Commentary on Isaiah 5.6.20–5.6.22

having dishonoured the grace that justifies the ungodly and frees from every charge those who are defiled with sins, and having loved rather to walk in error and ignorance and to worship gods that do not exist; who also use unclean and filthy sprinklings. For they purify themselves, as they think at least, deceiving themselves and … carrying fire around in a circle, they thought to scour their souls clean of the thoughts that come from wickedness. And that among such people there is no account at all of decency and reasonableness, but rather [they are like] the senseless beasts, he shows by saying that they purify themselves in gardens, that is, in groves or thickets, under the oak; for they had altars and precincts there for the demons; and in the porches of the precincts they ate swine's flesh, and this too is a proof of luxury. And they worshipped the abominations and the mouse. For some of the superstitious perhaps came to such derangement as even to keep … and figures of mice in their shrines. But all these, he says, will be consumed together, that is, together with those from Israel who disobeyed. “For I know their works and their reasoning.” By reasoning he means the thoughts, following which they became inventors of shameful undertakings, through which they also brought in … to worship God by nature and in truth … the bringing in of abominations, although they ought to worship the one God.

“I come to gather all the nations and the tongues. And they shall come and see my glory, and I will leave signs upon them, and I will send forth from them those who are saved to the nations, to Tarshish and Put and Lud and Meshech and Tubal, and to Greece, and to the islands far off, which have not heard my name nor seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.”

Through these words Christ makes a kind of recapitulation of the whole discourse and of all prophecy, and in brief and concise words he … the things from beginning to end, and the power of the dispensation in the flesh. For he calls to mind both the calling of the nations and the appointing of the holy apostles, and that he will be worshipped by the whole world under heaven. For the old law gathered one nation only, plainly that from Israel, and called one tongue; but our Lord Jesus Christ granted the power of the dispensation in the flesh not only to those of the blood of Israel, but to every nation and all tongues. So he said through the lyre of the psalmist: “Hear these things, all you nations; give ear, all who inhabit the world.” So I will gather all, he says; “they shall come and see my glory.” For they have been called through faith, and those once far off have become near and have beheld his glory. How, or in what way? For they have heard through the gospel … is … to God the Father, and became the worker of things beyond reason, so as to raise the dead from the tombs and to give light to the blind, and besides these to do other things worthy of all word and wonder. Or in another way: they have beheld his glory, having been taught the mystery that the Word was God and became man; for those from the nations did not say, as the Jews did: “Why do you, being a man, [make] yourself God?” But rather, having recognized the mystery concerning him, they cry out those sacred words: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, and besides this that word spoken through the holy apostles: “Truly you are the Son of God.” And a sign has been set on them too; for, as Paul says, we have been sealed with the Spirit of redemption, and Christ has been formed in the hearts of all of us through participation in the Holy Spirit. And from those who have been saved, he says, I will send to the nations, to these in the east, and others in the more northern parts, that is, toward the country of the Greeks, and to the islands beyond. “There”, he says, “they shall declare my glory.” For the disciples did not keep silent, but proclaimed everywhere the gospel of the kingdom and the power of the sacred

proclamations.

“And they shall bring your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the Lord, with horses and chariots, in litters drawn by mules, with sunshades, to the holy city Jerusalem, said the Lord, as the sons of Israel would bring me their sacrifices with psalms into the house of the Lord. And from them I will take priests and Levites, said the Lord.”

… they are called to priesthood, and are called to this day, … setting them in newness of life and mind. That the proclamation through the holy apostles will be effective and fruitful in every way and altogether among the nations named and in their countries, he shows in these words: “For your brothers”, he says (so that the word is addressed to those of the blood of Israel who believed), “they will bring from the nations as a gift to the Lord.” For the multitude of the nations has become, as it were, an offering for the glory of God, freed from every charge through faith, and having cast off all filth through holy baptism, a gift to God. So they boast in this very thing, calling them their joy and crown. And that the turning of the nations to God is very easy, without any sweat or contest or labour, he makes plain, as from an example from our own life, saying that they will be brought with horses and chariots, in litters and with sunshades; for just as those who use these accomplish their journey, so those who turn to God from the error of the Greeks will be brought along a smooth and, as it were, paved road, all but escorted by guards, God counting them worthy of every rest. And where will they come? To the holy city, that is, Jerusalem, which is the church of the living God; and they will be as pleasant and acceptable in approaching God as a sacrifice offered, he says, with song and doxology. But also “from them”, he says, “I will take priests and Levites”. From whom? It is not quite clear whether from those sent to call those from the nations, or from those called themselves; but we will find that both are true. For the divine disciples became ministers of the decrees given through Christ; and many of those who were of the Greek flock … of God … For faith, as it were, reforges them to what pleases him …

“For as the new heaven and the new earth, which I make, remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your seed and your name stand; and it shall be from month to month, and from Sabbath … to worship in Jerusalem, said the Lord God.”

Christ promises the unshakeable hope of all good things to those who love him and have recognized his appearing. For just as, he says, having made heaven and earth new, I will let them remain so, and no time will destroy them, so your seed and your name will stand before me. For we look for new heavens and a new earth, and his promises, as it is written. And that the hope of the saints too will always stand and remain, the all-wise Paul assures us, writing that the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. So the blessed seed that was brought to God through the holy apostles … in no way, but will remain, as it were, together with heaven and earth, Christ, the Saviour of us all, holding it together for this. And that the multitude of believers will always advance to ever greater increase he teaches by saying: “Month from month, and Sabbath from Sabbath, all flesh shall come before me to worship in Jerusalem.” For those who believe in Christ have not ceased; but from the time when the divine disciples proclaimed the message until now they keep coming, some from the error of many gods, thirsting for the light of the true knowledge of God, and others from the Jewish ranks too, though one by one and not many. Yet they too will come; for they will be called in the last times of the age, when the fullness of the nations has come in, as the all-wise Paul says.

“And the saints shall go out and see the corpses of the men who have transgressed against me. For their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be a spectacle to all flesh.”

By these words he seems to wish to indicate the calamities brought upon the Jews, which we say they endured at the hand of the Romans, when … of them all was laid waste. So, having suffered these things, they have become a spectacle to all flesh, and they have, as it were, an endless punishment. For this perhaps is what he suggests in saying that their worm will not die nor their fire be put to sleep. But some wish to refer what is said about these things to the time of the consummation of the age, when the corpses, as it were, of the transgressors will be thrown out, sent to punishment and to the endless flame. For there the worm of the punished will live continually, and the fire will not be quenched. But from all these things Christ will deliver us, through whom and with whom be glory to God the Father with the Holy Spirit, to the ages of ages. Amen.