Bible Commentary

Isaiah 1:18

The Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 1:18

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Come now, and let us reason together. God has from time to time permitted man to reason with him (; ; ; ); but it is difficult to see that there is any "reasoning" or "controversy" here.

Mr. Cheyne translates, "Let us bring our dispute to an end." Though your sins be as scarlet … like crimson; i.e. "open, evident, glaring." Or there may be an allusion to their blood-guiltiness (see , ).

They shall be as white as snow. Comp. , which is completely parallel, whether it was written before or after. There can be no better image of, purity than snow (comp. ; ).

As wool. A weaker illustration than the preceding one, but needed for the parallelism. (The resemblance of falling snow to wool is noted in .

Recommended reading

More for Isaiah 1:18

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

The Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 1:1-31Isaiah 1:1-31 · The Pulpit CommentaryPART I.—EARLIER PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH (CH. 1-35.) SECTION I.—THE GREAT ARRAIGNMENT (Isaiah 1:1-31.). EXPOSITIONThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 1:10-20Isaiah 1:10-20 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe prophetic strain. Isaiah had gone only a very little way in his testimony when he broke into the true prophetic strain. The prophets were God's witnesses against the mere shows and semblances of piety, and for the r…Matthew Henry on Isaiah 1:16-20Isaiah 1:16-20 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryNot only feel sorrow for the sin committed, but break off the practice. We must be doing, not stand idle. We must be doing the good the Lord our God requires. It is plain that the sacrifices of the law could not atone,…A Call to Repentance; Repentance and Reformation Urged. (b. c. 738.)Isaiah 1:16-20 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleA CALL TO REPENTANCE; REPENTANCE AND REFORMATION URGED. (B. C. 738.) Though God had rejected their services as insufficient to atone for their sins while they persisted in them, yet he does not reject them as in a hopel…The Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 1:16-20Isaiah 1:16-20 · The Pulpit CommentaryTHE REQUIREMENT OF GOD—AMENDMENT OF LIFE. God, having put aside the worthless plea of outward religiousness made by his people, goes on to declare, by the mouth of his prophet, what he requires. First, in general terms…The Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 1:16-20Isaiah 1:16-20 · The Pulpit CommentaryNo return to God's favor without amendment of life. The outward show of religion, which the Israelites maintained, vain and futile as it was, seemed to indicate that they were not wholly irreclaimable—they did not desir…
commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 1:1-31PART I.—EARLIER PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH (CH. 1-35.) SECTION I.—THE GREAT ARRAIGNMENT (Isaiah 1:1-31.). EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 1:10-20The prophetic strain. Isaiah had gone only a very little way in his testimony when he broke into the true prophetic strain. The prophets were God's witnesses against the mere shows and semblances of piety, and for the r…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryMatthew Henry on Isaiah 1:16-20Not only feel sorrow for the sin committed, but break off the practice. We must be doing, not stand idle. We must be doing the good the Lord our God requires. It is plain that the sacrifices of the law could not atone,…Matthew HenrycommentaryA Call to Repentance; Repentance and Reformation Urged. (b. c. 738.)A CALL TO REPENTANCE; REPENTANCE AND REFORMATION URGED. (B. C. 738.) Though God had rejected their services as insufficient to atone for their sins while they persisted in them, yet he does not reject them as in a hopel…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 1:16-20No return to God's favor without amendment of life. The outward show of religion, which the Israelites maintained, vain and futile as it was, seemed to indicate that they were not wholly irreclaimable—they did not desir…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 1:16-20THE REQUIREMENT OF GOD—AMENDMENT OF LIFE. God, having put aside the worthless plea of outward religiousness made by his people, goes on to declare, by the mouth of his prophet, what he requires. First, in general terms…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 1:18-23Argument and conviction. I. THE TRIAL OF THE CASE. 1. God is reason, otherwise he could not be God of justice. And if the nature can defend itself, clear itself from guilt, its plea will be allowed. Just so in Isaiah 43…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Isaiah 1:18Reasoning with God about our sins. Conceive a man responding to this appeal, what may we think he would say to God, and what may we suppose God would reply? I. FIRST PLEA. "Thou art revealed as the great God, inhabiting…Joseph S. Exell and contributors