Isaiah 65:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He provides a striking illustration, using a vine where one berry remains despite the others being present. He speaks of the vine-grower, who expresses, do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it. For my servant’s sake, I will exercise such wisdom that if in any town the rest are negligent and only one remains faithful and obedient, that one will be spared from the fate of the others who shall face just judgment; for, He says, I will not destroy them all. Indeed, the Lord's wrath descended abruptly upon the arrogant Jews, extinguishing the disobedient, yet by divine providence, those among them deemed worthy of salvation through Christ were preserved.

As the apostle Paul articulates, according to the election of grace (Romans 11:5), judgment and selection occurred so that only a remnant of Israel was caught up in faith (Romans 9:27). Hence, the Lord asserts, I will not destroy them all, but I will preserve the seed of Jacob and Judah. To remove here signifies not a total destruction, but rather to elevate and make them prominent, for the term ‘to destroy’ (ἐξαίρειν) can also imply ‘to exalt’ (ὑψοῦν). Such were the glorious disciples, raised and made conspicuous like a city on a hill or a lamp on a stand, brightening all within the house, as the Savior Himself stated (Matthew 5:14-15).

This seed from Jacob and Judah shall inherit my holy mountain, referring to the church. This is how the wise Isaiah describes those brought into fellowship through faith in Christ, who will partake of joy and drink deeply on this mountain: behold the blessing for all nations (Isaiah 25:6-7). On this mountain, the inheritance of My chosen ones shall be realized, where all who yield to the authority of My kingdom will dwell. It is not out of place to consider this mountain as the highest city, the heavenly Jerusalem, where the inheritance of the saints lies, and where God grants them blessings beyond comprehension; for it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9).

He states, if one finds in a vineyard a cluster of grapes that failed to ripen and yielded sour fruits due to poor conditions, yet discovers one perfect seed that holds the potential to flourish and reach full maturity, he might urge another: "Do not harm it, but let it thrive, for the blessing of the Lord is in it." Thus, He indicates that if among the countless Israelites who offend God, He finds a few virtuous ones, He will spare them from the devastation that awaits the multitude. This He will do for the sake of His servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to whom His promise was granted, or for those who serve Him amid many sinners. A similar account is found in Genesis, where the search decreases from fifty to ten righteous individuals in the hope of rescuing a sinful city (Gen. 18), and where Lot and his daughters are led out of Sodom (Gen. 19). It is written in the letter from the Catholic tradition that his soul was distressed by witnessing lawless acts, expressing the agony of his soul through the state of his body. Likewise, Enoch was taken by God among a great multitude of sinners (Gen. 5), and Noah along with his family was preserved from the flood because of the departure of all flesh from the service of the Lord (Gen. 7). Furthermore, Abraham was saved from the fire of the Chaldeans due to his faithfulness (Gen. 11). This sentiment resonates with the words of Jeremiah, who speaks for the Lord, saying, "as heat in the wilderness I found Israel along with those slain by the sword" (Jer. 31). For, he explains, when the entire world lay lifeless, wounded by idolatrous swords, I discovered Israel in Abraham, possessing the warmth of faith, much like a physician who, amid the slain, perceives a pulse of life and tends to the wounded to restore them. The Latin translation mistakenly interprets warmth, instead understanding it as wolf-bean, which has led many Greeks astray. However, it is important to note that in Hebrew, the term represents grace, for it was by God’s grace and not through their own merits that Israel experienced salvation.

When the righteous coexist with the wicked, His judgment will be directed solely at the latter, not affecting all indiscriminately, as illustrated by the stories of Lot and Noah. I will not destroy all for his sake. The presence of a righteous individual amid a sea of the unrighteous ensures that not everyone will face ruin: their destiny will not align with his.