Isaiah 60:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, it is foretold that He offers them (the Israelites) not merely spiritual treasures, but physical wealth, including gold, silver, bronze, iron, the finest rams, cypress trees, and laurel branches. Therefore, O Israelite, pay attention and expect nothing other than material prosperity. Although the moonlight or sunlight may at times diminish, this is not due to their essence but rather to the sins that have been brought upon the people. Therefore, God also proclaims, “You shall walk in the light of the luminaries without fear,” and later, “All anguish shall be removed from you, and the days of your sorrow shall cease.” The prophet speaks here of sudden death, which will no longer exist. All your people shall be righteous, and they shall inherit the land forever. This was not accomplished by God’s action alone, but rather by their own choices—God invited them to the heavenly realm, but they fell away due to their unworthiness. “The shoot of My planting, the work of My hands, for My glory.” It pleases Him, He says, that what He has planted should endure for His glory. From the least shall arise a thousand, and from the weakest shall emerge a mighty nation.

This appears to be the essence of the phrase, "They shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).

Furthermore, consistent with earlier reflections, we observe that sorrow is particularly characteristic of those entrenched in sin, for they expect not glory but judgment, not divine comfort but punishment, fire, and darkness. In contrast, those who persist in doing good rejoice in hope, as the wise Paul expresses (Romans 12:12); for a righteous life leads to honor and joy that lasts for all eternity. If a sinful person turns toward the Lord, is justified by faith, and receives forgiveness, he too should look forward to the rewards set aside for the saints. At that point, his grief will dissipate, and he will be liberated from fatigue and sorrow. This idea is echoed in the following words: "All your people shall be righteous"; meaning all those who will come in the future shall be justified. This message is directed as if to the Church: Christ justifies the sinful by His grace and compassion, absolving those burdened by iniquity.

The ultimate source of this grace is indicated by the phrase regarding tending to the garden, the works of His hands in glory. We are the cultivation of Christ, our universal Savior and His creation. Though we are wild olives, we are grafted into the good olive tree, as long as Christ works within us as through Himself; for it is not an intercessor or an angel, but the Lord Himself who saves us (Is. 63:9). Thus, He declared: I am the One who speaks (Is. 52:6). He states there will be the smallest among thousands, the least among many. In this present age, the glory of the saints remains veiled, and from a worldly perspective, some appear insignificant, lacking visible splendor. Yet when Christ manifests His glory from heaven, even those previously deemed the least will appear great in their speech; they will become leaders among nations and guides for many, having led an honorable life (2 Tim. 4:7).

This is evident in Christ’s words to His apostles: "When the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you will also sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28). Similarly, in the parable of the talents, He says, "Be in charge of ten cities," while to others He assigns lesser roles, saying "Be in charge of five cities" (Luke 19:17, 19), rewarding each according to their faithfulness and honoring them. Thus, the saints rejoice, declaring, "Subdue nations to us, and bring peoples under our feet" (Ps. 46:4). Those once considered the least, who later become numerous and eloquent, I the Lord of all will gather at the appointed time, clearly at the moment of His return from heaven. In that day, the saints will experience the fullness of all good things; as the wise Paul describes, they will be caught up in the clouds on the Day of the Lord, and so we will always remain with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:17), enjoying eternal glory.

While some interpret the promises literally, we understand them to be fulfilled in a spiritual sense, differing not in timing, but in the nature of the promises.

To those who believe that the sun sets at noon for false prophets and sinners, yet, for the godly, the sun of righteousness rises, we ask: why does the sun of righteousness not shine continuously for the saints? This is the same light who proclaimed, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), who shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5). The sun shall not scorch us, nor the moon overshadow us by night (Ps. 120:6). The Lord is our everlasting light, and the days of our grief will end when we will not weep over the fall of Jerusalem, but rejoice in the edification of the Church. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall find comfort. Blessed are those who weep, for they shall rejoice. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be fulfilled (Matt. 5); (Lk. 6), so that, after partaking in the flesh of the Lord, they may express the word of the Lord from their hearts and recount their deeds to the King (Ps. 44).