Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Isaiah
Book: Isaiah
Chapter: 61
Overview:
The
Messiah, his character and office.
(1-3) His promises of
the future blessedness of the
Church.
(4-9) The
Church praises
God for these mercies.
(10,11)
1-3 The prophets had the Holy
Spirit of
God at times, teaching
them what to say, and causing them to say it; but
Christ had the
Spirit always, without
Measure, to qualify him, as
Man, for the
work to which he was appointed. The
Poor are commonly best
disposed to receive the
Gospel, Jas 2:5; and it is only likely
to profit us when received with
Meekness. To such as are
Poor in
Spirit,
Christ preached good tidings when he said, Blessed are
the meek.
Christ's satisfaction is accepted.
By the dominion of
Sin in us, we are bound under the power of
Satan; but the Son is
ready,
By his
Spirit, to make us free; and then we shall be free
indeed.
Sin and
Satan were to be destroyed; and
Christ triumphed
over them
On his
Cross. But the children of men, who stand out
against these offers, shall be dealt with as enemies.
Christ was
to be a
Comforter, and
So he is; he is sent to comfort all who
Mourn, and who seek to him, and not to the world, for comfort.
He will do all this for his people, that they may abound in the
fruits of
Righteousness, as the branches of
God's planting.
Neither the
Mercy of
God, the
Atonement of
Christ, nor the
Gospel of
Grace, profit the self-sufficient and proud. They must
be humbled, and led to know their own character and wants,
By
the Holy
Spirit, that they may see and feel their need of the
sinner's Friend and
Saviour. His doctrine contains glad tidings
indeed to those who are humbled before
God.
4-9 Promises are here made to the Jews returned out of
Captivity, which extend to all those who, through
Grace, are
delivered out of spiritual thraldom. An unholy soul is like a
City that is broken down, and has
No walls, like a
House in
ruins; but
By the power of
Christ's
Gospel and
Grace, it is
fitted to be a
Habitation of
God, through the
Spirit. When,
By
the
Grace of
God, we attain to holy indifference as to the
affairs of this world; when, though our hands are employed about
them, our hearts are not entangled with them, but preserved
entire for
God and his service, then the sons of the
Alien are
our ploughmen and
Vine-dressers. Those whom He sets at liberty,
he sets to work. His service is perfect
Freedom; it is the
greatest honour. All believers are made, to our
God,
Kings and
priests; and always ought to conduct themselves as such. Those
who have the
Lord for their portion, have reason to say, that
they have worthy portion, and to rejoice in it. In the
Fulness
of
Heaven's joys we shall receive more than double for all our
services and sufferings.
God desires
Truth, and therefore hates
all injustice. Nor will it justify any
Man's
Robbery to say, it
was for burnt-offerings; and that
Robbery is most hateful which
is under this pretence. Let the children of godly parents be
such, that all may see the fruits of a good education; an answer
to the prayers for them, in the
Fruit of
God's blessing.
10,11 Those only shall be clothed with the garments of
Salvation hereafter, that are covered with the robe of
Christ's
Righteousness now, and
By the
Sanctification of the
Spirit have
God's image renewed upon them. These blessings shall
Spring
forth for ages to come, as the fruits of the
Earth.
So duly,
So
constantly, and with such advantage to mankind, will the
Lord
God cause
Righteousness and praise to
Spring forth. They shall
spread far; the great
Salvation shall be published and
proclaimed, to the ends of the
Earth. Let us be
Earnest in
Prayer, that the
Lord God may cause that
Righteousness to
Spring
forth among us, which constitutes the excellence and
Glory of
the
Christian profession.