Isa 56:3-8 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 56:3-7: 56:3-7 The blessing (56:2 ) would extend to eunuchs and to the Gentiles. 56:3 Foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord would become full participants in the covenant community. Previously, their participation had been carefully regulated (Deut 23:3 , 7-8 ). • eunuchs: In the past, an emasculated person was excluded from the community (Deut 23:1 ). Both eunuchs and foreigners had no share in Israel’s holiness and were considered marginal to God’s kingdom. In the age to come, God would bring to the center those who had previously been marginalized (cp. Matt 20:16 ).

Summary for Isa 56:3-7: 56:3-7 ^a The blessing (56:2 ^b) would extend to eunuchs and to the Gentiles. 56:3 ^c Foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord would become full participants in the covenant community. Previously, their participation had been carefully regulated (Deut 23:3 ^d, 7-8 ^e).

• eunuchs: In the past, an emasculated person was excluded from the community (Deut 23:1 ^f). Both eunuchs and foreigners had no share in Israel’s holiness and were considered marginal to God’s kingdom. In the age to come, God would bring to the center those who had previously been marginalized (cp. Matt 20:16 ^g).
56:4 ^h The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant (Exod 31:13-17 ⁱ).
56:5 ^j within the walls of my house: Those previously excluded would have a place in God’s presence.

• a memorial and a name: Everlasting existence in God’s presence is better than the blessing of physical descendants.
56:6 ^k The essential ingredient for covenant fellowship is love for God (Deut 6:5 ^l; 30:20 ^m; Matt 22:34-38 ⁿ).

• Keeping the Sabbath is a sign of keeping the covenant itself (see Exod 31:13-17 ^o).
56:7 ^p burnt offerings and sacrifices: God had previously rejected sinful Israel’s expressions of piety (1:11-13 ^q) 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 ^r). Jesus rebuked the people for desecrating the Temple and for preventing it from functioning as the house of prayer (Matt 21:13 ^s; Mark 11:17 ^t).
56:8 ^u The outcasts of Israel were those dispersed among the nations as the result of the Exile (see also 11:12 ^v).

• The others would be eunuchs and Gentiles (56:3-7 ^w; see also 57:19 ^x; John 10:16 ^y).