Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
6, 7. The answer to the misgivings of proselytes ( Isa 56:3).
to serve him ] Better as R.V. to minister unto him. The verb is used of honourable personal service (Gen 39:4; Gen 40:4), and especially of the priestly service of God at the sanctuary. It is found again in ch. Isa 60:7; Isa 60:10, Isa 61:6.
to love the name of the Lord ] Cf. Deu 6:5; Deu 11:1, &c.
to be his servants ] i.e. worshippers (a different word from that used above).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Also the sons of the stranger – (see the note at Isa 56:3). The conditions on which they should be admitted to the same privileges are specified, and are the following:
1. They were to join themselves to the Lord (see the note at Isa 56:3).
2. This should be with a purpose to serve him. Their aim and design should be to keep his commandments and to do his will.
3. They were to love the name of the Lord; that is, to love Yahweh himself, for the name of the Lord is often used as denoting the Lord himself.
4. They were to keep his sabbaths (see the notes at Isa 56:4).
5. They were to take hold of his covenant (see the notes at Isa 56:4).
On these conditions the sons of the foreigner were to be admitted to all the privileges of the children of God, and to be united with all who love and serve him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 56:6-7
Also the sons of the stranger
Gentiles enjoying Gods favour
This is a clear prophecy of the call of the Gentiles into the Church of Christ.
Let us attend to this description of those who are objects of the Divine favour, and entitled to the privileges of His house.
1. They join themselves to the Lord. This supposes a former distance and alienation from Him. But that is removed by humble repentance and returning to the Lord. It includes, renouncing all their idols; forsaking all their sin, everything contrary to the nature and will of God: a deliberate choice of Him, as their portion and felicity; and of His people, as their friends and associates.
2. The design of their thus joining themselves unto the Lord is to serve Him. This is further expressed in the phrase, to be His servants; not only to serve Him occasionally, or for a while, but perpetually; to adhere to Him and His ways, from a deep conviction that nothing can be more reasonable, important, and advantageous than to hear what He saith, and to do it.
3. It is added, and to love the name of the Lord. They take delight in His service; they perform it not from fear and a servile dread, but from a sincere and strong affection. They love His name; that is, they love him, His worship and His ways, and pursue His work with delight. It is opposed to narrow; selfish, mercenary views, which render the service less acceptable and comfortable. They esteem it their meat and drink to do His will.
4. Another thing-expected from Gods people is, that they keep His Sabbath from polluting it. This is an essential character, a distinguishing mark, of good men.
5. Gods people take hold of His covenant. They enter into serious, deliberate, solemn engagements to observe and keep His laws, in order to obtain the blessings which He hath promised; and which, in so doing, they cheerfully expect. They take hold of it; which implies a hearty consent to Gods terms, a cheerful approbation and acceptance of them and delight in them. It likewise implies a steady resolution. They take hold of it, as those who are determined not to let it go. (J. Orton.)
The rewards of Gods servants
The text–
I. HOLDS OUT UNIVERSAL ENCOURAGEMENT TO MAN.
1. By the transfer of the priesthood from Aaron to Christ.
2. By the change of sacrifice. From the blood of bulls and of goats to the precious blood of the Son of God.
3. By the removal of place. From Jerusalem to the temple of the universe.
4. By a change of worship. From ritual to spiritual. What an encouraging prospect! (Eph 2:11-22.)
II. INCULCATES UNIVERSAL PIETY, Piety in heart and practice. The duties enumerated may be divided into three classes.
1. Those which relate to Christ, expressed by taking hold of His covenant–accepting–agreeing to it.
2. Those which relate to God as the Governor of the world.
(1) His servants.
(2) Walk by His laws.
(3) Keep His Sabbaths.
3. Those which relate to the Church.
III. PROMISES UNIVERSAL HAPPINESS.
1. Access to heaven. I will bring them to My holy mountain.
2. Joyfulness in His service. I will make them joyful in My house of prayer.
3. The Divine acceptance of their religious engagements. Their burnt-offerings and sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar. (R. Watson.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 6. The sons of the stranger] The Gentiles.
