I, even I am he, that blotteth out thy transgressions for
mine
own sake
The same with "sins" in the next clause; original sin, and actual
sins; which are transgressions of the law of God, of which the
law accuses, for which it pronounces guilty, curses, and
condemns; which are contrary to the nature of God, strike at his
deity, and must be abominable to him; they are many, yea
infinite, and yet all pardoned for Christ's sake; which is here
expressed by a "blotting" them out, in allusion to the blotting
of a debt book: sins are debts, and these are many, and which
cannot be paid by the sinner; Christ has made full payment; as
the surety of his people: upon this the debt book is crossed;
these debts are remitted for his sake: or as a cloud is blotted
out, dispelled by the wind, or scattered by the sun; see (
Isaiah
44:22 ) , so as to be seen no more with the eye of avenging
justice, or to be charged against the sinner to his condemnation.
The author of this blessing of grace is the Lord, "I, even I am
he"; who had been so ill used, and maltreated, as before
declared; whose law had been broken in such a manner; and who is
the Lawgiver that is able to save and to destroy; and who hates
and abhors sin, and is strictly just; and yet, notwithstanding
all this, forgives it; and which he repeats for the confirmation
of it, and seems to express it with the utmost pleasure, and as
glorying in it, and as if it was an honour to him, and a jewel in
his crown; and indeed it is his sole prerogative; none can
forgive sins but him: and this he does for his own sake; it is
not procured by anything of the creature; not by riches, nor by
righteousness, nor by repentance, nor by faith, nor by obedience
to any ordinance; it is not for the sake of these that the Lord
forgives sin, but for his own sake, and his Son's sake, which is
the same; it is an instance of unmerited and distinguishing
grace; it flows from the free grace of God; it is a branch of the
covenant of grace; it is through the blood of Christ, and yet
according to the riches of grace; and it is for the glory of all
the divine perfections, justice, truth, and faithfulness, as well
as grace and mercy; and after such a list of sins of omission and
commission, to hear such language as this is surprising grace
indeed! and will not remember thy sins;
God forgives and forgets; God will not remember the sins of his
people against them; having forgiven them, he will never punish
them for them, which is meant by remembering them; see ( Jeremiah
14:10 ) ( Revelation
18:5 ) .