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Ordinary Time · Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A

Isaiah 56:1, 6-7

A House of Prayer for All Peoples

August 16, 2026

The Temple in Jerusalem, French illuminator
The Temple in Jerusalem, French illuminator, 1450-1475The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The Temple rises inside its red enclosure on the holy mountain, with groups of people gathered in the courts around it.The foreigners who join themselves to the Lord … these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer … for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.French illuminatorA leaf from a copy of Nicholas of Lyra’s commentary on the Bible.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 15:21-28Mt 15:21-28
Second ReadingRom. 11:13-15, 29-32Rom 11:13-15, 29-32
First ReadingIsa. 56:1, 6-7Is 56:1, 6-7
Responsorial PsalmPs. 67:2-3, 5, 6+8 (4)Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6+8 (4)

Overview & Insights

"for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." (Isaiah 56:7)

The prophet calls the people to maintain justice, and promises that foreigners who join themselves to the Lord and keep the covenant will be welcomed and their offerings accepted in God's house.

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Take it further: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 56:1, 6-8Commentary on Is 56:1, 6-8 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary exegesis of the foreigner gathered to God's house of prayer.

Isaiah 56: Salvation for the OutsiderIs 56: Salvation for the Outsider Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse evangelical commentary on the whole chapter.

Isaiah 56:1 CommentariesIs 56:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries on the house of prayer for all peoples in one place.

Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 56Barnes' Notes on Is 56 StudyLight

Albert Barnes' notes on the whole chapter of Isaiah 56.

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A): Readings Agape Bible Study

A Catholic reading study that ties Isaiah's welcome of the foreigner to the day's Gospel.

Background & Word Study

Isaiah 56 in HebrewIs 56 in Hebrew Sefaria

The Hebrew text with English alongside and classical Jewish commentaries.

Isaiah 56:1 Hebrew InterlinearIs 56:1 Hebrew Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers for the call to keep justice.

The Church Fathers

Catena on Isaiah 56Catena on Is 56 Catena

Patristic comments gathered verse by verse on the house of prayer for all peoples.

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