Isa 56:6-7 | TNotes | STEP | 56:6 The essential ingredient for covenant fellowship is love for God (Deut 6:5 ; 30:20 ; Matt 22:34-38 ). • Keeping the Sabbath is a sign of keeping the covenant itself (see Exod 31:13-17 ).

a56:6►

bDeut 6:5►

c30:20►

dMatt 22:34-38►

eExod 31:13-17►

f56:7►

g1:11-13►

h2:2-4►

iMatt 21:13►

jMark 11:17►

‏ Isaiah 56:6-7

56:6 ^a The essential ingredient for covenant fellowship is love for God (Deut 6:5 ^b; 30:20 ^c; Matt 22:34-38 ^d).

• Keeping the Sabbath is a sign of keeping the covenant itself (see Exod 31:13-17 ^e).
56:7 ^f burnt offerings and sacrifices: God had previously rejected sinful Israel’s expressions of piety (1:11-13 ^g) but would welcome offerings from righteous Gentiles or foreigners. Nationality is worth little without true piety.

• a house of prayer for all nations: The Lord would open the doors of the Temple to all nations (see 2:2-4 ^h). Jesus rebuked the people for desecrating the Temple and for preventing it from functioning as the house of prayer (Matt 21:13 ⁱ; Mark 11:17 ^j).