Isaiah 1:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord first notes their excuses and then calls for judgment; He instructs them on how they might escape blame and subsequently demands an account to ensure that none are condemned without a defense. He assures us that we shall face examination; we shall be judged. In this process of judgment, He acts both as our advocate and healer. Furthermore, to emphasize that despite our significant deeds, we still require His grace for the remission of our sins, He states, "If your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; if they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." He takes these contrasting qualities and promises to transform one into its opposite. The support of widows holds great power, for it not only purifies the soul, tarnished as if stained by sin, but also renders it radiant.

If you find yourself amidst various vices, remind yourself that God is full of mercy and desires our salvation. He proclaims, "If your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow; if they are red like crimson, I will wash them away like a wave," indicating His ability to transform our state. Let us not lose heart; it is less perilous to stumble than to remain down after a fall, and it is less dangerous to suffer injury than to refuse healing. I share this not to encourage carelessness but to prevent despair.

Why do you beautify the body while neglecting the soul, which lies in filth? Why prioritize the body over the soul? The soul deserves even greater attention; therefore, my beloved, let us at least make some effort for its care. Consider this: if asked whether you would prefer to have a clean, healthy, and beautiful body while wearing humble attire, or an unattractive and sickly body draped in gold, which would you choose? Would you not prefer honor in the very essence of your being rather than in external adornments? Why desire this for your body while choosing the opposite for your soul? If your soul is defiled and ungraceful, do you truly believe you gain from ostentatious jewelry? Such thoughts are pure folly. Redirect those decorations inwardly; let them conceal the condition of your soul. When they rest upon the body, they enhance neither health nor true beauty; for they cannot turn black to white nor transform the unappealing into something admirable.

How then can Christ assert, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17)? Similarly, how could Paul declare that the law is holy and the commandment holy, and just, and good (Romans 7:12)? This prompts us to consider: since the law is indeed good when interpreted spiritually, does Christ entirely liberate us from it? On the contrary, He leads us to a superior and more excellent way, having laid the groundwork through the law as a foundation within us. The rudimentary teachings given to the ancients served as preparations for true worship. Furthermore, the law of Moses instructs us to refrain from vices and sin, imposing penalties for disgraceful acts. Consequently, Paul states, “I would not have known sin but for the law” (Romans 7:7). The teaching of the Gospel, therefore, urges us to cultivate every virtue, thus rightfully earning its designation as good. The commandments “Thou shalt not kill” and “Thou shalt not commit adultery” were designed to guide those raised from sin, yet they did not fully express the essence of goodness, nor did they convey that harboring anger against a brother or lust was equally wrong, nor did they foster the culmination of virtue. It is commendable to conquer anger, to celebrate the strength needed to suppress base desires, and to prevent the mind from contemplating that which gives rise to the most despicable and shameful lusts. The teachings of the Gospel and the transformative power of life in Christ are indeed remarkable. Therefore, it is imperative to urge those who adhere to the letter of the law to “Learn to do good and seek justice,” meaning to learn to discern correctly. Beyond their many failings, those entrusted with the governance of the Jewish synagogue were likewise afflicted by their failures to judge rightly in all matters; instead, they cast unjust votes and were swayed by bribes, yielding to self-interest and selling their consent to those seeking to commit wrongdoing. As the prophet states, “The rulers of her judgment have taken bribes for the sake of bribes” (Isaiah 5:23). Thus, it is vital for those desiring to live by the Gospel to commit to the commandment of righteous judgment, not only in external affairs but also in the depths of the soul and spirit, as this is essential and divinely beneficial for upholding justice. Hence, I assert that when God condemns wrongdoing, Satan extols it; and when the Savior’s law compels us towards love-filled goodness, Satan lures us in the opposite direction. The mind serves as a judge and a decider; he who praises goodness and supports it demands justice; while he who permits evil to prevail becomes incapable of righteous judgment and will hear rightly, “Woe to them that call evil good and good evil, that put darkness for light and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20). It seems that the call is to "Deliver him who has been wronged." Compassion and impartiality are required here: “Judge the orphan, defend the widow” says the Lord, "and come, let us reason together," says the Lord. Are they not as if they were adversaries with the Lord? For He declares that He will be justified in His words and will prevail when He judges (Psalm 50:6). No one will be free from defilement, and no one shall boast of having a pure heart; instead, they will expose their own shortcomings and bring condemnation upon themselves. If divine glory were not vast and worthy of awe, as the wise Paul reminds us, “The sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Thus, to those who transition from the life under the law by faith to the sublime Christian life, He promises the forgiveness of past sins. Faith serves as the foundation of our hope and the gateway to divine mercy; it is as if a door and a pathway. This grace, through faith, is sufficient to cleanse those who are deeply stained as well as those who have suffered less from this malady; He assures us in saying, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” For when God cleanses, nothing remains unpurified, as Paul proclaims: “Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound” (Romans 5:20). And again, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn?” (Romans 8:33-34).

Therefore, she does not earn her whiteness through any merit of her own, but once she is purified, she lives in righteousness, provided she consistently relies on Him who has cleansed her. This is why Christ Himself, the one upon whom the pure one leans, told His disciples, ‘Without Me you can do nothing.’

When one recognizes the clarity of their situation, they may affirm the undeniable righteousness of God's judgment, acknowledging that their punishment is merited. Likewise, when they receive pardon, they see that forgiveness comes in accordance with divine order. The Scriptures illustrate this personification not to suggest that the Judge will interrogate each individual or respond to the accused but rather to instill in us a sense of responsibility, compelling us to reflect on our justification. It is conceivable that through a miraculous power, in an instant, all our life's actions will be inscribed in the memories of our souls like images. Thus, we may hear, Now their deeds are evident; they stand before Me (Hos. 7:2). The books referenced in Daniel (see: Dan. 7:10) signify the Lord awakening in humanity the remembrance of all their actions, so each may recall their deeds and understand the reasons behind their punishment.

