Isaiah 61:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Consequently, the people under their care were led astray because they remained indifferent to the riches of divine truth: they taught the traditions and rules of men and led their followers away from the knowledge of Christ, stating, “We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not understand this," leading them to question, “He has a demon and is mad; why do you listen to Him?” (John 9:29; John 10:20).

For this reason, the Lord of all testified through the prophets saying, "The shepherds are timid, and they did not seek the Lord; therefore, My flock was lost" (Jeremiah 10:21). Through Ezekiel, He lamented, "O shepherds of Israel, feed yourselves; should not the shepherds feed the sheep? Behold, you consume the milk and clothe yourselves with the wool, yet you do not feed My flock" (Ezekiel 34:3). He further added, "You will graze in good pastures, but you trample down the rest; you drink clean water, but you churn up the ignored waters for My sheep" (Ezekiel 34:18-19). Pure water and ample pastures signify spiritual nourishment provided by the law. However, these false shepherds muddied the waters and spoiled the pastures with their misguided teachings, forcing the people to ingest tainted doctrine and graze in barren lands. As a result, they were justly removed from their roles in caring for the Lord’s flock, and instead, those from the outside were called to take their place.

Christ has designated church leaders who are wise and resolute, filled with profound understanding of the teachings, sourced not from Israel but from among the Gentiles, to be His messengers and caretakers (2 Timothy 2:15). These individuals do not revel in their appointments; rather, they acknowledge their calling from God, as the wise Paul stated (Hebrews 5:4). Though he hailed from the tribe of Benjamin, he consistently referred to himself as a servant and called apostle of Jesus Christ. Therefore, all of you who have received the honor of the priesthood, the strength of your speech must come from this divine calling, and therein lies your incredible splendor. This strength of speech represents either the honors received from the mightiest among the Gentiles or can be interpreted in other contexts. Yet no one, as He states, can elude the impact of the Word, as Scripture often refers to "mouth" in place of the Word. For example, "Their mouths are full of oaths and lies" (Psalms 9:28). So, He declares, "Cast down the authority of the tongue." It appears that here, the prophetic term emphasizes either those who are well-known among them or the most learned, possessing worldly wisdom. As the potent proclamation of the holy masters was effective, so too were those who heeded their call exalted; the honor and glory of the teachers come from those who are saved through their enlightening messages. This is what is meant when it is said, “In their abundance, you shall be marvelous.”

The progression of divine preaching is destined to reach every nation, with the leaders of the holy churches, who exalt Christ, ultimately becoming heirs of all creation. This is implied when it is said, "This is how they will inherit the earth." Just as Joshua once distributed territories to the Israelites—granting them the lands of the Amorites, Edomites, Hivites, and others—Christ, who walked the earth with the visage of the ancient Jesus, bestowed upon His ministers not merely the land of Judah, but the entirety of the globe. Thus, this represents a second inheritance; by His decree, His ministers and disciples shared in the division of territories and cities, and to this day they celebrate in Christ with spiritual joy, wearing, as it were, crowns upon their heads. This joy is everlasting, for we understand that the ultimate reward is not found in transient matters, but in eternal promise, life without end, and blessings beyond comprehension and speech.

The builders of cities once in ruins, the shepherds of flocks and herds, and the vine-dressers, namely the children of foreigners, also serve God as priests, as the prophet affirms, ‘And you shall be called priests of the Lord,’ the ministers of our God, indicating the leaders of the congregations. Alternatively, this may relate to the apostles, suggesting that when the laborers, shepherds, and vine-growers of the Gentiles take on roles as church leaders, you, regarding whom it was declared, ‘It shall be saved,’ and ‘If the Lord of hosts had not left us a remnant, we would be like Sodom and Gomorrah,’ will be named priests and ministers of God, just like the sons of David, of whom it is said, ‘But the sons of David were priests of God.’ They will partake in the strength of the nations and will marvel at their wealth. The honor of the fathers is the glory of the children, and the prosperity of the people serves as the sustenance of the priests. Paul wrote to the Corinthians regarding these treasures: I thank my God through Christ Jesus that you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and knowledge, as the testimony of Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any gift. Yet the strength of the nations encapsulates the victory of the martyrs, and we take pride in their glory—not in a sinful pride, which God resists but rather in a commendable pride derived from authority and honor. For this reason, Moses had a radiant face; who could proclaim, ‘With you we shall push down our adversaries’? But Aquila translated that the glory be adorned with a royal vestment to signify a noble decoration. Consequently, the phrase regarding ‘double shame’ should be viewed in this context. Because you have experienced dual humiliation—once from the Jewish people who turned away from God and once from the Gentiles who worshiped idols—you will witness them, upon returning to the reverence of God, praising their share—undoubtedly the Lord, of whom the psalmist declared, ‘My portion is the Lord.’ Thus, only those who possess the other part can affirm this. Therefore, as you have borne the double humiliation and the shame of their unrepentant actions within the land of the meek and the living, you shall receive double honor in faith for both the present and the future. They will inherit eternal joy, whereas the Seventy's translation reads that they will inherit the earth a second time, and eternal joy shall rest upon their heads because the Jews, who once held a small territory, shall later possess the entire earth. Concerning this land, the Father says to the Savior, ‘Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your possession.’ The Lord, who values true justice and despises the gain from improper sacrifices, has granted this; in contrast, the LXX terms it as unjust gain, as if any gain could be deemed just when it springs from wrongdoing. Therefore, this indicates that God values the poverty of the righteous far more than the offerings of the wealthy that arise from deceit and wrongdoing.

The characteristics depicted in the prophecy apply most fully to the Church, whereas they relate to Old Testament Israel in a much diminished manner. The special status of the chosen people as a holy nation was forfeited due to their disbelief in Christ, and this privilege was passed on to the members of the New Testament Church. The prophecy states, "Ye shall be called the priests of the Lord, and His servants," highlighting that the Apostle Peter refers to Christians as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a people set apart as God’s inheritance. Initially, the Gentiles did not recognize this elevated status of the Christian Church; instead, they treated it with disdain and subjected it to severe persecution. Eventually, in recognizing its profound significance, they humbled themselves and became its willing servants, contributing to the Church with their efforts. From among these, emerged the shepherds of Christ's flock, who cultivated the spiritual realm through teaching, and caretakers responsible for the spiritual vineyard—the Church. The labor and resources of nations were offered to support the Church, both for its protection and to enhance its external prosperity.