Isaiah 59:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Moreover, their actions result in brokenness and distress for both themselves and others, showing their propensity to interfere in the affairs of others and their inclination towards disputes fueled by a desire for bribes and gifts. Thus, it is just to assert that justice is absent from their lives. Here, justice is understood as a life aligned with God’s commandments, blameless and righteous. The psalmist declares, “Thou hast done judgment and righteousness in Jacob” (Psalm 98:4), indicating that true justice is absent from their conduct. They are corrupt, pulling away from the world, or fostering disdain for it, failing to recognize our Lord Jesus Christ, whom they did not wish to acknowledge, instead digging their own pit of ruin. Therefore, it is said that justice has departed from them—indicating their lack of the ability to perform deeds that lead to the crown of righteousness for those who pursue it. The people have become utterly bereft of this spiritual wisdom, with the capacity to do what is pleasing to God seemingly vanished from their understanding.

Consequently, they are not shielded by their actions since they engage in unfruitful works, which the apostle refers to as barren. They thirst for bloodshed, reflecting the same violence towards the prophets that their ancestors practiced. Stephen questioned them, “Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?” The Lord lamented over Jerusalem, saying, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,” and declared that the retribution for the blood of the righteous, from Abel to Zechariah, would be upon them. The Scriptures again remind them, “Your hands are full of blood, and your tongue speaks wickedness.” Their cruelty and defiance reached the extreme of crucifying the Lord, paralleling Judas's betrayal through his selfishness and sacrilege. Their minds are indeed foolish; calamity and ruin mark their journey, and they have failed to learn the true way of peace. The apostle notes this in his letter to the Romans, despite some misunderstanding regarding its origin. True understanding of the world eludes those unwilling to accept its Creator, for Christ is our peace, stating, “My peace I give to you, my peace I leave with you.” He cautioned Jerusalem about the consequences of failing to recognize their peace, foretelling their imminent downfall at the hands of their adversaries. Their refusal to acknowledge divine truths results in a lack of justice in their lives, as illustrated by the prophecy: “Behold My servant whom I have chosen, My beloved in whom My soul delights; He will bring forth justice to the nations.” Their perverted paths arise not by divine design but from the misuse of free will, deviating from righteousness to error. The doctrines of the Pharisees represent a distortion of the truth, leading those who follow them away from peace and leaving them ignorant of that which they should pursue.