Isaías 58:3

3 ‘Por que jejuamos’, dizem,‘e não o viste?Por que nos humilhamos,e não reparaste?’“Contudo, no dia do seu jejum vocês fazem o que é do agrado de vocêse exploram os seus empregados.

Isaías 58:3 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 58:3

Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not?
&c.] Our fasting; takest no notice of it; expresses no approbation of it, and pleasure in it: this is put for all religious services, being what was frequently performed under the Old Testament, not only at certain times appointed by the Lord, but on other occasions, and of their own fixing; in which they put their confidence, and often boasted of, ( Luke 18:12 ) : "wherefore have we afflicted our soul", by fasting, "and thou takest no knowledge?" of that, nor of us, and dost not save us from our enemies, and deliver us from our troubles, and bestow favours on us: they had a high opinion of their own performances, and thought that God must have likewise; and were displeased that he showed no more regard unto them: behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure;
this, and what follows in the two next verses, are an answer to their questions, and give reasons why the Lord took no more notice of their fasting, or of their services; because they were not done aright, they found their own pleasure in them; not that they indulged to bodily recreations and carnal delights, but they gratified the inward desires of the flesh, malice, envy, and the like; and they pleased themselves with their own duties, and fancied they procured the favour of God by them: and exact all your labours;
of their servants, or their money of their debtors; they grieved and afflicted their debtors, by demanding their debts of them, as Jarchi interprets it; and that in a very rigorous manner, requiring whole and immediate payment; or, as it is usual with establishments, they require an exact conformity to their manner of service, worship, and discipline.

Isaías 58:3 In-Context

1 “Grite alto, não se contenha!Levante a voz como trombeta.Anuncie ao meu povo a rebelião delee à comunidade de Jacó, os seus pecados.

2 Pois dia a dia me procuram;parecem desejosos de conhecer os meus caminhos,como se fossem uma nação que faz o que é direitoe que não abandonou os mandamentos do seu Deus.Pedem-me decisões justase parecem desejosos de que Deus se aproxime deles.

3 ‘Por que jejuamos’, dizem,‘e não o viste?Por que nos humilhamos,e não reparaste?’“Contudo, no dia do seu jejum vocês fazem o que é do agrado de vocêse exploram os seus empregados.

4 Seu jejum termina em discussão e rixae em brigas de socos brutais.Vocês não podem jejuar como fazem hojee esperar que a sua voz seja ouvida no alto.

5 Será esse o jejum que escolhi,que apenas um dia o homem se humilhe,incline a cabeça como o juncoe se deite sobre pano de saco e cinzas?É isso que vocês chamam jejum,um dia aceitável ao SENHOR?