Isaiah – The fifth Hebrew gospel – Chapter 56

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56:1 This says vuvh, Guard mishpat, and do mishpat: for My Yahshua is near to come, and My tzedakah to be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man that does this, and the ben adam that lays hold on it, that guards the Shabbat from polluting it, and guards his hand from doing any evil. 3 Neither let the son of the ger, that has joined himself to vuvh, speak in this manner, saying, vuvh has utterly separated me from His people: neither let the eunuch say, See, I am a dry eytz. 4 For this says vuvh to the eunuchs that keep My Shabbats, and choose the things that please Me, and take hold of My brit; 5 Even to them will I give in My Bayit and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6 Also the sons of the ger, that join themselves to vuvh, to serve Him, and to love the Name of vuvh, to be His avadim, every person that guards the Shabbat from polluting it, and takes hold of My brit; 7 Even them will I bring to My kadosh mountain, and make them full of simcha in My Beit-Tefillah their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon My altar; for My Bayit shall be called a Beit-Tefillah for all the nations. 8 The Master vuvh 1 who gathers the outcasts of Yisrael  says, Yet I will gather others to Him, besides those that have been gathered to Him . 

Isaiah 56:1-8 

“Thus says יהוה Keep justice, and do equity for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed.”

Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.

The blessing for those who keep the Sabbath means it has ongoing significance! This totally aligns with New Testament teachings where Yahusha and the apostles affirm the Sabbath’s relevance (Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:27).

Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to יהוה say, יהוה will surely separate me from his people’; and let not the eunuch say, ‘Behold, I am a dry tree.

The same message found in the New Testament’s message of inclusion for the nations (Acts 13:42, Acts 18:4).

For thus says יהוה: ‘To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.

Hebrews 4:9 which speaks of the Sabbath-rest for Elohim’s people.

And the foreigners who join themselves to Elohim, to minister to him, to love the name of יהוה, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant.

Again…the inclusion language…the inclusion of those scattered abroad. lost to the paganism of the nations to come back into the covenant community who keep the Sabbath! This is reinforced and totally consistent with the New Testament practice of Paul and the early believers ministering on the Sabbath ( Acts 17:2, Acts 18:4).

These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

Contextually this is part of the universal vision which aligns with Yahusha’s cleansing of the temple and calling it a “house of prayer for all nations” in Mark 11:17, showing that יהוהs covenant and Sabbath observance are for all humanity and thus still in effect. 

יהוה, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.

This promise of gathering others is once again supported in the New Testament teachings that יהוהs salvation through Moshiach extends to all people ( John 10:16, Ephesians 2:14).

Matthew 5:17 and Romans 3:31 both totally affirm the continuity and fulfillment of the Torah, including the Sabbath, just as prophesied by Isaiah in 56:1-2 where keeping justice, righteousness, and the Sabbath are the point. 

Hebrews 4:9 famously echoes the ongoing relevance and ordinance of the Sabbath rest – another term for observance, which aligns with the blessing bestowed upon those who keep the Sabbath in Isaiah 56:2, 4, and 6. I just don’t get the textual gymnastics that is done to abrogate this truth. 

Acts 13:42, Acts 17:2, and Acts 18:4 I mean in all my years in the church I don’t I ever heard a sermon where the pastor touched on the practice of Sabbath observance among early believers! 

Then in Romans 7:12 and 1 Corinthians 7:19 Paul drives home the holiness code showing the importance of keeping יהוהs commands, including the Sabbath, which are part of the covenant faithfulness highlighted in Isaiah 56:4, 6.

James 2:10 and 1 John 5:3 speak to obedience to יהוהs commandments as evidence of faith…an Isaiac alignment with the call to hold fast to His covenant, keep the Sabbath.

What a relief there is actual continuity in the bible…look it’s not like we’re not given lots of witness: 

For example:

Matthew 12:8 – For the Son of Man is Master of the Sabbath.

Yahusha asserts His lordship over the Sabbath, implying its continued significance.

Mark 2:27 – Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Master even of the Sabbath.’”

Again…Yahusha teaches that the Sabbath is intended for humanity’s benefit, reinforcing its importance.

Luke 4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.

Acts 13:42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts followed Paul and Barnabas…On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of Elohim.”

Paul, preaching and gathering on the Sabbath. 

Acts 17:2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.

Paul continued to observe the Sabbath even in his ministry to those in the nations. 

Acts 18:4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

Paul had a custom…and custom becomes law…of teaching on the Sabbath including to both Jews and Greeks.

Hebrews 4:9 – There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of Elohim

Colossians 2:16 – Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Moshiach

The Sabbath points to Yahusha, just as Isaiah 56 is getting at, and its observance is a kingdom reality.

Luke 23:56 – Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

After Yahusha’s death, His followers continued to observe the Sabbath commandment. 

Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets…

Romans 3:31 Do we then nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Paul affirming that faith does not nullify the Law but upholds it.

Romans 7:12 – So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

Paul describing the Law as holy, righteous, and good. 

1 Corinthians 7:19 – Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping יהוהs commands is what counts.

James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘You shall not murder.’ If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.

James, the half brother of Yahusha upholding the integrity of the TORAH and its commandments.

Romans 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, יהוה did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

The Law’s righteous requirement is actually met in believers through the Spirit.

1 John 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

That should wake up even the most slumbering spirit…John emphasizes the importance of keeping יהוהs commands…it’s the evidence of knowing Him – EVIDENCE! 

1 John 5:3 In fact, this is love for elohim: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.

John reiterates that loving elohim involves keeping His commands.

The whole of scripture supports the continuity and importance of the Sabbath and the Torah for us as believers…don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise…they have been bewitched…

Abrogating the Sabbath and the Torah is a serious deal that goes against the teachings the New Testament. 

Conclusion: 

If we want to get our society back on track then it’s high time that people should wake up and realize faith in the savior does not nullify the Law; rather, it upholds it empowering society to choose good leaders. 

Romans 7:12…the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

Isaiah concludes by criticizing the leaders of Israel for their negligence and indulgence. 

The leaders are depicted as watchmen who are blind, ignorant, and self-serving, failing to fulfill their duties to protect and guide the people. 

This verse really is the epitome of out current times and the choice of leaders a lawless society and milk toast church elect – not only their moral, but spiritual decay that has lead to societal downfall.