The prophet, in this chapter, has his commission and charge renewed to reprove the sinners in Zion, particularly the hypocrites, to show them their transgressions, Isa. 58:1. It is intended for admonition and warning to all hypocrites, and is not to be confined to those of any one age.

When our Lord Jesus promised to send the Comforter he added, When he shall come he shall convince ; for conviction must prepare for comfort, and must also separate between the precious and the vile, and mark out those to whom comfort does not belong.

Here we have, I. The displeasure which these hypocrites conceived against God for not accepting the services which they themselves had a mighty opinion of : Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? Thus they went in the way of Cain, who was angry at God, and resented it as a gross…

Here are precious promises for those to feast freely and cheerfully upon by faith who keep the fast that God has chosen; let them know that God will make it up to them. Here is, I.

Great stress was always laid upon the due observance of the sabbath day, and it was particularly required from the Jews when they were captives in Babylon, because by keeping that day, in honour of the Creator, they distinguished themselves from the worshippers of the gods that have not made the…