Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Ho, every one. After the special privileges of Israel (Isaiah 54:1-17) there follow, as the consequence, the universal invitation to the Gentiles (Luke 24:47; Romans 11:12; Romans 11:15). "Ho" calls the most earnest attention.
That thirsteth - has a keen sense of need (Matthew 5:6).
Come ye to the waters ... wine and milk - a gradation. Not merely water, which is needed to maintain life at all, but wine and milk to strengthen, cheer, and nourish; the spiritual blessings of the Gospel are meant (Isaiah 25:6; Song of Solomon 5:1; John 7:37). "Waters," plural, to denote abundance (Isaiah 43:20; Isaiah 44:3).
And he that hath no money. Yet, in Isaiah 55:2, it is said, "ye spend money." A seeming paradox. Ye are really spiritual bankrupts: but thinking yourselves to have money-namely, a devotion of your own making-ye lavish it on that "which is not bread" - i:e., on idols, whether literal or spiritual.
Buy ... without money and without price - another paradox. We are bought, but not with a price paid by ourselves (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19.) In a different sense we are to "buy" salvation-namely, by parting with everything which comes between us and Christ, who has bought it for us, and by making it our own (Matthew 13:44; Matthew 13:46; Luke 12:33; Revelation 3:18).