Thomas Aquinas Commentary Isaiah 61:1-11

"The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to them that are bound; to proclaim the year of Jehovah`s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers. But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. Instead of your shame [ye shall have] double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them. For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed. I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a garland, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." — Isaiah 61:1-11 (ASV)

1. The spirit of the Lord is upon me. Here he promises joy to the people. This is divided into two parts:

   • In the first, he promises joy.
   • In the second, the people receive the promise and give thanks, where it says, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord (Isaiah 61:10).

   Concerning the first part, he does two things:

   • First, he accepts the office of announcing joy.
   • Second, he foretells the reason or matter of this joy, beginning at and they shall be called (Isaiah 61:3).

2. Concerning the first point above, he does two things.

   First, the gift of prophecy is treated: the spirit of the Lord is upon me, Isaiah, because the Lord has anointed me, filling me with the gift of prophecy. For prophecy did not come by the will of man at any time, but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). Alternatively, this concerns Christ, about whom it says above, the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him (Isaiah 11:2), and in Psalm 45:7, God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows. This day this scripture is fulfilled in your ears (Luke 4:21).

3. Second, the action of the prophet or Christ is treated, which is twofold: to foretell rewards for the good and to bring remedy to the suffering.

   He preaches to the good, saying, to preach to the meek; as it is written, with meekness receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls (James 1:21).

   He brings remedy to the suffering, such as those dejected with discouragement, coming to heal the contrite of heart by consoling them or, if this refers to Christ, by forgiving their sins. As the Psalm says, He heals the broken of heart, and binds up their bruises (Psalms 147:3). For those held in captivity, he announces the benefit of liberation: and to preach a release to the captives. This can mean literal captives or those held captive by the devil and their own errors, as mentioned above: that you might say to them that are bound: come forth (Isaiah 49:9).

   He also proclaims the time of liberation: to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, referring to the liberation of the Jews, and the day of vengeance, referring to the Chaldeans. Alternatively, this is the time of grace, in which God takes vengeance on the devil by curbing his power: now is the judgment of the world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out (John 12:31). And also, you shall bless the crown of the year of your goodness (Psalms 65:11); for the time is come (Psalms 102:13).

4. For those consumed with sadness, he announces joy: to comfort all that mourn, in general, and to appoint to the mourners of Zion, in particular. As it is written, with a great spirit he saw the things that are to come to pass at last, and comforted the mourners in Zion . The sign of this joy is when the signs of sadness are turned into signs of gladness, which is to give them a crown for ashes, as stated above: in that day the Lord shall be a crown of glory (Isaiah 28:5).

5. And they shall be called. Here he foretells the substance of their joy.

   First, regarding the restoration of buildings, he sets out the condition of the rebuilders: and they shall be called in it, namely Jerusalem, by the command and permission of Cyrus, the mighty ones of justice. This means they are constant in doing justice, not shaken by the threats of their adversaries. Alternatively, this can refer to the apostles: as the rose planted by the brooks of waters . The restoration of buildings is then described: and they shall build. This refers to these same men, or to the apostles, as stated above: and the places that have been desolate for ages shall be built in you (Isaiah 58:12).

6. Second, regarding the keeping of their possessions: and strangers shall stand. This could be fulfilled literally, as some foreigners were employed in these menial services, like the Gibeonites: so let them live, as to serve the whole multitude (Joshua 9:21). Or, it can be understood mystically: the gentile preachers are the flocks, the simple believers of the Church, and these preachers keep and cultivate the Church herself by their merits and teaching.

7. Note on the words, the Lord has anointed me (Isaiah 61:1), that God the Father anointed Christ:

   1. With the oil of priestly dignity, as a priest to offer sacrifices: he anointed him with holy oil .
   2. With the oil of royal power, as a king to govern: I anointed you king (2 Samuel 12:7) and prince of my people.
   3. With the oil of immense strength, as a warrior to fight: how was the shield of the valiant cast away, the shield of Saul as though he had not been anointed with oil? (2 Samuel 1:21).
   4. With the oil of eminent gladness, as a generous man to have mercy: gladJucundus. DR: “acceptable.” is the man that shows mercy and lends (Psalms 112:5); God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows (Psalms 45:7).

8. Likewise, the devout servant anoints Christ:

   1. With the tears of remorse: anoint your head, and wash your face (Matthew 6:17).
   2. With the ointment of devotion: but she with ointment has anointed my feet (Luke 7:46).
   3. With the oil of pure intention: at all times let your garments be white, and let not oil depart from your head (Ecclesiastes 9:8).
   4. With the oil of praise and thanksgiving: Jacob arising in the morning, took the stone... and set it up for a title, pouring oil upon the top of it (Genesis 28:18).

9. But you shall be called the priests. Here he foretells the substance of their joy regarding the glory of men. Concerning this, he does three things.

   First, he shows the perfection of their glory, because they are glorious in spiritual things: priests, as living a holy life worthy of the priesthood. As 2 Kings 8:18 says of the sons of David: how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints . They are glorious, too, in temporal things: you shall eat the strength of the Gentiles, that is, you will be refreshed and sustained by the strength of the Persians and Medes. You shall pride yourselves, meaning you will be exalted, as stated above: when the multitude of the sea shall be converted to you, the strength of the Gentiles shall come to you (Isaiah 60:5). Mystically, the apostles are priests, as the teachers of the gentiles, and they delighted in the strength of the martyrs.

10. He assigns the reason for this perfection: for your double confusion. This is as if to say: you had confusion from a lack of both spiritual and temporal things. They shall praise, that is, your neighbors will praise, seeing their part—the compensation of double goods given to them by God: I will render you double as I declare today (Zechariah 9:12). Mystically, the Church receives rewards in the goods of both soul and body for the double confusion caused by the unbelief of the gentiles and the Jews.

11. Second, he touches on the duration of their glory: everlasting joy. This is true as long as they remained in justice, as Jeremiah 18:7–10 explains. As it says above: everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness (Isaiah 35:10).

    He assigns the reason: for I am the Lord. The sense is this: because the Lord loves justice, he will grant that you will be just, so that you may be pleasing to him, and he will make a covenant of everlasting joy with you. I hate robbery in a burnt offering: he that offers sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that sacrifices the son in the presence of his father . A perpetual covenant: and I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah (Jeremiah 31:31).

12. Third, he discusses the proclamation of their glory: and they shall know their seed among the Gentiles. This refers either to the Jews who were known for their religious worship, or to the spiritual seed of the apostles: and their children for their sakes remain for ever .

13. I will greatly rejoice. Here the people receive the promise and give thanks. Concerning this, two things are done.

    First, in the person of the people or of the Church, joy of heart is expressed: I will greatly rejoice. But I will rejoice in the Lord, and I will joy in God my Jesus (Habakkuk 3:18).

    Second, the divine benefit is confessed, and this is done in several ways:

    • Under the likeness of clothing, since the divine benefits protect them from sufferings: for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, as stated above: put on the garments (Isaiah 52:1) of your joy.
    • Under the likeness of adornments, since they adorn them: as a bridegroom. Mystically, this refers to the perfect in the Church, who take the place of Christ. And as a bride refers to the imperfect: I will clothe youCircumdabo te. Vg.: cirbumdabit te Deus. DR: “God will clothe thee.” with the double garment .
    • Under the likeness of buds, regarding their fruits: for as the earth brings forth her bud, as stated above: it shall bud forth and blossom, and shall rejoice with joy and praise (Isaiah 35:2).