Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryIsaiah 66

The Vanity of Mere Ritual Obedience.This passage teaches that God cares more about humble and sincere hearts than about outward religious rituals or grand buildings. The people of Israel were proud of their temple and ceremonies, but God reminds them that He is the Creator of everything. What matters most to God is a person’s attitude and true repentance, not just external acts of worship. God promises to bless those who are humble and respect His word, but He rejects empty sacrifices from people who do not truly follow Him.v. 1: God says, Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? . God does not need a temple made by human hands, because He rules over all creation. No building can contain His glory or be necessary for Him. He is not limited by anything people can make.

v. 2: God explains that He looks with favor on those who are humble and repentant. All these things my hand has made… But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word . God values people who are sorry for their sins and deeply respect His commands. Such a person is like a living temple where God is pleased to dwell.

v. 3: God says that sacrifices from wicked people are not just worthless, but actually offensive. He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood . If people continue to do evil and only pretend to worship God, their rituals mean nothing to Him. God wants obedience and a pure heart, not just outward acts.

v. 4: Because they choose their own sinful ways and ignore God, He will let them suffer the consequences of their choices. I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them . Since they refused to listen and continued to do evil, God will allow them to be deceived and troubled. Their own fears and sins will become their punishment.

Encouragement to the Persecuted; The Enlargement of the ChurchIn this section, the prophet turns from announcing God’s judgment on the hypocrites who reject His word, to encouraging those who truly tremble at God’s word. These true believers are being hated and cast out by their own countrymen, sometimes even under the claim of acting for God’s glory. But God gives them a message of hope and comfort. He promises to defend them, to make their enemies ashamed, and to bring joy and growth to His people. The passage looks ahead to the time when God will establish His church in a powerful and visible way, bringing both judgment and blessing.v. 5: God speaks to those who tremble at His word, telling them not to fear when their own brothers hate them and push them away. The persecutors claim to act for the Lord’s glory, saying, “Let the Lord

v. 6: The passage describes a voice of noise and commotion coming from the city and the temple—a sign that God is bringing judgment on His enemies. God’s actions will be so obvious that everyone will see He is repaying those who hate His people. This shows that God’s justice will be public and unmistakable .

v. 7: God promises that His people, like a woman giving birth, will suddenly and easily bring forth new life. Before there is even pain, the child is born. This is a picture of how quickly and unexpectedly God will restore and grow His people. The return from Babylonian exile happened quickly, but this also points to the rapid growth of the church when the gospel was first preached .

v. 8: The prophet marvels, asking if anyone has ever seen or heard of such a thing—a whole nation being born in a day. Zion, God’s people, will suddenly have many children. This points to the amazing way God will grow His church, as happened at Pentecost when thousands believed in one day .

v. 9: God reassures His people that He will finish what He starts. If He brings to the moment of birth, He will not stop the process. God does not abandon His plans or leave His people unfinished. He promises to carry out His purposes to the end .

v. 10: God calls all those who love Jerusalem to rejoice with her. When God brings comfort and blessing to His people, everyone who cares for them is invited to share in the joy. This verse encourages believers to support and celebrate what God is doing in His church .

v. 11: God says that His people will be satisfied and comforted, like children who nurse and are filled. They will enjoy the abundance and blessings God gives. This means that God’s people will experience deep comfort and joy from Him .

v. 12: God promises to extend peace to His people like a river, and the glory of the nations will flow to them. God’s people will be comforted and cared for as a mother comforts her child. This is a picture of God’s overflowing blessing and the spread of the gospel to all nations .

v. 13: God Himself will comfort His people like a mother comforts her child. This shows God’s tender love and care for those who trust in Him. He wants His people to feel safe and loved, no matter what is happening around them .

v. 14: When God’s people see all these blessings, their hearts will rejoice and be renewed. God’s hand will be seen helping His servants, but His anger will be shown to His enemies. This means that God’s people will be made strong and joyful, while those who oppose Him will be judged .

Divine Judgment; Judgment and Mercy; The Enlargement of the Church This section describes how God will bring judgment on those who oppose Him, especially idolaters and those who persist in wickedness. At the same time, it promises comfort and hope for those who are faithful. The prophecy looks both to the immediate context of the Jews in Babylonian captivity and to the future, when God will judge the world and gather people from all nations into His kingdom. The passage uses vivid imagery to show the difference between those who rebel against God and those who serve Him.v. 15: The Lord will come with fire and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to bring His anger and rebuke with flames of fire. This means that God will appear in judgment, bringing terror and confusion to those who have resisted Him. In history, this was seen when the Jews who refused to repent were punished, but it also points forward to the final judgment when Christ returns. God's judgment is compared to fire and a sword, showing how powerful and unstoppable it will be (For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire,.

v. 16: The Lord will judge all people by fire and by His sword, and many will be slain. This shows that God's judgment is not just for Israel, but for all nations. Those who have rebelled against Him will not escape. The sword and fire represent God's word and His wrath, which will expose and punish sin (For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many,.

v. 17: God especially warns idolaters and those who practice abominations. Some people secretly worship idols in gardens and eat forbidden foods like swine’s flesh and mice, which God had forbidden in His law (Leviticus 11:7, 29 ). They try to purify themselves for their false gods, but God sees their actions and will punish them together. This shows that God knows both what people do and why they do it, and He will judge even secret sins (They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord,.

v. 18: God knows the works and thoughts of all people. He will gather all nations and languages to see His glory. This means that God’s plan is not just for Israel, but for people from every nation. When Christ came, the gospel was preached to all nations, and people from everywhere were invited to see God’s glory in Jesus Christ (For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory,.

v. 19: God will set a sign among His people and send survivors to the nations to declare His glory. This refers to the spread of the gospel after Jesus’ resurrection, when the apostles and early Christians went to many countries to tell others about God’s salvation. The nations listed—Tarshish, Pul, Lud, Tubal, Javan, and the distant islands—represent the whole world. Even those who have never heard of God will hear about Him through these messengers (And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations... to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles,.

v. 20: Many people from all nations will come to worship God. They will be brought as an offering to the Lord, just as the Israelites used to bring offerings to the temple. This means that people from every background will become part of God’s people, and their lives will be dedicated to Him. The image of being brought on horses, chariots, and litters shows that God will make a way for all who want to come to Him (And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations...,.

v. 21: God will choose some of these new believers to be priests and Levites. In the Old Testament, only Israelites from the tribe of Levi could serve as priests, but now God says He will accept people from all nations to serve Him. This shows that in Christ, there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; all believers are made priests to God (And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord,.

v. 22: Just as the new heavens and new earth that God will make will last forever, so will the descendants and name of God’s people. This means that God’s people will never be destroyed, and His promises to them will never fail (For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain,.

v. 23: All people will come to worship God regularly, from one new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another. This shows that God’s worship will be constant and universal. In the New Testament, this is fulfilled as Christians gather regularly to worship God in spirit and truth (And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord,.

v. 24: Those who worship God will see the punishment of those who rebelled against Him. Their dead bodies will be a warning to others, and their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched. This is a picture of the final judgment and the eternal punishment of the wicked (And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh, Isaiah 66:24 ; see also Mark 9:44 ).In summary, these verses show that God will judge the wicked and comfort the faithful. He will gather people from all nations into His church, and His people will worship Him forever. But those who persist in sin and rebellion will face His judgment, which will be terrible and everlasting.