Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do well. Those who serve God will “hate the evil, and love the good” (Amos 5:15). Negative “goodness” — refraining from evil acts — is not sufficient for any Christian. Godliness is an active principle, and the cultivation of righteousness is the surest guarantee against iniquity. Whatever his previous inclination may have been, a man will purpose not only to cease doing evil, but to put forth sincere efforts to do his best. In attaining this objective he will need both firmness of purpose and assistance from Heaven. Men are not born into the Christian life with perfection of character, but must learn, slowly and painstakingly, to walk in the ways of God. By study and diligence, patience and perseverance, determination and practice, they can, in time, acquire habits of right living. Every man who now does well has gone through the slow and painstaking process of learning to do well, and no man has truly learned to do well until right ways have become habitual with him.

Judgment. That is, “justice.”

Relieve the oppressed. Preferably, “straighten out oppression,” or “right wrong.” Many in Israel were being oppressed by their fellows. It was the duty of those who loved God to correct this situation. Oppressors must be restrained and the oppressed given the needed relief.

Judge the fatherless. Those who love the right will champion the cause of the fatherless and see that justice is done them.

Plead for the widow. The poor and needy, the unfortunate and oppressed, were in desperate need of relief. The leaders among the professed people of God were taking advantage of these unfortunate classes and enriching themselves at their expense. This situation called for correction. True love and sympathy would manifest themselves in efforts to redress wrong and to establish justice for all. No religion is worth the name that does not grapple with the problems of this present life and bring men into harmony with the principles of the kingdom of heaven. A religion that consists of the observance of magnificent ceremonies but neglects the needs of orphans and widows is meaningless.

For further comment, see on James 1:27.