Isaiah 65:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In ancient times, the descendants of Israel repeatedly offended God, the Creator of all, through their foolishness, various sins, and refusal to live righteously. Thus, they faced various punishments: at times, their fields yielded no harvest, and despite their toil, they were left weak with hunger, as it is written, “And the rye shall yield their fruit, and their labor their toil” (Psalm 77:46). The holy prophets warned them, saying, “You shall sow, but you shall not reap; you shall pour oil, but you shall not anoint yourself with oil, and you shall not drink wine” (Micah 6:15). In another instance, it was stated, “You shall build houses and not dwell in them; you shall plant desirable vineyards and not drink wine from them” (Amos 5:11). At times, they faced warfare, resulting in some being slain while others, fearing for their lives, fled to foreign lands. Such was the fate of the ancients, more than once, due to grave sins.

However, those who have received grace through faith in Christ and who have cleansed themselves from sin through holy baptism will not fall into wickedness nor suffer sudden loss in their spiritual endeavors. Rather, they will rejoice in their accomplishments, as sung in the Psalms: “for He gives His beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2). No one shall drive them away, no one shall remove the dwelling God grants them; for in the Father’s house are many mansions (John 14:2). They shall not be deprived of their inheritance, which is fitting for their spiritual fruitfulness; it shall be to them as life in the days of the tree of life, that is, sacred—a reflection of the existence of the first beings before the fall, when they had access to the tree of life and were free from sin’s vile and God-hating nature.

The prophetic word adds another insight: the works of their labor shall be vindicated; they will experience an unchangeable state of affairs. The law was given to the Israelites through Moses, but it was only a shadow, an image of truth, not the truth itself. When Christ appeared, the shadows were dispelled, with the images overtaken by the reality; thus, the authority of the legal order would not endure forever. Consequently, the descendants of Israel could not extend their works, as the sub-legal ministry—if counted on merely types and shadows—is ineffective. However, Christians will flourish because no other law will supersede that which enhances the quality of the Gospel’s teachings. Indeed, concerning Christ, the Savior of all, the Psalmist declared, “Thy truth is truth forever, and thy law is truth” (Psalm 118:142). But My elect, He states, shall not labor in vain but shall instead produce children of blessing.

He instructs us by comparing what the Jewish teachers once achieved: these scribes and Pharisees, who abandoned the law, and taught instead the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9; cf. Isaiah 29:18), became fathers of children—in a manner, by teaching—but ultimately, they bore children destined for destruction. This was demonstrated by the Savior when He admonished the scribes and Pharisees, saying, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you go to great lengths to gain one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves” (Matthew 23:15). Thus, they bore children fated for damnation. Yet, My elect, He asserts—referring to the faithful disciples, or the ministers of My words—will not generate children destined for destruction like them, for their offspring shall be blessed, blessed by God. That He is attentive to them, bestowing mercy and kindness, is evidenced by His declaration: “Before they call, I will hear; while they are yet speaking, I will answer.”

Yet, who can assert that the days of the tree of life referenced by the prophet Isaiah correspond to the present experience of the Church of Christ, and that Christ Himself is prophetically referred to as the tree of life, being the Wisdom of God? As Solomon indicates, She is the tree of life to them that obtain it (Proverbs 3:18).

However, if we align with them, let them realize that this promise is not only intended for Jerusalem but extends to Sodom as well, as Ezekiel prophesies, "Sodom shall return to its former state" (Ezekiel 16:65). Consequently, the houses mentioned where those who inhabit them will reside should be understood as virtues or various abodes with the Father, which the builder will possess eternally. This is similar to the midwives who revered God, as noted in Exodus, where it is stated that God granted them homes because of their fear of Him. Likewise, Jacob, described as simple or, as the Greek term suggests, άλαστός, meaning unpretentious, was not among those criticized in Peter's epistle, who were warned, "In covetousness with feigned words they will ensnare you" (2 Pet. 2:3). Therefore, they resided in a home that Esau, who delighted in livestock and nature, could not claim. Such a dwelling is described by our Savior in the Gospel: "Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts upon them is like a wise man who built a house upon the rock" (Matthew 7:24). However, many saints do build houses yet do not dwell in them, whether due to wandering, misappropriation by others, or death. Job exemplified this; despite his wealth in both material and spiritual terms, he found himself destitute, sitting on a heap of refuse at the city gate (Job 2). Conversely, the wealthy man from the Gospel, adorned in fine clothing, built a house and lived within it, to whom it was fittingly declared, "Fool, this night your soul is required of you, and what you have prepared, to whom shall it belong?" (Luke 12:20). Furthermore, it is said they will not only construct houses and reside in them, but they will also cultivate vineyards and partake of their own harvest, as Micah states: "He shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and shall not be afraid" (Micah 4:4). This vine, as spoken of in the Gospel, declares, "I am the vine, you are the branches, and my Father is the vinedresser" (John 15:5). "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit is taken away and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 5). The produce will be enjoyed and savored, uplifting the heart of man, and the bridal parties will share them with friends, consuming them daily in God's kingdom. Those who partake of the sweetness of the Holy Spirit and are abundant in His fruits—love, joy, peace, faith, self-control, patience—will be blessed. It is stated of such a gardener, "He who plants a fig tree will eat of its fruit" (Amos 9). Whoever builds such houses and plants these vineyards, as the Apostle relates, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase" (1 Cor. 3:6), will reap the rewards of their labor (Psalm 127), and through this spiritual harvest, will gain eternal life, untouched by the snares of the devil and his servants.