Isaiah 1:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As Isaiah follows up threats with the proclamation, ‘Wash yourselves, be cleansed,’ David, after declaring, ‘I will uncover your sins before you,’ further asserts: ‘He that offereth praise glorifieth Me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God’ (Psalms 49:21, 23), thus equating praise with actions and acknowledgment of Him. The prophet elaborates on ‘Wash yourselves, be cleansed,’ to clarify that it does not refer to mere physical cleansing, but rather instructs, ‘Remove your evil deeds from My sight; cease from doing evil.’ This emphasizes the simplicity of virtue and the exercise of free will, indicating that the responsibility for reform lies with them.

Therefore, let us strive to purify ourselves promptly and rid ourselves of sin. How do we achieve this cleansing? In the manner the prophet instructs, saying, ‘Wash yourselves, be cleansed; remove your evil deeds from My eyes; cease from doing evil.’ Do you see the necessity of cleansing ourselves first, followed by God's cleansing? For He first declares, ‘Wash yourselves, be cleansed,’ and then, ‘I will make you clean like snow.’ The power of repentance is immense, as it can render us whiter than snow and fleece, even if sin had previously tainted our souls.

Jesus echoes the prophetic message, stating that those who have been washed are already clean. Here, washing does not refer to the Jewish ritual with water but to the purification of the conscience. Therefore, let us strive for cleanliness and learn to do good.

Let us take the remedy that removes our sins. Repentance is not merely spoken; it is validated through action; true repentance cleanses the corruption of wickedness from the heart. Why is it said, ‘Before My eyes’? It is because human perception differs from divine insight. He warns, ‘Do not perform penance superficially, but before My eyes, which perceive the hidden truths, and produce the fruits of true repentance."

Nevertheless, in His goodness and desire for all to find salvation and come to the truth, He opens the path to redemption and urges them to turn from their sins because justification comes as a free gift rather than through adherence to the Law, particularly through faith and holy baptism; thus He proclaims, Wash yourselves, and you shall be clean. The old covenant likewise foreshadowed this truth in shadowy forms, anticipating the grace offered through holy baptism. God never instructed Moses to send the Levites from among the Israelites for cleansing. Instead, He said, Sprinkle upon them the water of cleansing, and let the razor come upon their entire body, and they shall wash their garments, and they will be clean (Num. 8:6, 7). As for the nature of this water of cleansing, the Apostle Paul enlightens us, stating: 'If the blood of goats and calves, and the ashes of young heifers sanctify to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:13, 14). Hence, while the Law provided for bodily cleanliness through the water of purification, Christ, through holy baptism, cleanses us from all moral impurity. We are baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire, which purifies us of every form of corruption, consuming as if it were worthless chaff, for this is the nature of fire. This too is articulated by the blessed Paul, who mentions Noah's faith in constructing an ark for the salvation of his family (Hebrews 11:7); through this ark, a mere eight souls were saved by water. Likewise, this emblematic salvation now comes to us through baptism, not merely the removal of physical dirt but rather the response of a clear conscience (1 Pet. 3:21). He similarly exhorts the Jews to pursue this cleansing, saying, ‘Wash yourselves, and you will be clean; that is, cleanse your impurity with the aid of Him whom you have wronged, who justifies us with love and compassion. We recognize that Peter chastised them for their role in killing the Author of life, while requesting the release of a murderer, Barabbas. Yet they are called to a change of heart. He states, ‘And now, brethren, I realize that you acted in ignorance, as did your rulers. Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children (Acts 2:38, 39). Cast aside the deceit from your souls in my sight, and abandon your deceptions. Holy and saving baptism suffices for the erasure of sins; it removes the stain of past transgressions. However, those who have been sanctified should strive to maintain their souls as pure and blameless, recalling His word: ‘Keep your heart with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23). Again, if the spirit of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post: healing will quell great offenses (Ecclesiastes 10:4). The human soul is ravaged by numerous desires inclined toward shameful things, first by the law that operates in our members and then by evil thoughts that draw our minds toward every sort of vice. Therefore, the baptized ought to refrain from such wickedness and eradicate deceit from their souls, both in the eyes of humanity and particularly before God, who perceives all and oversees everything. For sometimes they may feign virtue while clandestinely embodying predatory wolves (Matthew 7:15), as it is written. Concerning this, the Almighty speaks through the prophet Jeremiah: with his mouth, he professes peace, yet within him is enmity (Jeremiah 9:8). David also articulates: their words are smoother than butter and yet harbor bitterness (Ps. 54:22). Though they exert themselves to hide their true nature, the One who dwells in heaven laughs at them, and the Lord rebukes them (Psalm 2:4). For He discerns the heart and innermost being. Yet the truly righteous shall appear good both before God and men, as Paul affirms: ‘He who does good works before God, does so also before humanity’ (Romans 12:17). Thus, it is vital to eliminate deceit in the sight of the Lord. Nathanael exemplified this truth, of whom Christ remarked: ‘An Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile’ (John 1:47). He urges, forsake your wickedness; abandon your distinctive and habitual sins; repurpose your path toward righteousness. If this is what Christ conveyed, and how He admonished the Jews, consider the actions of those who conspired against Him, plotting and ensnaring Him. They allied to devise every conceivable scheme against Him, at one point sending their disciples along with the Herodians to question Him, asking whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar (Mark 12:14); on another occasion, they approached Him, seeking to know if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath, laying traps for Him (Matthew 12:10). Let them heed the words of Him who calls us to discard our deceptions in His presence and abandon our fraudulence.

