Isaiah 45:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This figure will build My city, meaning the Church. He will establish it in truth: He has formed the Church in a manner that demonstrates its authority, not through the sheer number of ministers, nor through laws inscribed on parchment, nor through outward deeds; but in what manner? In truth, for there is nothing more powerful than truth. Consequently, those who yield to His authority are not coerced but rather come willingly. He has committed no wrong and has harmed no one. All His paths are just, ensuring that no one can condemn Him for these commands. He will restore the captivity of My people, not as a reward, nor as a gift. That is to say, you shall not hoard gold or silver (Matthew 10:9).

The only-begotten Word of God, coeternal with the Father, has always been the sovereign over all creation, both seen and unseen. Yet humanity, having strayed from His kingdom and forsaken His scepter, fell prey to the devil's influence and became ensnared by sin. In response, the Mediator and Source of all righteousness reestablished His people under His yoke, for all His paths are just. The ways of Christ refer to the divine and evangelical truths that guide us in virtue, allowing us to wear the crown of holiness and achieve the honor of the highest calling.

These paths are righteous in their essence, devoid of any crookedness or corruption; they are straightforward and accessible, as it is affirmed that the way of the righteous is upright, and their path is prepared (Isaiah 26:7). The path of the law is arduous, plagued by numerous trials and obstacles that can feel insurmountable. In contrast, the way revealed through the Gospel is smooth, presenting no roughness or barriers. Thus, the ways of Christ offer true righteousness, and He has established the holy city, the Church, where He resides, living within the saints, making us temples of the living God, as we embody Christ through the communion of the Holy Spirit.

By founding the Church, He serves as its cornerstone, upon which we are built as precious stones into a sacred temple, the dwelling place of God in the Spirit (1 Pet. 2:5; Eph. 2:22). The Church, with Christ as its bedrock and unwavering support, is utterly steadfast. For as Scripture affirms, “the foundation of Zion is a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame” (1 Pet. 2:6). In establishing the Church, He has also freed His people from bondage; we, who live in this world, trapped under Satan’s dominion and the weight of sin, have been saved and restored to His grace. However, our redemption was not purchased with money or given freely; as His disciple stated, "We were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from our empty way of life, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect" (1 Pet. 1:18, 19). He shed His blood for us, and we belong not to ourselves but to the One who bought and redeemed us. Consequently, those who stray from the dignified standard of true faith face rightful condemnation, as declared by the voices of the saints, for they deny the Master who redeemed them.

For He will be sinless, and no deceit will be found in His mouth (1 Pet. 2:22). He will establish my city upon a rock, which the gates of hell shall not overcome (Matt. 16:18), and shining on the mountain, it cannot be hidden (Matt. 5:14): all who were previously bound by the chains of evil will be set free, not for a price or for offerings, for you are saved freely, as the apostles received and fulfilled the command: freely receive, freely give (Matt. 10:8). Some suggest that this refers to Zerubbabel, who led the captives from Babylon and rebuilt the city and the temple, as prophesied by Haggai and Zechariah: ‘The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will finish it’ (Zech. 4:9). However, it is more accurate and closer to the truth to assert that Cyrus did not build the city later reconstructed under Nehemiah, nor were his paths entirely straight. He was told, I have called you and strengthened you, yet you have not known Me, and all that has been said does not align with Zerubbabel’s status, who was under the control of the Medes and Persians. For Zerubbabel did not build the city, nor did he release the captives, nor could he rightly be called king, for as one living under the rule of other kings, he bore that title in name only.

If these words refer to the Father, how can it be understood that He is in the midst of your temple? These words signify that God has reconciled the world to Himself through Christ (2 Cor. 5:19). In this temple, we are granted His grace (Ps. 47:10), which is the Word made flesh who dwelt among us (John 1:14). Christ embodies redemption and grace. What greater act of mercy can there be than His sacrifice for our transgressions, to purify with His blood a world whose sins could not be atoned for in any other manner? The apostle declared, "Ye are the temple of God, and the Holy Ghost dwelleth in you" (1 Cor. 3:16), and with even more reason can we assert that the flesh of our Lord Christ acts as the temple of God, continually filled with the Holy Spirit. He testified to this with the proclamation: "I felt power going out from Me" (Luke 8:46). This power has the capacity to heal all deep wounds! The psalmist's words can be interpreted in this light: Alongside the faithful, he received God's mercy in the midst of His temple, as He established His church and ensured its continuity through eternity, bringing this grace to His people through His only begotten Son. God revealed that His Son would raise His dwelling: "He will build My house" (Isaiah 45:13). This dwelling extends throughout the entire earth, filling creation with the glory of His name, as it is stated: "By His glory the earth was filled" (Hab. 3:3). It is also affirmed: "And He gave Him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9-11).

The way of God represents the understanding and contemplation of God's truth and that of Christ. It resides in the heart of the believer, in the mind that submits to faith, in the spirit that has turned away from the wisdom of the flesh, and from there, it also manifests in deeds and life. It leads through Christ to communion with God, as Christ Himself declared: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). The way of God embodies every virtue, particularly prayer, self-discipline, kindness, compassion, patience, and humility. The Gospel conveys that the way of God is narrow, constrained by the broad openings of the flesh, the world, desires, vices, and iniquities. Yet, travelers must remember that although the narrow path may at times be laden with thorns, it ultimately leads to eternal life, whereas the broad way, though it may be adorned with flowers, also contains thorns and leads to ruin. It is inconceivable that any of us has not encountered at least some aspect of God's way, informed by education, the Church, and our conscience. Wise and graciously, the known path is navigated through our actions, revealing how to proceed further. Thus, the crucial matter is whether we are willing and eager to pursue God's way and remain steadfast in it. Do some not wish to rest along this path without diligence, instead of striving to advance? Do they not believe they can wander from this path without peril, enticed by the vices of the flesh, the world, desires, and sinful inclinations, as long as they do not stray too far? Do not the powerful passions and base inclinations dare to echo the ancient rejection of God's call to His way: “Depart from us, we do not want to follow Your ways” (Job 21:14)? Let us reflect, brethren, that as the wise one tells us, “he who does not care about his ways will perish” (Proverbs 19:16). Therefore, let us cling firmly, faithfully, zealously, and steadfastly to the way of God. “Be patient with the Lord, and keep His way, and He will raise you up, thou shalt inherit the earth” (Psalm 37:34) and heaven. Amen.

With God's support, his endeavors will be successful, meaning that all his military efforts will prosper, facing no obstacles on his journey to accomplishment, as all hindrances will be cleared away. This leader shall reconstruct My city—Jerusalem, which the Lord refers to as His city, serving as the epicenter of faith and genuine reverence for God. Cyrus will direct the rebuilding of both Jerusalem, which lay in desolation, and the temple located there. He will proclaim to Jerusalem, ‘Thou shalt be exalted, and My holy temple (through him) I will establish it’ (Isaiah 44:28). The realization of this prophecy is noted in 1 Ezra (1 Ezra 1:1-11). The restoration of My people from captivity shall occur, not out of retribution, nor as a gift. For the liberation from bondage, Cyrus not only refrained from demanding a ransom from the Hebrews, but also instructed his subjects to assist the returning Jews with their possessions (1 Ezra 1:4).