Isaiah 58:1-14

58:3-7 | The nation of Israel thought that merely observing religious traditions such as fasting was enough to please God. Yet they fasted while they exploited their laborers and caused strife. In this way they were acting like the Pharisees, whom Jesus criticized (Matt. 23).

58:13 | Not only was Israel to promote generosity in an effort to alleviate human need, they were also to honor the Sabbath as a day that was holy to the Lord. Even in exile the Jews observed the Sabbath, maintaining their religious distinctives (Ex. 31:16-17; 35:2).