. H3068
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom H4467 of priests, H3548 and an holy H6918 nation. H1471 These are the words H1697 which thou shalt speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
But ye shall be named H7121 the Priests H3548 of the LORD: H3068 men shall call H559 you the Ministers H8334 of our God: H430 ye shall eat H398 the riches H2428 of the Gentiles, H1471 and in their glory H3519 shall ye boast H3235 yourselves.
But G1161 ye G5210 are a chosen G1588 generation, G1085 a royal G934 priesthood, G2406 an holy G40 nation, G1484 a peculiar G1519 G4047 people; G2992 that G3704 ye should shew forth G1804 the praises G703 of him who hath called G2564 you G5209 out of G1537 darkness G4655 into G1519 his G846 marvellous G2298 light: G5457
Ye G846 also, G2532 as G5613 lively G2198 stones, G3037 are built up G3618 a spiritual G4152 house, G3624 an holy G40 priesthood, G2406 to offer up G399 spiritual G4152 sacrifices, G2378 acceptable G2144 to God G2316 by G1223 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547
And G2532 hath made G4160 us G2248 kings G935 and G2532 priests G2409 unto God G2316 and G2532 his G846 Father; G3962 to him G846 be glory G1391 and G2532 dominion G2904 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165 Amen. G281
Say H559 unto the king H4428 and to the queen, H1377 Humble H8213 yourselves, sit down: H3427 for your principalities H4761 shall come down, H3381 even the crown H5850 of your glory. H8597 The cities H5892 of the south H5045 shall be shut up, H5462 and none shall open H6605 them: Judah H3063 shall be carried away captive H1540 all of it, it shall be wholly H7965 carried away captive. H1540 Lift up H5375 your eyes, H5869 and behold H7200 them that come H935 from the north: H6828 where is the flock H5739 that was given H5414 thee, thy beautiful H8597 flock? H6629 What wilt thou say H559 when he shall punish H6485 thee? for thou hast taught H3925 them to be captains, H441 and as chief H7218 over thee: shall not sorrows H2256 take H270 thee, as a woman H802 in travail? H3205 And if thou say H559 in thine heart, H3824 Wherefore come H7122 these things upon me? For the greatness H7230 of thine iniquity H5771 are thy skirts H7757 discovered, H1540 and thy heels H6119 made bare. H2554
And G2532 hast made G4160 us G2248 unto our G2257 God G2316 kings G935 and G2532 priests: G2409 and G2532 we shall reign G936 on G1909 the earth. G1093
Blessed G3107 and G2532 holy G40 is he that hath G2192 part G3313 in G1722 the first G4413 resurrection: G386 on G1909 such G5130 the second G1208 death G2288 hath G2192 no G3756 power, G1849 but G235 they shall be G2071 priests G2409 of God G2316 and G2532 of Christ, G5547 and G2532 shall reign G936 with G3326 him G846 a thousand G5507 years. G2094
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Isaiah 66
Commentary on Isaiah 66 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 66
The scope of this chapter is much the same as that of the foregoing chapter and many expressions of it are the same; it therefore looks the same way, to the different state of the good and bad among the Jews at their return out of captivity, but that typifying the rejection of the Jews in the days of the Messiah, the conversion of the Gentiles, and the setting up of the gospel-kingdom in the world. The first verse of this chapter is applied by Stephen to the dismantling of the temple by the planting of the Christian church (Acts 7:49, 50), which may serve as a key to the whole chapter. We have here,
And we may well expect that this evangelical prophet, here, in the close of his prophecy, should (as he does) look as far forward as to the latter days, to the last day, to the days of eternity.
Isa 66:1-4
Here,
Isa 66:5-14
The prophet, having denounced God's judgments against a hypocritical nation, that made a jest of God's word and would not answer him when he called to them, here turns his speech to those that trembled at his word, to comfort and encourage them; they shall not be involved in the judgments that are coming upon their unbelieving nation. Ministers must distinguish thus, that, when they speak terror to the wicked, they may not make the hearts of the righteous sad. Bone Christiane, hoc nihil ad te-Good Christian, this is nothing to thee. The prophet, having assured those that tremble at God's word of a gracious look from him (v. 2), here brings them a gracious message from him. The word of God has comforts in store for those that by true humiliation for sin are prepared to receive them. There were those (v. 4) who, when God spoke, would not hear; but, if some will not, others sill. If the heart tremble at the word, the ear will be open to it. Now what is here said to them?
Isa 66:15-24
These verses, like the pillar of cloud and fire, have a dark side towards the enemies of God's kingdom and all that are rebels against his crown, and a bright side towards his faithful loyal subjects. Probably they refer to the Jews in captivity in Babylon, of whom some are said to have been sent thither for their hurt, and with them God here threatens to proceed in his controversy; they hated to be reformed, and therefore should be ruined by the calamity (Jer. 24:9); others were sent thither for their good, and they should have the trouble sanctified to them, should in due time get well through it and see many a good day after it. Many of the expressions here used are accommodated to that glorious dispensation; but doubtless the prophecy looks further, to the judgment for which Christ did come once, and will come again, into this world, and to the distinction which his word in both makes between the precious and the vile.