---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 56"
description: "CHAPTER 56   :-. THE
PREPARATION NEEDED
ON THE PART OF
THOSE WHO
WISH TO BE
ADMITTED TO THE KINGDOM
OF GOD. 1. judgment—equity. John the
Baptist preached"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/56"
---

CHAPTER 56

. THE
PREPARATION NEEDED
ON THE PART OF
THOSE WHO
WISH TO BE
ADMITTED TO THE KINGDOM
OF GOD.

**1. judgment**—equity. John the
Baptist preached similarly a return to righteousness, as needed to
prepare men for Messiah's first coming ([Luke 3:3](../../../kjv/luke/3/3);
[Luke 3:8-14](../../../kjv/luke/3/8-14)). So it shall be
before the second coming ([Luke 3:8-42](../../../kjv/luke/3/8-42)).
**near to come**— ([Matthew 3:2](../../../kjv/matthew/3/2);
[Matthew 4:17](../../../kjv/matthew/4/17)), also as to the second
coming ([Isaiah 62:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/62/10); [Isaiah 62:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/62/11);
[Luke 21:28](../../../kjv/luke/21/28); [Luke 21:31](../../../kjv/luke/21/31);
[Romans 13:11](../../../kjv/romans/13/11); [Romans 13:12](../../../kjv/romans/13/12);
[Hebrews 10:25](../../../kjv/hebrews/10/25)).
**righteousness**—answering
to "salvation" in the parallel clause; therefore it means
*righteousness which bringeth salvation* ([Isaiah 46:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/13);
[Romans 3:25](../../../kjv/romans/3/25); [Romans 3:26](../../../kjv/romans/3/26)).

**2.** ().
**the man**—*Hebrew,
enosh,* "a man in humble life," in contradistinction to
*Hebrew, ish,* "one of high rank." Even the humblest,
as "the stranger" and "the eunuch" ([Isaiah 56:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/4);
[Isaiah 56:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/6)), are admissible to
these privileges.
**this . . . it**—what
follows: "keeping the Sabbath," c. ([Isaiah 58:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/58/13)
[Isaiah 58:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/58/14); [Ezekiel 20:12](../../../kjv/ezekiel/20/12)).
A proof that the Sabbath, in the *spirit* of its obligation, was
to be binding under the Gospel ([Ezekiel 20:12](../../../kjv/ezekiel/20/12)). That gospel times are referred to is plain, from the
blessing not being pronounced on the man who observed the *sacrificial*
ritual of the Jewish law.
**layeth hold**—image from
one grasping firmly some precious object which he is afraid of having
forcibly snatched from him. The "Sabbath" here includes all
the ordinances of divine worship under the new gospel law.
**keepeth . . . hand . . . from
. . . evil**—The observance of the second table of the law; as
the "Sabbath" referred to the first table. Together, they
form the whole duty of man, the worship of God and a holy life.

**3.** God welcomes all believers,
without distinction of persons, under the new economy ([Acts 10:34](../../../kjv/acts/10/34);
[Acts 10:35](../../../kjv/acts/10/35)).
**joined . . . to . . . Lord**—
([Numbers 18:4](../../../kjv/numbers/18/4); [Numbers 18:7](../../../kjv/numbers/18/7)).
"Proselytes."
**separated**—Proselytes
from the Gentiles were not admitted to the same privileges as native
Israelites. This barrier between Jews and Gentiles was to be broken
down ([Ephesians 2:14-16](../../../kjv/ephesians/2/14-16)).
**eunuch**— ([Ephesians 2:14-49](../../../kjv/ephesians/2/14-49), c.). Eunuchs were chamberlains over harems, or court
ministers in general.
**dry tree**—barren
(compare [Luke 23:31](../../../kjv/luke/23/31)) not
admissible into the congregation of Israel ([Luke 23:31](../../../kjv/luke/23/31)). Under the Gospel the eunuch and stranger should be
released from religious and civil disabilities.

**4. please me**—sacrifice their
own pleasure to mine.
**take hold**—so "layeth
hold" (see on [Isaiah 56:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/5)).

**5. in mine house**—the temple,
the emblem of the Church (). They shall no longer be confined as proselytes were, to
the outer court, but shall be admitted "into the holiest"
([Hebrews 10:19](../../../kjv/hebrews/10/19); [Hebrews 10:20](../../../kjv/hebrews/10/20)).
**a place**—literally, "a
hand."
**than of sons**—Though the
eunuch is barren of *children* ([Hebrews 10:20](../../../kjv/hebrews/10/20)), I will give him a more lasting name than that of being
father of sons and daughters (regarded as a high honor among the
Hebrews) ([John 1:12](../../../kjv/john/1/12); [John 10:3](../../../kjv/john/10/3);
[1 John 3:1](../../../kjv/1-john/3/1); [Revelation 2:17](../../../kjv/revelation/2/17);
[Revelation 3:12](../../../kjv/revelation/3/12)).

