Dialogue with Trypho

I also referred to another passage where Isaiah exclaims: “ ‘Listen to My words, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have appointed Him as a witness to the people: nations that do not know you shall call on you; people who do not know you shall come to you, because of your God, the Holy One of Israel; for He has glorified you.’ This same law you have despised, and His new holy covenant you have slighted; and now you neither accept it nor repent of your evil deeds. ‘For your ears are closed, your eyes are blinded, and your heart is hardened,’ Jeremiah has cried; yet even then you do not listen.

The Lawgiver is present, yet you do not see Him; the Gospel is preached to the poor, the blind see, yet you do not understand. You now need a second circumcision, even though you greatly pride yourself on the flesh. The new law requires you to keep a perpetual Sabbath, and you, because you rest for one day, think you are pious, not understanding why this has been commanded to you: and if you eat unleavened bread, you say the will of God has been fulfilled.

The Lord our God does not take pleasure in such observances: if there is any perjured person or a thief among you, let them cease to be so; if there is any adulterer, let them repent; then they have kept the sweet and true Sabbaths of God. If anyone has impure hands, let them wash and be pure.