Consequently, after being cleansed from the impurity of sin, having shed deceit from the soul in God's sight, having turned away from wrongful deeds, and gained insight into righteous acts—having sought justice, aided the oppressed, and defended the widow—Israel is summoned to the trial, with the promise that she will be purified as if by snow or waves. Thus, mere washing does not suffice to render one as pure as snow or waves; it requires works and earnest effort, whereby washing cleanses from defilement, and the defense of the fatherless and justification of the widow similarly bestows a purity akin to snow or waves. Other items and crimson may seem pure, but they are not afforded true whiteness. Since crimson is a deep red, and scarlet is even more vibrant, the comparison of the former to snow, and the latter to white waves, is apparent. Our sins are likened to these red hues because they wreak havoc upon souls. Just as repeated immersion in a dye leads to a more lasting and steadfast hue, while a light dye may wash off easily, so too does a soul indulging in sin become marked by an indelible sinful stain; conversely, a soul that lightly engages with evil bears a lesser stain, as the intensity of sin correlates with the depth of color. But why are snow and waves selected to symbolize pure white substances? Because the naturally white wave becomes even whiter through careful refinement. Similarly, the human soul can greatly surpass in virtue through its innate gifts and the practice of asceticism. Snow, fundamentally composed of water, is transformed as it rises white into the air, where moisture and winds interact in clouds, producing a foam that solidifies through cooling and acquires weight, cascading downwards. In this way, the soul that nurtures its inherent gifts through ascetic practices, supported by the Spirit, is honored with brilliance in God’s righteous judgment through the grace granted to the saints.

The great Physician of souls is ready to heal your afflictions, this liberator prepared not only to free your soul but all souls entrapped by sin. His words, spoken from saving lips, convey this promise.

Thus, having renounced vices, one must learn righteousness and uphold justice, aid the oppressed, and support the orphan and the widow (Is. 1:17). If this is adhered to, then the sins, once as bloody as crimson, will be cast away, and the acts of violence will be transformed into the attire of the Lord, woven from the fleece of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14), which in the Revelation is followed by the radiant purity of the virgins.

and come, let us reason together, says the Lord; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool” (Isaiah 1:16-18). Sincerely and continually renounce your impurities, and with unwavering faith, entrust to God the direction and transformation of the grace He has prepared for you. The bloody stains of our unclean nature will be made white through the gentle waters of grace; the wounds of disobedience will be cleansed and healed by the tears of repentance; the deeds of the flesh will be put to death by the Spirit; the desires and thoughts of the soul will be purified through the flames of trials and tribulations. There is nothing more perilous for those seeking purification than to be content with mere external cleanliness, which can satisfy the ego while obscuring the need for true internal and total renewal. Observe how the Church purifies the visible temple: the process starts from its innermost and most vital parts, extending outward to all. Likewise, this must be true for the individual.

They are encouraged to heed their conscience, which aligns with the divine reproaches they have received. It would be beneficial for them to confront their unresponsiveness to these calls for repentance, thereby humbling themselves before the Lord. In doing so, the merciful Lord is prepared to pardon their gravest sins. Their transgressions, likened to crimson—deep red and scarlet—can be made pure as snow; He is willing to cleanse them completely and remember their iniquities no more.

The verses from Isaiah 1:16-21 have a special significance in the context of the Epiphany, highlighting the sacrament of baptism in Christianity. At Christ’s baptism, the grace of the Holy Spirit is conferred, washing the soul clean of both personal and original sins, signifying purity and sanctity. Upon emerging from the waters, the baptized individual dons a white garment, symbolizing this transformation. Thus, in relation to the soul made pure through baptism, the promise resonates: “Although your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” This divine assurance, initially offered to the Jews called to repentance, is now appropriated by the holy Church in the sacrament of Baptism, which is why these verses are included in the liturgy for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

The Jews had provoked the Lord with their acts of violence, having hands stained with blood. They were guilty of murders and of oppressing the vulnerable—widows and orphans—yet remained untroubled, continuing to present sacrifices in the temple, mistakenly believing these would appease Him. The Lord seeks to engage them in a dialogue, inviting them to discern righteousness and accountability. He summons them, saying, “Come, let us reason; let us weigh the truth of the matter." David, despite having committed the grievous act of taking innocent Uriah’s life, understood that outward sacrifices could not cleanse his soul of guilt. He pleaded with the Lord, acknowledging that what God truly desires is a contrite spirit, a heart that is humble and broken. David approached the Lord not hoping to cover his sin but asking for a pure heart to be created anew within him, for he was deeply troubled by the burden of his wrongdoing. He expressed, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Likewise, through the prophet Isaiah, God extends a similar promise of grace to the Jews, urging them to mirror David’s heartfelt remorse.

The prophet's call to repentance speaks not only to the Israelites but also resonates with Christians, many of whom share similar failings. Sadly, there are Christians who harbor hatred, which scripture declares to be akin to murder, as articulated by the Apostle: “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer.” Those who exploit others, mistreating them or leading them astray through harmful words and actions, are also guilty of spiritual violence. We must soberly reflect that, in truth, we are all implicated in the sin of shedding innocent blood, for Christ died for the transgressions of us all on the cross.

Confronted by such profound sinfulness, let us submit to our Lord, accepting our unworthiness before His judgment. We should distance ourselves from the notion of justifying our actions before Him, for He shall always be justified in His words and will prevail in His judgment. Self-justification only intensifies our guilt and is particularly misplaced during confession. Genuine reconciliation in the confessional arises from a humble recognition of our accountability before the Lord.