Is Isaiah teaching that all works of charity are "filthy rags," or does he mean something else?

Question

Isaiah 64:6: All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Answer 1

let me say up front-i am not a bible schlolar. However i think the next verse gives an idea of what he is referring to.
And there is none that calls upon your name,that stirs up himself to take hold of you: for you have hid your face from us,and have consumed us, because of our iniquities-ish 64:7. Read on to the end of the chapter for more explaination. Alot of references in Isaiah talk about them living for God for real and not just going through the religious motions and your heart is not right with God. People who go through the routine of religion but live in sin. Thats what it means when it says your righteous acts are like filthy rags. It is kinda like how the pharisees were with Jesus. They could quote the word but did not live it. They didnt even want him to heal people and use the sabbath day as a reason. They had alot of religious acts but no love or service for God behind them. Even in 1 cor13-paul talks about all the things you may be able to do but without love it means nothing.

Answer 2

First, the "Filthy Rags" here are "Menstrual Rags" that were / are Abhorred by the Jews to whom he was speaking. Mankind has always thought that by doing "Good Things" this would "Impress God" & they would get to go to Heaven. WRONG!!! WE CANNOT SAVE OURSELVES AS WE ARE DEPRAVED being BORN with the GENETICALLY TRANSFERED OLD SIN NATURE!!! Our "Giving / Good Works / Deeds", should be as Scripture puts it "so that Ur Right hand doesn't know what the Left is doing". Those who Brag about how great they are for doing this or that have their "Reward" here on Earth (15 min. of 'Fame'), Not in Heaven. John

Answer 3

Several points:

1) if you look at the actual Hebrew words used there, the more accurate translation is "filthy menstrual cloths."

2) Isaiah isn't saying that *ALL* good works are filthy and defiled; what he's saying is that all good works done outside of our love for God are filthy. In other words, we have no righteousness outside of what we obtain from God.

Answer 4

Simply put, GOD is teaching us through Isaiah that even the most wonderful good works that man can accomplish still pale in comparison to what God has already done.

"By the works of the flesh shall no man be justified."

Answer 5

He is saying that work (rightous acts) are not enough to make up for your sin.

Answer 6

If there really was an "Isaiah" -- then he was writing directly to the 21st century fundamentalist radical right wing christain fringe.