That join themselves to the Lord] Who shall enter into the Christian covenant by baptism and faith in Christ, as the Jews and proselytes did by circumcision.
To serve him] To live according to the Gospel, and ever do that which is right in the sight of the Lord.
To love the name of the Lord] The name of JESUS, the Christ, the Saviour of sinners, the Anointed of God, and the Giver of the Holy Spirit to his followers.
To be his servants] To worship no other God but JEHOVAH, and to trust in none for salvation but his CHRIST.
That keepeth the Sabbath] That observes it as a type of the rest that remains for the people of God.
And taketh hold of my covenant] biberithi, “of my covenant sacrifice;” as without this he can do nothing good; and without it nothing can be acceptable to the infinite majesty of the Most High.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That join themselves to the Lord; that with purpose of heart cleave unto him, as is said, Act 11:23.
To serve him, and to love the name of the Lord; to serve him out of love to him, and to his worship.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. join . . . Lord (Jer50:6). Conditions of admission to the privileges of adoption.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Also the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord,…. Having answered the objection and removed the discouragement of the eunuch, he now returns to the sons of the stranger, who also join themselves to the Lord, as the eunuch had done; see Isa 56:4 and who do this,
to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants; who give up themselves to him, not only to be saved by him, but to serve him in righteousness and holiness, with reverence and godly fear, and from a principle of love to him; being heartily desirous, and accounting it an honour, to be his servants:
everyone that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; [See comments on Isa 56:4].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The fears of proselytes from among the heathen are also removed. “And the foreigners, who have joined themselves to Jehovah, to serve Him, and to love the name of Jehovah, to be His servants, whoever keepeth the Sabbath from desecrating it, and those who hold fast to my covenant, I bring them to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their whole-offerings and their slain-offerings are well-pleasing upon mine altar: for my house, a house of prayer shall it be called for all nations.” The proselytes, who have attached themselves to Jehovah ( ),
(Note: The oriental reading, not in Isa 56:3, but here in Isa 56:6, is ; the western, . The Masora follows the western ( ( nre ), i.e., the Palestinian, and reckons this passage as one of the 31 in the Old Testament Scriptures.)
the God of Israel, with the pure intention of serving Him with love, are not to be left behind in the strange land. Jehovah will bring them along with His people to the holy mountain, upon which His temple rises once more; there will He cause them to rejoice, and all that they place upon His altar will find a most gracious acceptance. It is impossible that the prophet should be thinking here of the worship of the future without sacrifice, although in Isa 53:1-12 he predicts the self-sacrifice of the “Servant of Jehovah,” which puts an end to all animals sacrifices. But here the temple is called “the house of prayer,” from the prayer which is the soul of all worship. It will be called a house of prayer for all nations; and therefore its nature will correspond to its name. This ultimate intention is already indicated in Solomon’s dedicatory prayer (1Ki 8:41-43); but our prophet was the first to give it this definite universal expression. Throughout this passage the spirit of the law is striving to liberate itself from its bondage. Nor is there anything to surprise us in the breaking down of the party wall, built up so absolutely between the eunuchs on the one hand and the congregation on the other, or the one partially erected between the heathen and the congregation of Israel; as we may see from Isa 66:21, where it is affirmed that Jehovah will even take priests and Levites out of the midst of the heathen whom Israel will bring back with it into its own land.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Vs. 6-8: THE LORD HONORS THOSE WHO SERVE HIM
1. In verse 6 Isaiah sets forth certain spiritual conditions whereupon Gentiles may share the fullness of God’s blessings in His coming kingdom.
a. They are to be joined to (identified with) the Lord as His servants, (Joh 12:26).
b. They are to love His name – joyfully yielding themselves under His authority, (Joh 14:21-23).
c. They are to keep the sabbath with pure hearts, (vs. 2, 4).
d. And they must take hold of His covenant – approving His high and holy purpose.
2. These will be brought to His holy mountain (Jerusalem) and made joyful in His “house of prayer” – His house being called “a house of prayer for all people”, (comp. Mat 21:13; Luk 19:46).
3. The Lord will gather unto Himself more than the “outcasts of Israel”; He will also take from the Gentiles a people who will glorify His name, (vs. 8; Isa 60:3-11; Isa 66:18-21; Joh 10:16; etc.).
