Day 96: January 1, 2026 – Isaiah 56-58 and Matthew 17-19

Chapter 58 of Isaiah contains a bit of a mirror image of Matthew 25. We have the prophet in the chapters preceding that we read really lambast Israel and its unfaithfulness. It goes on for a couple chapters describing how the nation and the people have turned their back on God and so as a result God has turned his back on them. And then in 58 you see a listing of all that which God requires of people in order for them to follow him properly. What is it that the Lord requires, the question arises. In chapter 58 starting at vs.6 you see a listing of all those things that God requires of us:  “to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?”

But wait, there is more, he then follows that up with: “If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted.” If you do all these things, the prophet states, then you shall call upon the Lord and the Lord will answer. That seems like a pretty good deal to me, but when was the last time that we loosed the bonds of injustice or any of those things that are in the list. Being a follower of Jesus, as we see in the parable of the servant who received grace but did not give it out, requires us to give grace and compassion and mercy. We aren’t very good at that, and yet it is required of us.