Isaiah 53 - Introduction

The prophet, complaining of incredulity, excuseth the scandal of the cross, by the benefit of Christ's passion, and the good success thereof.

Before Christ 719.

THE scene of this second section is to be placed at the beginning of the oeconomy of grace, when, after the foundations of the kingdom of God, and of the word of faith, were laid, with all power and demonstration of the Spirit, an invincible incredulity discovered itself in the greater part of the Jewish nation; and it is so constructed, that three different speakers appear in it: the first is a company of the evangelists and apostles, complaining of the incredulity of the Jewish nation, and of the small fruit of their preaching, Isaiah 53:1. The second is a company of Jews, converted by the faith, after their preceding error; who first derive the principal cause of their incredulity from the perverse prejudice of their nation, concerning the humble state of the Messiah, and his sufferings, Isaiah 53:2. Secondly, They set forth the true cause of those sufferings; the suretiship of the Messiah, and the expiation of sins to be made in consequence of that suretiship; at the same time describing very particularly the manner of those sufferings, namely, the shame of the cross, Isaiah 53:4. And thirdly, They set forth the justification of the Messiah, as well by his assumption into glory, as by the instances of the divine care and providence towards him in the midst of his sufferings; whence it appeared manifestly, that he suffered not as a guilty person, and that he was most dear to God. The third speaker is God the Father, or a chorus of prophets speaking in his name, who confirm the mystery of faith set forth in the preceding part of this chapter, and declare the glorious fruits of the Messiah's passion, as well with respect to himself as to the church. There is no doubt of the immediate reference of this passage to Jesus Christ: the writers of the New Testament apply it to him; and we will add a few remarks at the end of the chapter from Bishop Chandler, demonstrative of it. Vitringa, with his usual pains, clearness, and learning, has not only in his notes, but in his introduction to this prophesy, shewn abundantly that it can belong to no other than the Messiah. I shall therefore refer to him such as desire farther satisfaction, and supply the remaining comment on this chapter, from the excellent paraphrase of Bishop Chandler.