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
6. The children of the foreigner who shall be joined to Jehovah. He repeats the same thing which he had formerly said, that God will open the doors of his temple to all men without distinction, so that there shall no longer be a distinction between the Jew and the Greek. He declares that those whom God brings into a state of friendship with himself by the word, which is the bond of our adoption, are “joined to God.” This is “the betrothing in mercy and faithfulness” which is mentioned by Hosea. (Hos 2:19) Not only does he grant to them a temple in which they may adore him as the body of the people were wont to do, but he assigns to them a more honorable rank, that they, nay minister to him; that is, God acknowledges as priests or Levites those who were formerly heathens.
And that they may love the name of Jehovah. We must observe the end of the calling, which is here stated; for he says that they shall be God’s ministers on condition that they love his name. Thus hypocrites are here excluded; for the calling joins two things together, that we serve God, and that our service be with a ready and cheerful disposition of mind. There can be no worship of God, if we do not willingly and readily yield obedience. What is said about alms, that “God loveth a cheerful giver,” (2Co 9:7) ought to be applied to every part of life, that we render to God willing service.
Whosoever shall keep my Sabbath. He again mentions the Sabbath; and we have said that under this word is included the whole worship of God. In observing it the people overlooked that which was of the highest importance; for, by resting satisfied with outward ceremony, they neglected the truth, that is, reformation of life. The Lord enjoined them to rest in such a manner as to keep both their hands and their minds from all crime and wickedness.
And shall embrace my covenant. Here he describes the zeal and steadfastness of those who submit themselves to God and cleave to his word; and therefore, if we are joined to God by a covenant, we ought to hold by it constantly, and adhere firmly to sound doctrine, so that it may not be possible to withdraw or separate us from him in any manner.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
2. DOERS ARE DISCIPLES
TEXT: Isa. 56:6-8
6
Also the foreigners that join themselves to Jehovah, to minister unto him, and to love the name of Jehovah, to be his servants, everyone that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and holdeth fast my covenant;
7
even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
8
The Lord Jehovah, who gathereth the outcasts of Israel, saith, Yet will I gather others to him, besides his own that are gathered.
QUERIES
a.
How can these foreigners be brought to Gods holy mountain?
b.
Who are the others of verse eight Jehovah will gather to Himself?
PARAPHRASE
When My new covenant is established by the Servant, many Gentiles will love the Lord and join themselves to Him and serve Him through obedience to the terms of the Servants covenant. I, the Lord, will bring them to Zion and cause them to partake of all My blessings there; I will also allow them to minister to Me in Zion. Indeed, My new house shall be the the house of worship for all nations. The same Lord who gathers the believing scattered ones of Israel will gather others from all the Gentile nations to join the gathered of Israel.
COMMENTS
Isa. 56:6 GODLY: Already there has been an abundance of predictions from Isaiah that Jehovah will join foreigners (Gentiles) to Zion in the coming messianic age. There are also a number of predictions that these New covenant citizens will become ministers in the New dispensation (cf. Isa. 60:3; Isa. 60:7; Isa. 60:10; Isa. 66:18-23; Zec. 14:16-19, etc.). These ungodly foreigners will love the name of Jehovah and keep His covenant ordinances (the new covenant). The foreigners, excluded from the covenant of Israel because of ceremonial and moral uncleanness, will be accepted because they love the name of Jehovah and choose to become His, taking His name as theirs (cf. Isa. 43:1-5). Every member of the new covenant is a priest (minister) (cf. 1Pe. 1:5; 1Pe. 1:9;Heb. 13:15-16).
Isa. 56:7-8 GATHERED: Jehovah will not necessarily bring foreigners to the literal hill of Moriah where the Jewish temple stood. He will bring them to Zion (Heb. 12:22 ff), the N.T. church (cf. Isa. 2:1-4). The following descriptive phrases, . . . prayer . . . joyful . . . sacrifices accepted . . ., point to full covenant membership for foreigners. Gentiles will be restored to loving fellowship with the Creator through the Messiah and His new covenant. The Messiahs sacrifice (once for all, cf. Heb. 10:1-18) will atone for all mens sins. Gods new house, Zion, will be for men of all nations (Eph. 2:11-22) a house of prayer (cf. Mar. 11:17) because the Messiah will cleanse Gods house of those who profane it.
