-- I, I [am] He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and I will not remember thy sins.
Just before this verse God charges Israel with wearying Him with their sins. Then the same voice announces that He Himself wipes those sins away — and the reason He gives is not their repentance but His own sake.
The Situation That Provokes the Promise
One writer sets the verse against what comes just before it.
God looked for praises, but only sins were brought before Him. "You have burdened me with your sins," He says, "you have wearied me with your iniquities" (verse 24). He had not laid a hard burden on them in the sacrifices appointed for worship. But instead of gladly bringing what was ordered, they committed sins that cried out for judgment, and so defeated God's purpose in redeeming them for Himself. Then He steps in again to do what only His direct action could do: "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins" (verse 25).
The Doubled "I"
The repeated pronoun points to who God is: the One who depends on nobody and acts out of Himself.
"I am" is the Living, Unchanging, Self-existent One, necessarily independent of all others. So He acts from Himself, in that same necessary independence. Here is the ground of redemption: God acting from Himself, and therefore according to what He is Himself. He is showing forth Himself. He is showing the riches of His grace in His kindness toward us, glorifying Himself, letting the light of His glory shine. We reason from ourselves to God, and can make nothing of it. We are sinners, and can merit nothing. Why should He not punish sin? How could He do anything else? How blessed, then, to hear Him say, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake." Who can deny His right to do this, if He chooses to do it and declares that He has done it?
Why "For My Own Sake" Is the Only Safe Ground
One writer ties this verse to the prayer of Psalm 25, where the size of the sin becomes the argument for mercy.
"For your name's sake pardon my guilt, for it is great" (Psalm 25). By human thinking this is strange reasoning — "for it is great." People plead that it is a little sin. But when God teaches us, we see how great sin is. Another thing is that truth is in the man, because he feels the sin is great. He has given up any thought of justifying himself. My iniquity is great: if You do not forgive me for Your own glory's sake, You cannot do it at all. And He will not leave one spot of sin, for the comfort of my own heart or the glory of His name. In Isaiah 43:22 and following, Israel is made to rest in absolute sovereign mercy.
The Sins Are Blotted Out — Not the Sinner
One writer traces this back to where a person's righteousness comes from.
Exodus 32:31-33; Isaiah 43:25. — Grace makes righteousness rest on the obedience of Another. So now God does not blot out the sinner; He blots out his sins, however vile they may be. If I say I have sinned, and He may yet blot me out of His book, I am standing on law. But the moment I understand that Christ is my righteousness, the ground is changed altogether.
How God Can Say This Righteously
The same prophet who records this pardon also names the One who bore the sins. Forgiveness here is not sin overlooked. It is sin borne.
God takes away their sins. He says, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25; 44:22). At the same time He reveals (chapter 53) the holy victim who would bear them, the Lord Jesus, on whom "the LORD has laid the iniquity of us all."
A Word Still Waiting to Be Spoken to Israel
Commentators also read the verse forward. On that reading it is what the King will say to Israel when He returns in glory.
The healing of the paralysed man shows what He, the Son of Man, will do for His earthly people when He comes in glory. First, He will come and turn ungodliness away from Jacob. He will forgive their sins and remember them no more. And His people, the remnant of Israel, will break out singing. "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love" (Micah 7:18). He will then say to His people, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins."
Summary
- Cause. God acts here for His own sake — not because Israel gave Him praise, but after they had wearied Him with their sins.
- Ground. For His own sake is the only ground that holds; if He will not forgive for His own glory, He cannot forgive at all.
- Gift. For His own sake means God blots out the sins and keeps the sinner. Grace rests righteousness on the obedience of Another.
- Cost. For His own sake is not sin ignored: the same prophet shows the One on whom the LORD laid our iniquity.
- Reach. For His own sake still reaches Israel's future. The King will say these very words to the nation He restores.