Neither let the son of the stranger, &c.— The strangers and eunuchs were excluded from the privileges of native Jews. In this period they are informed that the time is coming when those distinctions and restraints shall have no force, when the inward endowments of the soul should be sufficient to give pious persons a title to the communion of saints; and their name should be written in the book of life: A more lasting remembrance than that of the most numerous posterity. 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 but small till the time of the second temple: But there can be no doubt, that the 7th verse alludes particularly to the conversion of the Gentiles. This truth could not be told to 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 due to the ceremonial law, they easily make themselves understood that they mean, when it is 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. See Bishop Warburton's Div. Leg. Upon the whole, we may observe, that the principal scope and design of this period is, to teach that all the privileges of the Gospel should be common to all, without distinction of nation, state, or condition; that God would distribute to all believers, according to the measure of grace imparted to them, equal gifts, as our Lord has taught in the parable of the vineyard, Matthew 20.
Isaiah 56:3-7
3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
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;
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 mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.