“But if you bring me the semidal, it is futile; the incense is an abomination; I will have no desire for the fat of lambs or the blood of young bulls.” So, what are we to do and what offerings should we present? Is it not preferable to set aside material worship and instead celebrate with joy, serving God? “I cannot endure your new moons, your Sabbaths, or your solemn feasts.” Should we then not observe fasting? But your fasts are detested by My soul. Thus, we may resort to praying in a traditional manner, presenting lawful supplications. But if your prayers are multiplied, I will not hear you, and though you stretch out your hands, I will not acknowledge your supplications, but My anger will rise against the blood. What is to be our course? How can we seek Your favor? How may we wash away our iniquities? “Cleanse yourselves, purify yourselves.” The Jews affirm, “Recall what Moses taught concerning purification. He stated, ‘He that touches anything unclean and becomes defiled shall wash his garments and bathe his flesh in water, and he shall be clean’ (cf. Lev. 11:28, 32, 40).” Yet, the Prophet did not instruct, “Wash yourselves after every impurity”—He simply says, “Wash yourselves.” One baptism, one act of purification. While it states, “Let the garment be washed, and let the body be cleansed with water,” here it demands, “Remove your wickedness,” not mere stains from garments, but from your very souls. Do not covet the delights of Lebanon, nor Halban, nor Onychus, nor Stacti (cf. Exodus 30:34), nor desire a young woman with striking red hair (cf. Numbers 19:2), which is rare and unique, scarce during the law's ministry. Do not observe fasts in a legalistic manner, nor be idle. There is one essential requirement of you, straightforward and uncomplicated, demanding your full surrender. What is it? “Learn to do good ... Remove the deceit from your hearts in My sight.” For cleansing through washing rests upon the humanity of the Lord, while the forsaking of wickedness requires our own diligence. To prevent us from relying solely on the grace of washing and neglecting the observance of His commandments, the entirety of the Christian journey is gathered for this purpose. Expel evil from your hearts, aiming to uproot all harmful thoughts from the realm of the soul, so that no malevolent word or action may manifest. “In My sight.” Since those outside the faith often uphold many standards of virtuous living, such as moderation in marital relations and in food indulgence, as well as persistence and calmness of spirit, the admonition is not merely to “Cast out evil thoughts,” but also to “remove them in My sight," for no task can be rightly accomplished without godly faith in Christ. The Father sees in secret (cf. Matthew 6:6), and “before My eyes” signifies: in every place where God observes, that we might strip away guile—not just in our actions but also in our thoughts. This is achieved through perfect love, for as Paul states, love does not harbor ill intentions (cf. 1 Cor. 13:4, 5).

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7)—so that those who receive Christ’s baptism will expel evil from their hearts, cease wrongdoing, and learn to practice righteousness according to the directive, “Depart from evil and do good” (Psalm 34:14).

Thus, by the washing of repentance and the knowledge of God, which was ordained, as Isaiah states, for the transgressions of His people, we have come to believe and testify that this baptism, announced to us, is the only means to cleanse those who repent; it is the water of life. The cisterns you have dug for yourselves have been rendered useless. What benefit is there in a cleansing that only purifies the body? Cleanse your soul from anger and greed, from jealousy and hatred, and your entire being will be made clean.

Remove the falsehoods from your hearts: it is insufficient merely to grieve over your sins, to confess before the Lord, and to proclaim your guilt without response; it is vital to abandon the sinful practices that weigh upon your spirit, urging yourselves onward through the reverence of God. Keep in mind that you are in His presence, under His watchful gaze, penetrating to the very core of your being; thus, be mindful not to offend Him through insincerity in your repentance. Strip away the deceit from your hearts in His sight, and refrain from wicked actions: turn away from your falsehoods. The readings from the prophet Isaiah, incorporated into the season of Great Lent, are devoid of any specific link to Lent itself; however, it is evident that the opening passage from Isaiah aligns closely with the Lenten period, which is a time for repentance that includes self-examination, genuine sorrow for one’s sins, efforts at purification, and a deeper pursuit of reconciliation with the Lord. Therefore, the contrite heart should take these admonitions, calls for repentance, and warnings contained in the said passage to heart, reflecting on whether it harbors sins akin to those mentioned, and receive this message as if it were personally directed to itself.