NOTES for Isa 5:7

God will repeat the concluding words of the famous parable of the prophetIsaiah concerning the vineyard shortly before the Passions. It is importantfirst of all for us to understand the appropriate sense of this parable.Indeed, what relates to Israel of the Old Testament is not less current for thenew Israel - Churches, Christians. Besides, the whole world appears before usfrom the very beginning of the Bible as God's garden. That is why the parableabout the vineyard, quite as the narrative of Adam's fall, is a generalization,appertaining to all the human generation.

God is saying that His people are the vineyard planted by Him so that itbrings the fruit. No as the museum of the heavenly beauty, not as the stand of honor,not as the inn for the tired travelers - But as the garden, which has to bringfruits? The prophet Isaiah speaks about spiritual fruit, which all of us canbring in the practical real life. It is not about mystic inspirations or exploitsin the field of cult. The main, what God expects from us - justice, truthtowards the neighbor. The apostle Paul in the epistle to the Galatians proposesa wider explanation of what is the fruit, expected by God: "the fruit of theSpirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance". Inthat lies the truth that God expects from us. And if we will not bear thisfruit, then this our choice will bring to what Christ said to the Jews: “Behold, your houseis left unto you desolate".

But the prophet,quite as God, speaks not to predict to us the misfortunes. God always wants ourrepentance and conversion. That is why it is important for us not to be afraidof hearing this charge and hope in God's promise that gates of Hell will notsurmount the Church.