Isaiah 57:4

“Against whom do ye sport yourselves? &c.] Is it against the ministers of the Gospel, the prophets of the Lord, the true and faithful witnesses, over whose dead bodies you triumph? know that it is not so much against them, as against the Lord himself, whose ministers, prophets, and witnesses they are; (see <520408>1 Thessalonians 4:8): “against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue?” gestures used by way of scorn and derision; (see <192207>Psalm 22:7,13). So the Papists open their mouths, and draw out their tongues, in gibes and jeers, reproaches and calumnies, against the true Christians, calling and despising them as heretics and schismatics; which abuse and ill usage of them…”

“sport yourselves--make a mock (Isa 66:5). Are ye aware of the glory of Him whom you mock, by mocking His servants ("the righteous," Isa 57:1)? (Ch2 36:16). make . . . wide month-- (Psa 22:7, Psa 22:13; Psa 35:21; Lam 2:16). children of transgression, &c.--not merely children of transgressors, and a seed of false parents, but of transgression and falsehood itself, utterly unfaithful to God.”

“Against whom do ye sport yourselves? - The word here rendered ‘sport’ (ענג ‛ānag) means properly “to live delicately and tenderly”; then “to rejoice, to take pleasure or delight.” Here, however, it is evidently used in the sense of to sport oneself over anyone, that is, to deride; and the idea is, probably, that they made a sport or mockery of God, and of the institutions of religion. The prophet asks, with deep indignation and emotion, against whom they did this. Were they aware of the majesty and glory of that Being whom they thus derided? Against whom make yea wide mouth? - That is, in derision or contempt Psalms 35:21 : ‘Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me.’ And draw out the…”

“Against whom - Consider whom it is that you mock and scoff, when you deride God's prophets. A seed - A generation of liars, whose practices contradict your professions, who deal deceitfully both with God and men. Isaiah 57:5”

“57:4 mock . . . sticking out your tongues: The wicked oppressed the righteous by their insults (57:1-2; see also 28:9, 14).”

“Against: Isa 10:15, Isa 37:23, Isa 37:29; Exo 9:17, Exo 16:7, Exo 16:8; Num 16:11; Luk 10:16; Act 9:4 sport: Jdg 16:25-27; Psa 69:12; Mat 27:29, Mat 27:39-44; Pe2 2:13 make: Psa 35:21 draw: Jos 10:21; Job 16:9, Job 16:10; Psa 22:7, Psa 22:13, Psa 22:17; Lam 2:15, Lam 2:16 are ye: Isa 1:4, Isa 30:1, Isa 30:9; Eze 2:4; Hos 10:9; Mat 13:38; Eph 2:2, Eph 2:3, Eph 5:6; Col 3:6 Isaiah 57:5”