That Jehovah would someday give full covenant membership to Gentiles should not have been such an unlikely thing to the Jews. Verse seven is quoted by Jesus in Mar. 11:17. Verse eight is quoted by Jesus in Joh. 10:16. Yet, when Jesus stood and read Isa. 61:1-2 and applied it to Gods mercy extended to Gentiles, even in O.T. times, they wanted to kill Jesus for it. The following excerpts illustrate the incorrigible obstinacy of the Jewish theologians to accept the predictions of their prophets that Jehovah would accept the Gentiles into full covenant relationship:
THE JEWISH VIEW OF GENTILES
(Everymans Talmud, p. 66 & 371)
Kill the best of the Gentiles! Crush the head of the best of snakes! (Mech. to xiv, 7; 27a).
Gentiles are addicted to licentiousness (Jeb. 98a). The Rabbis were revolted by the low standards of conduct they saw practised around them and were thankful for the finer ideals which their religion offered them. A prayer, composed to be said on leaving the House of Study, reads: I give thanks before Thee, O Lord my God and God of my fathers, that Thou has set my lot among those who sit in the House of Study and the Synagogue, and hast not set my lot with those who frequent the theatres and circuses; for while I labour to inherit Paradise, they labour for the pit of destruction (p. Ber. 7d).
The Holy One, blessed be He, clears Himself with respect to the gentile nations by giving them their reward for the minor precepts which they observed in this world so as to judge and sentence them in the World to Come, that they may have no plea to make and no merit can be found on their behalf (Tanchurna Kedoshim I).
R. Eliezer declared, No Gentiles will have a share in the World to Come; as it is said, The wicked shall return to the nether-world, even all the nations that forget God (Pas. 9:17); the wicked refers to the evil among Israel. R. Joshua said to him, If the verse had stated The wicked shall return to the nether-world and all the nations, and had stopped there, I should have agreed with you. Since, however, the text adds, that forget God, behold, there must be righteous men among the nations who will have a share in the World to Come (Tosifta Sanh. xiii. 2). That the righteous of all peoples will inherit the bliss of the Hereafter is the accepted doctrine of Rabbinic Judaism.
The daughter of an Israelite may not assist a gentile woman in childbirth, since she would be assisting to bring to birth a child for idolatry. (Mishnah, A. Zar. 2.1)
Isaiah is not the only prophet to predict Gentile acceptance; see also Amo. 9:11-12 (Act. 15:12-21); Mic. 4:2; Mic. 7:15-17; Zec. 8:20-23; Zec. 9:9-10; Zec. 14:16-21. The point of Isaiahs remarks here seems to be that anyone who loves the name of Jehovah and keeps His covenant terms will be acceptable (cf. Act. 10:34-35). Doers are disciples!
QUIZ
1.
How could Gentiles become ministers (priests)?
2.
What do the words prayer, joyful, sacrifices point to for Gentiles?
3.
Where does Jesus quote the verse about house of prayer?
4.
Where does Jesus quote verse eight?
5.
How adamant were Jews that Gentiles should not be allowed standing before God?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(6) Also the sons of the stranger . . .Proselytes also were to share in the blessings of the wider covenant. The words to serve him have been referred to some menial offices like that of the Nethinim, hewers of wood and drawers of water (Jos. 9:27; Ezr. 8:20). The usage of the word, however, limits it to honourable functions. The germ of Isaiahs thought appears in Solomons dedication prayer (1Ki. 8:41-43). It receives its highest development (in its entire separation from the building with which there and here it is associated), in Joh. 4:23. Comp. a further emancipation from the bondage of the law in Isa. 66:21.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6, 7. Stranger Again, Gentiles throughout the world are more than urged and invited they are made welcome with outstretched arms, if seen coming, even before invitation, “to the mountain of the Lord’s house.” Only a sense of penitence and spiritual want could influence their steps thitherward.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
This is a repetition of the same promise, varying only in expression, under the gospel dispensation. Aliens and strangers shall be as fully instituted into the privileges of the Church, as the stock of Israel. All their offerings shall be accepted upon the New Testament altar, which is Christ, and in him, and for his sake, shall they be blessed; Mal 1:11 ; Gal 3:26-29 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
Ver. 6. Also the sons of the stranger that joineth. ] Relinquishing his heathenish superstition, and devoting himself to my fear. The Levites had their name from the word here used; and leviathan, whose scales and parts are so fast joined and jointed together.
