Isa 56:6 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;
Besides this having nothing to do with the New Covenant since it clearly states that it’s the Mosaic Covenant that dealt with the Sabbath and strangers, and not the New.
And why is this about the sons of the stranger, and not the stranger himself?
Consider this, the stranger may have lived with Israel for years, but he was always a stranger in their eyes, unless they became proselytes.
But what about their children, who had been brought up living with and knowing the Jews as his own family. He was possibly as Jewish thinking as most Jews were, and God made it clear to them that He loved them also, and had a plan for them.
He told them that if they joined themselves to the Lord, and served and loved Him, and kept his sabbath and didn’t pollute it, and held to His covenant………………………………………
Isa 56:7 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.
Unless the the New Testament church was offering sacrifices and burnt offerings on the alter, then this certainly isn't taslking about the New Covenant era now was it, so then it has nothing to do with the New Testament times.
JH
Well Jim your entire argument hinges on your assertation that the sabbath wasn't meant for "gentiles". Here's a verse from God that contradicts you. Old covenent or new it doesn't matter.
And why is this about the sons of the stranger, and not the stranger himself?
You're reading too much into it. That same words, Strongs 1121 and 5236, are used in various passages and translated "stranger".
Here are how some other translations translate it:
Also the foreigners that join themselves to Jehovah (ASV)
And as for those from a strange country, who are joined to the Lord,(Bible in Basic English)
And I will give it to the strangers that attach themselves to the Lord,(Brentons)
Foreigners will follow me.(Contemporary English Version)
And the LORD says to those foreigners who become part of his people,(Good News Bible)
And I will remember the foreigners who have joined the LORD to worship him(God's Word)
Isa 56:7 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.
Unless the the New Testament church was offering sacrifices and burnt offerings on the alter, then this certainly isn't taslking about the New Covenant era now was it, so then it has nothing to do with the New Testament times.
I happen to think this verse is prophecy pertaining to the reward of following God. But even if it's not then your theory that gentiles weren't meant to observe the sabbath is still refuted.
Let me refute it some more:
Gen 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He had rested from all His work which God created to make.
Created in the beginning, long before Israel.
Mar 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
Jesus uses the word "anthropos" which in greek is man in general. If it was just Israel it was meant for he could have said Israel. If it was just Jews he could have said jews. Here is Luke he uses both terms, gentiles the thy people Israel: Luk 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. He said "mankind" because he created it. He should know who he created it for. This is plain greek language Jim. You can deny what Christ said, but I'm not going to.
Let's see...what else:
Act 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
Paul didn't tell these poor misguided gentiles that there was no longer any sabbath. Instead he preached to them, on multiple sabbaths.
This is only the tip of the iceberg. I can listen to the clear teaching of the bible that has Isiaiah saying that gentiles will be blessed for keeping God's sabbath. I can listen to Christ saying that the sabbath was created for mankind. I can read the history of the early church and see that the sabbath was kept by gentiles. And I can read prophecies that say the sabbath will be kept in the future.
Or I can listen to you and your tradition telling me that we don't have keep the sabbath anymore.