John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 32:5

"The fool shall be no more called noble, nor the churl said to be bountiful." — Isaiah 32:5 (ASV)

No longer shall the base person be called. The Prophet means that everything will be restored to good order, so that vices will not, as before, be considered virtues. For, when the public government is wicked, covetous persons are in power, and are honored and esteemed, because men judge of virtue by wealth and power. A poor man is everywhere despised, though he is truly upright and bountiful to the full extent of his ability; and, in a word, in such a state of things there is nothing but disorder and confusion.

But good government quickly detects such pretenses and masks, for where virtue is esteemed, vices are immediately exposed. Good men also have greater freedom allowed them in restraining the wantonness of those who formerly trod under their feet all that is just and lawful.

When the Prophet speaks here about the condition and reformation of the Church, which is a spiritual government, we should raise our minds somewhat higher to view all this as relating to Christ. To Him it especially and uniquely belongs to expose hidden vices and to remove those veils and coverings by which the appearance of vices is changed, so that they are praised as if they were virtues.

He does this through the gospel. By it, He drags into light the disgraceful actions which were formerly concealed and openly shows what they really are. Consequently, no one can be deceived by their outward appearance unless he chooses to be.

And this is the reason why the gospel is so much hated by the world, for no one can patiently endure to have his “hidden thoughts” and concealed baseness “revealed.” (Luke 2:35).

Philosophers indeed reason admirably about covetousness and liberality, and to some extent explain what is the difference between them; but they never penetrate into the hearts, so as to search them and actually distinguish between the covetous man and the bountiful.

This can only be done by Christ’s light, when He shines through the gospel. By exploring the deepest corners of the human heart, He brings us to spiritual and inward obedience.

In this passage, therefore, we are brought to the judgment-seat of Christ, who alone, by exposing hypocrisy, reveals whether we are covetous or bountiful.