To love the name of the Lord, to be his servants.
Every one that keepeth the Sabbath.
a In Psalm i.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isa 56:6-8
6Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
To minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD,
To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath
And holds fast My covenant;
7Even those I will bring to My holy mountain
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar;
For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.
8The Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares,
Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered.
Isa 56:6 Notice how the faithful foreigners are characterized.
1. join themselves to the LORD – Niphal PARTICIPLE (BDB 530, KB 522)
2. minister to Him – Piel INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (BDB 1058, KB 1661)
3. love the name of the LORD – Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (BDB 12, KB 17)
4. be His servants – Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (BDB 224, KB 243)
5. keep from profaning the sabbath – Qal PARTICIPLE (BDB 1036, KB 1581, cf. Isa 56:2; Isa 56:4) and a Piel INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (BDB 320, KB 319)
6. holds fast My covenant – Hiphil PARTICIPLE (BDB 304, KB 302)
YHWH’s true followers are known by their lifestyle faith (cf. Matthew 5-7, esp. Mat 7:15-27).
Isa 56:7-8 As Isa 56:6 described the faithful foreigners’ actions, so Isa 56:7-8 describe what the faithful God will do for them.
1. I will bring to My holy mountain (i.e., temple)
2. I will make them joyful in My house of prayer
3. I will accept their sacrifices on My altar
4. I will gather them and others
Isa 56:7 My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples This was the stated purpose of Solomon’s temple (cf. 1Ki 8:41-43). Jesus quotes this verse in Mat 21:13; Mar 11:17; Luk 19:46 as He cleansed the temple of the animal sellers and money changers. For a complete listing of this universal element in Isaiah see Isa 45:22.
Isa 56:8
NASBYet others I will gather to them
NKJVYet I will gather to him others besides
NRSV,
PESHITTAI will gather others to them
TEVhas promised that he will bring still other people to join them
NJBthere are others I shall gather
There are two possibilities.
1. YHWH will gather even more of the exiled descendants of Abraham (JPSOA)
2. YHWH will gather other outcasts (i.e., foreigners, eunuchs)
Jesus’ use of this text (cf. Mar 11:17 following the LXX) shows its wider intended scope.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Isa 56:6-8
Isa 56:6-8
“Also the foreigners that join themselves to Jehovah, to minister unto him, and to love the name of Jehovah, to be his servants, everyone that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and holdeth fast my covenant; even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. The Lord Jehovah, who gathereth the outcasts of Israel, saith, Yet will I gather others to him, besides his own that are gathered.”
There is a very curious mingling of expressions here with applications both to the old Israel in such terms as “burnt-offerings and sacrifices” and to the New Institution in words like, “my holy mountain” and “my house of prayer.” Certainly the Jewish Temple was never “a house of prayer for all peoples”; Jesus called it a “den of thieves and robbers.”
“The assurances and promises here to the foreigners and eunuchs who had been excluded from the Commonwealth of Israel, are that they should be received to the full enjoyment of of the richer privileges of the Christian Church; and a specific prediction is inserted respecting the ingathering of Gentiles generally.
Speaking of Isa 56:8, here, McGuiggan stated that, “It is clear that `outcasts’ here does not mean `all Jews,’ but `the righteous remnant.'”
The great promise held out for eunuchs in this chapter explains why the Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8 happened to be reading in this part of Isaiah (Isaiah 53) when he encountered Philip on the road to Gaza and was baptized into Christ.
Isa 56:6 GODLY: Already there has been an abundance of predictions from Isaiah that Jehovah will join foreigners (Gentiles) to Zion in the coming messianic age. There are also a number of predictions that these New covenant citizens will become ministers in the New dispensation (cf. Isa 60:3; Isa 60:7; Isa 60:10; Isa 66:18-23; Zec 14:16-19, etc.). These ungodly foreigners will love the name of Jehovah and keep His covenant ordinances (the new covenant). The foreigners, excluded from the covenant of Israel because of ceremonial and moral uncleanness, will be accepted because they love the name of Jehovah and choose to become His, taking His name as theirs (cf. Isa 43:1-5). Every member of the new covenant is a priest (minister) (cf. 1Pe 1:5; 1Pe 1:9;Heb 13:15-16).
Isa 56:7-8 GATHERED: Jehovah will not necessarily bring foreigners to the literal hill of Moriah where the Jewish temple stood. He will bring them to Zion (Heb 12:22 ff), the N.T. church (cf. Isa 2:1-4). The following descriptive phrases, . . . prayer . . . joyful . . . sacrifices accepted . . ., point to full covenant membership for foreigners. Gentiles will be restored to loving fellowship with the Creator through the Messiah and His new covenant. The Messiahs sacrifice (once for all, cf. Heb 10:1-18) will atone for all mens sins. Gods new house, Zion, will be for men of all nations (Eph 2:11-22) a house of prayer (cf. Mar 11:17) because the Messiah will cleanse Gods house of those who profane it.
That Jehovah would someday give full covenant membership to Gentiles should not have been such an unlikely thing to the Jews. Verse seven is quoted by Jesus in Mar 11:17. Verse eight is quoted by Jesus in Joh 10:16. Yet, when Jesus stood and read Isa 61:1-2 and applied it to Gods mercy extended to Gentiles, even in O.T. times, they wanted to kill Jesus for it. The following excerpts illustrate the incorrigible obstinacy of the Jewish theologians to accept the predictions of their prophets that Jehovah would accept the Gentiles into full covenant relationship:
THE JEWISH VIEW OF GENTILES
(Everymans Talmud, p. 66 & 371)
Kill the best of the Gentiles! Crush the head of the best of snakes! (Mech. to xiv, 7; 27a).
Gentiles are addicted to licentiousness (Jeb. 98a). The Rabbis were revolted by the low standards of conduct they saw practised around them and were thankful for the finer ideals which their religion offered them. A prayer, composed to be said on leaving the House of Study, reads: I give thanks before Thee, O Lord my God and God of my fathers, that Thou has set my lot among those who sit in the House of Study and the Synagogue, and hast not set my lot with those who frequent the theatres and circuses; for while I labour to inherit Paradise, they labour for the pit of destruction (p. Ber. 7d).
The Holy One, blessed be He, clears Himself with respect to the gentile nations by giving them their reward for the minor precepts which they observed in this world so as to judge and sentence them in the World to Come, that they may have no plea to make and no merit can be found on their behalf (Tanchurna Kedoshim I).
R. Eliezer declared, No Gentiles will have a share in the World to Come; as it is said, The wicked shall return to the nether-world, even all the nations that forget God (Pas. 9:17); the wicked refers to the evil among Israel. R. Joshua said to him, If the verse had stated The wicked shall return to the nether-world and all the nations, and had stopped there, I should have agreed with you. Since, however, the text adds, that forget God, behold, there must be righteous men among the nations who will have a share in the World to Come (Tosifta Sanh. xiii. 2). That the righteous of all peoples will inherit the bliss of the Hereafter is the accepted doctrine of Rabbinic Judaism.
The daughter of an Israelite may not assist a gentile woman in childbirth, since she would be assisting to bring to birth a child for idolatry. (Mishnah, A. Zar. 2.1)
Isaiah is not the only prophet to predict Gentile acceptance; see also Amo 9:11-12 (Act 15:12-21); Mic 4:2; Mic 7:15-17; Zec 8:20-23; Zec 9:9-10; Zec 14:16-21. The point of Isaiahs remarks here seems to be that anyone who loves the name of Jehovah and keeps His covenant terms will be acceptable (cf. Act 10:34-35). Doers are disciples!
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
join: Isa 56:3, Isa 44:5, Jer 50:5, Act 2:41, Act 11:23, 2Co 8:5, 1Th 1:9, 1Th 1:10
to love: Mar 12:30-34, Rom 8:28, 1Co 16:22, Gal 5:6, Eph 6:24, Jam 1:12, Jam 2:5
every: Isa 56:2, Isa 58:13, Rev 1:10
Reciprocal: Exo 31:14 – keep Lev 23:3 – General Deu 5:12 – General 2Sa 22:45 – Strangers Ezr 8:36 – they furthered Est 9:27 – all such Psa 31:23 – O love Isa 14:1 – the strangers Isa 32:16 – General Jer 3:17 – to the name Jer 12:16 – built Eze 20:13 – and my Eze 44:7 – strangers Eze 47:22 – and to the strangers Zec 6:15 – they Mar 2:24 – that Rom 2:26 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 56:6-7. The sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord That with purpose of heart cleave unto him, as is said Act 11:23. To love the Lord, to be his servants To serve him out of love to him and to his worship. Them will I bring to my holy mountain To my house which stood upon mount Zion, including mount Moriah; and make them joyful By accepting their services, and comforting their hearts with the sense of my love; in my house of prayer In my temple, in and toward which prayers are daily made unto me. Their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar They shall have as free access to my house and altar as the Jews themselves, and their services shall be as acceptable to me. Evangelical worship is here described under such expressions as agreed to the worship of God which was then in use. My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people Jews and Gentiles shall have equal freedom to my house, and shall there call upon my name. The temple was originally designed for strangers as well as Jews, as a place to offer up their prayers to the Divine Majesty; which is sufficiently plain from the prayer of Solomon, at the dedication of it, though the number of proselytes was small till the time of the second temple. But there can be no doubt that this verse alludes particularly to the conversion of the Gentiles. This truth could not be told the Jewish people otherwise than by using terms taken from rites familiar to them, unless the nature of the Christian dispensation had been previously explained; a matter evidently unfit for their information, when they were yet to live so long under the Jewish law. For though the prophets speak of the little value of their regard to the ceremonial law, they easily make themselves understood, that they mean, when it was observed without the moral law; which they describe in the purity and perfection of the gospel. So admirable was this conduct, that while it hid the future dispensation it prepared men for it. Bishop Warburtons Div. Leg. Upon the whole, the reader may observe, that the principal scope of this paragraph is to teach that all the privileges of the covenant of grace should be common to all, without distinction of nation, state, or condition; that God would distribute to all believers, according to the measure of their grace, equal gifts, as our Lord hath taught in the parable of the labourers in the vineyard, Matthew 20.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Similarly, God would bless foreigners (non-Israelites) who came to believe in Yahweh, and sought to love and follow Him for His sake rather than for personal benefit (cf. Rth 1:16). They could serve the Lord by ministering to Him. The Hebrew word translated "minister," sharet, usually describes priestly service (cf. Isa 60:7; Isa 60:10; Isa 61:6). Foreigners might even serve the Lord in ways that would be as significant as serving as priests in Israel, though that particular ministry was not open to them under the Law.
"The six marks of the foreigner (Isa 56:6) provide a beautiful description of true godliness, with love as its great dynamic, the very antithesis of Pharisaic legalism." [Note: Grogan, p. 316.]
The Lord Himself would conduct such Gentiles to the future Jerusalem, as He would bring the Israelites back from exile. There they would have the same blessings as the redeemed Israelites: sins atoned for and access to God in prayer (cf. 1Ki 8:41-43; Mal 1:11).
"All of Israel’s separation from the world was in order to keep Israel from being absorbed into the world and thus losing the ability to call the world out of itself into the blessings of God. But should Israel ever come to believe that its separation was so that Israel could keep her God and his blessings to herself, then all was lost." [Note: Oswalt, The Book . . . 40-66, p. 461.]
It was this latter attitude that so infuriated Jesus Christ when He saw how hard the Jews had made it for Gentiles to come to God and worship Him in the temple (Mat 21:13; Mar 11:17; cf. Joh 2:16).
". . . here the temple is called ’the house of prayer,’ from the prayer which is the soul of all worship." [Note: Delitzsch, 2:363.]