Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 1
Overview:
The corruptions prevailing among the Jews.
(1-9) Severe
censures.
(10-15) Exhortations to
Repentance.
(16-20) The state
of
Judah is lamented; with gracious promises of the
Gospel
times.
(21-31)
1-9 Isaiah signifies, "The
Salvation of the
Lord;" a very
suitable name for this
Prophet, who prophesies
So much of
Jesus
the
Saviour, and his
Salvation.
God's professing people did not
know or consider that they owed their lives and comforts to
God's fatherly care and kindness. How many are very careless in
the affairs of their souls! Not considering what we do know in
religion, does us as much harm, as ignorance of what we should
know. The wickedness was universal. Here is a comparison taken
from a sick and diseased body. The distemper threatens to be
mortal. From the sole of the foot even to the head; from the
meanest peasant to the greatest peer, there is
No soundness,
No
good principle,
No religion, for that is the health of the soul.
Nothing but guilt and corruption; the sad effects of
Adam's
fall. This
Passage declares the total depravity of human nature.
While
Sin remains unrepented, nothing is done toward healing
these wounds, and preventing fatal effects.
Jerusalem was
exposed and unprotected, like the huts or sheds built up to
Guard ripening fruits. These are still to be seen in the
East,
where fruits form a large part of the summer
Food of the people.
But the
Lord had a small remnant of pious servants at
Jerusalem.
It is of the
Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. The evil
nature is in every one of us; only
Jesus and his sanctifying
Spirit can restore us to spiritual health.
10-15 Judea was desolate, and their cities burned. This
awakened them to bring sacrifices and offerings, as if they
would
Bribe God to remove the
Punishment, and give them leave to
go
On in their
Sin. Many who will readily part with their
sacrifices, will not be persuaded to part with their sins. They
relied
On the mere form as a service deserving a reward. The
most costly devotions of wicked people, without thorough
reformation of
Heart and
Life, cannot be acceptable to
God. He
not only did not accept them, but he abhorred them. All this
shows that
Sin is very hateful to
God. If we allow ourselves in
secret
Sin, or forbidden indulgences; if we reject the
Salvation
of
Christ, our very prayers will become
Abomination.
16-20 Not only feel sorrow for the
Sin committed, but break off
the practice. We must be doing, not stand idle. We must be doing
the good the
Lord our
God requires. It is
Plain that the
sacrifices of the
Law could not atone, even for outward national
crimes. But, blessed be
God, there is a
Fountain opened, in
which sinners of every
Age and rank may be cleansed. Though our
sins have been as
Scarlet and
Crimson, a
Deep Dye, a double
Dye,
first in the
Wool of original corruption, and afterwards in the
many threads of actual transgression; though we have often
dipped into
Sin,
By many backslidings; yet pardoning
Mercy will
take out the stain, Ps 51:7. They should have all the
happiness and comfort they could desire.
Life and
Death, good
and evil, are set before us. O
Lord, incline all of us to live
to thy
Glory.
21-31 Neither holy cities nor royal ones are
Faithful to their
trust, if religion does not
Dwell in them.
Dross may shine like
Silver, and the
Wine that is mixed with water may still have the
Colour of
Wine. Those have a great
Deal to answer for, who do
not help the oppressed, but oppress them. Men may do much
By
outward restraints; but only
God Works effectually
By the
influences of his
Spirit, as a
Spirit of
Judgment.
Sin is the
worst
Captivity, the worst slavery. The
Redemption of the
spiritual Zion,
By the
Righteousness and
Death of
Christ, and
By
his powerful
Grace, most fully accord with what is here meant.
Utter ruin is threatened. The Jews should become as a tree when
blasted
By heat; as a garden without water, which in those hot
countries would soon be burned up. Thus shall they be that trust
in idols, or in an
Arm of
Flesh. Even the strong
Man shall be as
Tow; not only soon broken, and pulled to
Pieces, but easily
catching
Fire. When the sinner has made himself as
Tow and
stubble, and
God makes himself as a consuming
Fire, what can
prevent the utter ruin of the sinner?