The Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 58:4

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Ye fast for strife and debate. Delitzsch explains, "When fasting, they are doubly irritable and ill tempered; and this leads to quarrelling and strife, even to striking with angry fists." This is quite a possible explanation.

Or there may have been two parties, one for, the other against, fasting; and those who practised fasting may have done it, as some preached Christ, "of envy and strife" (Philippians 1:15)—to provoke the opposite side.

Ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high; i.e. "ye must not fast as ye do at present, if ye would have your voices heard in heaven." God will not hear the prayer of which such a fast is the accompaniment.

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commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 58:1-12True and spurious fasting. Loudly, with all the strength of throat and as with trumpet-voice, the prophet is to cry and denounce the rebellion and the sins of the people. I. THEIR FORMALITY AND HYPOCRISY, They consult J…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 58:1-12Religion: its semblance, its substance, its reward. I. THE SEMBLANCE OF RELIGION. It argues nothing whatever against religion that there is a great deal of hypocrisy in the world; indeed, the absence would be a more for…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 58:1-14SECTION VI. PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS, FOLLOWED BY A CONFESSION AND A PROMISE (Isaiah 58:1-14; Isaiah 59:1-21.). EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 58:1-12FORMALISM REBUKED AND INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN WITH RESPECT TO FASTING. As in the last section, so here, the prophet's eye seems to rest upon his contemporaries rather than upon the exiles; and to note the vices of the time,…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryMatthew Henry on Isaiah 58:3-12A fast is a day to afflict the soul; if it does not express true sorrow for sin, and does not promote the putting away of sin, it is not a fast. These professors had shown sorrow on stated or occasioned fasts. But they…Matthew Henry commentaryA Charge against the People. (b. c. 706.)A CHARGE AGAINST THE PEOPLE. (B. C. 706.) 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 (Isaiah 58:3): Wherefo…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 58:3-7Rightful and wrongful fasting need to be carefully distinguished. Among wrong kinds of fasting may be noticed the following. I. PURELY FORMAL FASTING IS WRONG. The fasting that consists in mere abstinence from food, wit…Joseph S. Exell and contributors