Isaiah 56

Isaiah 56:1-12 . THE PREPARATION NEEDED ON THE PART OF THOSE WHO WISH TO BE ADMITTED TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

1. judgment--equity. John the Baptist preached similarly a return to righteousness, as needed to prepare men for Messiah's first coming ( Luke 3:3 Luke 3:8-14 ). So it shall be before the second coming ( Malachi 4:4-6 ).
near to come--( Matthew 3:2 , 4:17 ), also as to the second coming ( Isaiah 62:10 Isaiah 62:11 , Luke 21:28 Luke 21:31 , Romans 13:11 Romans 13:12 , Hebrews 10:25 ).
righteousness--answering to "salvation" in the parallel clause; therefore it means righteousness which bringeth salvation ( Isaiah 46:13 , Romans 3:25 Romans 3:26 ).

2. ( Luke 12:43 ).
the man--Hebrew, enosh, "a man in humble life," in contradistinction to Hebrew, ish, "one of high rank." Even the humblest, as "the stranger" and "the eunuch" ( Isaiah 56:4 Isaiah 56:6 ), are admissible to these privileges.
this . . . it--what follows: "keeping the Sabbath," &c. ( Isaiah 58:13 Isaiah 58:14 , Ezekiel 20:12 ). A proof that the Sabbath, in the spirit of its obligation, was to be binding under the Gospel ( Isaiah 66:23 ). That gospel times are referred to is plain, from the blessing not being pronounced on the man who observed the sacrificial ritual of the Jewish law.
layeth hold--image from one grasping firmly some precious object which he is afraid of having forcibly snatched from him. The "Sabbath" here includes all the ordinances of divine worship under the new gospel law.
keepeth . . . hand . . . from . . . evil--The observance of the second table of the law; as the "Sabbath" referred to the first table. Together, they form the whole duty of man, the worship of God and a holy life.

3. God welcomes all believers, without distinction of persons, under the new economy ( Acts 10:34 Acts 10:35 ).
joined . . . to . . . Lord--( Numbers 18:4 Numbers 18:7 ). "Proselytes."
separated--Proselytes from the Gentiles were not admitted to the same privileges as native Israelites. This barrier between Jews and Gentiles was to be broken down ( Ephesians 2:14-16 ).
eunuch--( Acts 8:27 , &c.). Eunuchs were chamberlains over harems, or court ministers in general.
dry tree--barren (compare Luke 23:31 ); not admissible into the congregation of Israel ( Deuteronomy 23:1-3 ). Under the Gospel the eunuch and stranger should be released from religious and civil disabilities.

4. please me--sacrifice their own pleasure to mine.
take hold--so "layeth hold"