**6. join . . . Lord**— (). Conditions of admission to the privileges of adoption.

**7. Even them**— ().
**to my holy
mountain**—Jerusalem, the seat of the Lord's throne in His coming
kingdom ([Isaiah 2:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/2); [Jeremiah 3:17](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/17)).
**joyful**— ([Jeremiah 3:17](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/17)).
**burnt offerings . . .
sacrifices**—spiritual, of which the literal were types ([Romans 12:1](../../../kjv/romans/12/1);
[Hebrews 13:15](../../../kjv/hebrews/13/15); [1 Peter 2:5](../../../kjv/1-peter/2/5)).
**accepted**— ([1 Peter 2:5](../../../kjv/1-peter/2/5)).
**altar**— ([1 Peter 2:5](../../../kjv/1-peter/2/5)), spiritually, the Cross of Christ, which sanctifies our
sacrifices of prayer and praise.
**house . . . for all people**—or
rather, "peoples." No longer restricted to *one*
favored people ([Malachi 1:11](../../../kjv/malachi/1/11); [John 4:21](../../../kjv/john/4/21);
[John 4:23](../../../kjv/john/4/23); [1 Timothy 2:8](../../../kjv/1-timothy/2/8)).
To be fully realized at the second coming ([1 Timothy 2:8](../../../kjv/1-timothy/2/8)). No longer literal, but spiritual sacrifice, namely,
"prayer" shall be offered ([Psalms 141:2](../../../kjv/psalms/141/2);
[Psalms 51:17](../../../kjv/psalms/51/17); [Malachi 1:11](../../../kjv/malachi/1/11);
[Matthew 21:13](../../../kjv/matthew/21/13)).

**8.** Jehovah will not only restore
the scattered outcasts of Israel ([Isaiah 11:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/12);
[Psalms 147:2](../../../kjv/psalms/147/2)) to their own land, but
"will gather others ('strangers') to him (Israel), besides those
gathered" (*Margin,* "to his gathered"; that is,
in addition to the Israelites collected from their dispersion),
([John 10:16](../../../kjv/john/10/16); [Ephesians 1:10](../../../kjv/ephesians/1/10);
[Ephesians 2:19](../../../kjv/ephesians/2/19)).

**9. beasts**—Gentile idolatrous
nations hostile to the Jews, summoned by God to chastise them
([Jeremiah 12:7-9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/12/7-9); [Jeremiah 50:17](../../../kjv/jeremiah/50/17);
[Ezekiel 34:5](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/5)): the Chaldeans and
subsequently the Romans. The mention of the "outcasts of Israel"
([Isaiah 56:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/8)) brings in view the
outcasting, caused by the sins of their rulers ([Isaiah 56:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/8)).
**to devour**—namely,
Israel.

**10. His watchmen**—Israel's
spiritual leaders ([Isaiah 62:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/62/6);
[Ezekiel 3:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/3/17)).
**dumb dogs**—image from
bad shepherds' watchdogs, which fail to give notice, by barking, of
the approach of wild beasts.
**blind**— ([Ezekiel 3:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/3/17)).
**sleeping, lying down**—rather,
"dreamers, sluggards" [LOWTH].
Not merely *sleeping* inactive, but under *visionary
delusions.*
**loving to slumber**—not
merely slumbering involuntarily, but loving it.

**11. greedy**—literally, "strong"
(that is, insatiable) *in appetite* ([Ezekiel 34:2](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/2);
[Ezekiel 34:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/3); [Micah 3:11](../../../kjv/micah/3/11)).
**cannot understand**—unable
to comprehend the wants of the people, spiritually: so [Micah 3:11](../../../kjv/micah/3/11), "*cannot* bark."
**look to . . . own way**—that
is, their own selfish interests; not to the spiritual welfare of the
people ([Jeremiah 6:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/6/13); [Ezekiel 22:27](../../../kjv/ezekiel/22/27)).
**from his quarter**—rather,
"from the highest to the lowest" [LOWTH].
"From his quarter"; that is, from one end to the other of
them, *one and all* ([Genesis 19:4](../../../kjv/genesis/19/4)).

**12. fetch wine**—language of the
national teachers challenging one another to drink. BARNES
translates, "I will take another cup" ().
**to-morrow,** &c.—Their
self-indulgence was *habitual* and *intentional:* not
merely they drink, but they mean to continue so.

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