Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 66
Overview:
God looks at the
Heart, and vengeance is threatened for guilt.
(1-4) The increase of the
Church, when
Jew and Gentile shall be
gathered to the
Redeemer.
(5-14) Every enemy of the
Church shall
be destroyed, and the final ruin of ungodly men shall be seen.
(15-24)
1-4 The Jews gloried much in their
Temple. But what
satisfaction can the Eternal Mind take in a
House made with
men's hands?
God has a
Heaven and an
Earth of his own making,
and temples of
Man's making; but he overlooks them, that he may
look with favour to him who is
Poor in
Spirit and serious,
self-abasing and self-denying; whose
Heart truly sorrows for
Sin: such a
Heart is a living
Temple for
God. The
Sacrifice of
the wicked is not only unacceptable, but a great
Offence to
God.
And he that now offers a
Sacrifice after the
Law, does in effect
set aside
Christ's
Sacrifice. He that burns
Incense, puts
contempt upon the
Incense of
Christ's intercession, and is as if
he blessed an
Idol. Men shall be deceived
By the vain
confidences with which they deceive themselves. Unbelieving
hearts, and unpurified consciences, need
No more to make them
miserable, than to have their own fears brought upon them.
Whatever men
Put in the place of the priesthood,
Atonement, and
Intercession of Christ, will be found hateful to
God.
5-14 The
Prophet turns to those that trembled at
God's
Word, to
comfort and encourage them. The
Lord will appear, to the joy of
the humble believer, and to the confusion of hypocrites and
persecutors. When the
Spirit was poured out, and the
Gospel went
forth from Zion, multitudes were converted in a little time. The
Word of God, especially his promises, and ordinances, are the
consolations of the
Church. The true happiness of all Christians
is increased
By every convert brought to
Christ. The
Gospel
brings with it, wherever it is received in its power, such a
River of peace, as will carry us to the ocean of boundless and
endless bliss. Divine comforts reach the inward
Man; the joy of
the
Lord will be the strength of the believer. Both
God's
Mercy
and
Justice shall be manifested, and for ever magnified.
15-24 A prophetic declaration is given of the
Lord's vengeance
On all enemies of his
Church, especially that of all
antichristian opposers of the
Gospel in the latter days. Ver.
19,20, set forth the abundance of means for
Conversion of
sinners. These expressions are figurative, and express the
plentiful and gracious
Helps for bringing
God's elect home to
Christ. All shall be welcome; and nothing shall be wanting for
their assistance and encouragement. A
Gospel ministry shall be
set up in the
Church; they would have solemn
Worship before the
Lord. In the last verse the nature of the
Punishment of sinners
in the world to come is represented. Then shall the righteous
and wicked be separated. Our
Saviour applies this to the
Everlasting misery and
Torment of impenitent sinners in the
future state. To the honour of that free
Grace which thus
distinguishes them, let the redeemed of the
Lord, with
Humility,
and not without holy trembling, sing triumphant
Songs. With this
affecting representation of the opposite states of the righteous
and wicked, characters which include the whole human race,
Isaiah concludes his prophecies. May
God grant, for
Christ's
sake, that our portion may be with those who fear and
Love his
name, who cleave to his truths, and persevere in every good
work, looking to receive from the
Lord Jesus Christ the gracious
invitation, Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world.