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Isaiah 53:7,8. This rather lengthy passage is quoted in Acts 8:32,33.
A number of most important questions are raised upon comparing the Old
Testament original with the New Testament quotations, which will be
considered in their place. The one and most important contribution which we
would emphasize here is in the sequel:
'Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and
Preached Unto Him Jesus' (Acts 8:35).
Isaiah 53:9 'Because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in
His mouth'.
The Hebrew word translated 'violence' is translated anomia by the LXX,
and this is adopted by Mark (15:28) and Luke (22:37). However, Peter uses
hamartian, and adds the verb 'was found' (1 Pet. 2:22), which makes no
material difference. These seven passages are quoted by different writers of
the New Testament and reveal the importance that this chapter holds in their
estimate, for although at first sight seven quotations do not seem many, yet
no other chapter in Isaiah nor in the Old Testament is quoted so many times.
The limitations of our space compel us to bring this survey to a close
by moving on to chapters 61 to 66, under the headings 'The Acceptable Year
and the Day of Vengeance' and 'The New Heavens and New Earth'.
The Acceptable Year and Day of Vengeance (Isa. 61 to 66)
We have now reached the last of the seven great subdivisions of the
prophecy of Isaiah which, as the reader is already aware, is like the
sections already studied, sevenfold in character. It will not be considered
vain repetition, we trust, to print them here, before we go forward in our
quest for truth.
Isaiah 61 to 66
Acceptable Year and Day of Vengeance
(1)
61
Priests of the Lord
(2)
62
A city not forsaken
(3)
63:1 -6
Day of Vengeance
(4)
63:7 -14
The Days of old
(5)
63:15 to 64:12
Our Father
(6)
65:1 -16
Recompence
(7)
65:17 to 66:24
New heavens and new earth.
This acceptable year of the Lord is the jubilee of the ages,
foreshadowed at creation and in the types of Israel's feasts. It is a
fitting heading for the seventh great section, the seventh subdivision of
which asks 'Where is the place of My rest?' In the closing chapter of the
preceding section, chapter 60, it is not definitely stated that restored
Israel would be a kingdom of Priests, it is implied as we have seen. This,
however, is the opening theme of the section now before us:
'Ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the
Ministers of our God' (Isa. 61:6).
This chapter contains that illuminating passage (Isa. 61:1) which in
the opening of His ministry in Luke 4, the Lord 'rightly divides', stopping
in His reading of Isaiah 61 at the opening sentence of verse 2, closing the
book and declaring that 'This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears'