Isaiah 56:1, 6-7
Chapter 56
1
ISAIAH III
(Trito-Isaiah).
End of Exclusivism
This is what the Lord says: Maintain what is right and do what is just, for my salvation is close at hand, my justice is soon to come.6
The Lord says to the foreigners who join him, serving him and loving his name, keeping his Sabbath unprofaned and remaining faithful to his Covenant:
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I will bring them to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. I will accept on my altar their burnt offerings and sacrifices, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.
Commentaries
End of Exclusivism.
Here begins the “Third Isaiah.” This collection of oracles comes from various authors and dates from just after the temple’s restoration in 537 B.C., before Ezra and Nehemiah’s efforts. Salvation is near and closely tied to keeping the Sabbath, a key feature of post-exilic Judaism. Unlike Deuteronomy 23:1-8 and Ezra and Nehemiah’s intention to maintain racial purity by excluding foreigners, the prophet promises full integration into the cult for eunuchs and non-Israelites, foreshadowing Jesus’ teachings about celibacy for the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt 19:12). This also includes Jesus’ sending his apostles to share the good news with all nations (Mt 28:16-20).