Isaiah Chapter 53
From The Open Bible Project
53:1 Who has believed our message? To whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed?
- (a) The prophet shows that very few will receive their preaching from Christ, and from their deliverance by him, (John 12:38; Romans 10:16).
- (b) Meaning, that no one can believe but whose hearts God touches with the virtue of his Holy Spirit.
53:2 For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form nor comeliness. When we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
- (c) The beginning of Christ’s kingdom will be small and contemptible in the sight of man, but it will grow wonderfully and flourish before God.
- (d) Read (Isaiah 11:1).
53:3 He was despised, and rejected by men; a man of suffering, and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn't respect him.
- (e) Which was by God’s singular providence for the comfort of sinners, (Hebrews 4:15).
53:4 Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted.
- (f) That is, the punishment due to our sins, for which he has both suffered and made satisfaction, (Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24).
- (g) We judge evil, thinking that he was punished for his own sins, and not for ours.
53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.
- (h) He was chastised for our reconciliation, (1 Corinthians 15:3).
53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
- (i) Meaning, the punishment of our iniquity, and not the fault itself.
53:7 He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn't open his mouth. As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is mute, so he didn't open his mouth.
- (k) But willingly and patiently obeyed his father’s appointment, (Matthew 26:63; Acts 8:32).
53:8 He was taken away by oppression and judgment; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living and stricken for the disobedience of my people?
- (l) From the cross and grave, after that he was condemned.
- (m) Though he died for sin, yet after his resurrection he will live forever and this his death is to restore life to his members, (Romans 6:9).
53:9 They made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
- (n) God the Father delivered him into the hands of the wicked, and to the powers of the world to do with him what they would.
53:10 Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him. He has caused him to suffer. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed. He shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in his hand.
- (o) Christ by offering up himself will give life to his Church, and so cause them to live with him forever.
53:11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the [21] light [See Isaiah Footnotes 21] and be satisfied. My righteous servant will justify many by the knowledge of himself; and he will bear their iniquities.
- (p) That is, the fruit and effect of his labour, which is the salvation of his Church.
- (q) Christ will justify by faith through his word, while Moses could not justify by the law.
53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
- (r) Because he humbled himself, therefore he will be extolled to glory, (Philippians 2:7-2:12).
- (s) That is, of all that believe in him.
