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Isaiah 58:3

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Isaiah 58:3

Verse 3 of 14

Scripture focus

Wherefore have we fasted, [say they], and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

Isaiah 58:3 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 58:3

Theological / Devotional

Wherefore have we fasted? Hypocrisy had permeated their religious life (see on Matt. 6:2). These hypocrites thought to make themselves acceptable to God by undergoing various forms of bodily affliction. Fasting, they believed, would atone for iniquity. Their darkened minds failed to realize that God is righteous and that He requires righteousness of His children. They forgot that the essence of true religion is the exercise of justice, mercy, and humility (Micah 6:8; see on Isa. 57:15).

Find pleasure. These hypocrites fasted because they thought thereby to earn God’s approval. They did not grasp the spiritual meaning of such things as fasting and Sabbath observance, and thought that adherence to the forms of religion gave them license to gratify their own passions and to oppress the poor and the helpless.

Exact all your labours. Literally, “oppress all your laborers” (see Lev. 19:13; James 5:4).

By SdaBc