Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 53:12

"Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." — Isaiah 53:12 (ASV)

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

How clearly you have here before you our blessed Redeemer, and how strong are the expressions Isaiah used to set forth his substitution. If he did intend to teach us the doctrine that Christ suffered in the place and stead of his people, he could not have used more expressive words; and if he did not intend to teach us that truth, it is marvelous that he should have adopted a phraseology so likely to mislead. Yes, we believe and hold it fast: that Christ did indeed and truly take the sins of his people upon himself, and did in his own person make a complete expiation for the guilt of all his chosen. In this we find our hearts' best confidence: –

"Our soul can on this doctrine live,
Can on this doctrine die."

Have you and I an interest in this atonement, or must the complaint be made concerning us: Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? While I was reading just now, could you say by faith, Yes, surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows? Have you an appropriating faith, which takes the sufferings of Christ to be its own? Do you now humbly, but yet confidently, look to Jesus Christ, the great Burden-bearer on yonder tree, and know that your guilt was there?

If so, rejoice, and walk worthily of your calling. If not, soul, you do not know the first letters of the alphabet of religion? May the Lord teach you, for his name's sake.

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great,

That is his Father's gift.

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong:

The dying Christ has risen again, and he is a great conqueror now, and divided the spoil. Those spoils are human hearts, and the true love and deep devotion of those he has redeemed. He shall have this: –

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death:

He not only died, but he poured out his very soul to death.

And he shall divide the spoil with the strong;

That is the result of his own conquest.

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he will divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Blessed Intercessor, let your almighty intercession avail for each one of us, for your own name's sake! Amen.

Because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Forever blessed be his dear name! Amen.

And he was numbered with the transgressors: and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)

We shall do well also to read part of Isaiah 55 after Isaiah 53; the one is an admirable preparation for the other.

Because he has poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors: and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors,

And he is doing it now; pleading this very night that old prayer of his, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Oh! let you and I be pardoned with that plea.

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Thanks be to God for this great sacrifice!