The children of Israel were a privileged people. They were the only nation that could claim to be the people of God. God made provision for Gentiles to become Hebrews, if they were willing to submit to circumcision (Ex. 12:48). There was, however, a distinction between living as a Hebrew and worshiping as a Hebrew. God had the right to determine who would enter the congregation of His holy people.
Bible commentator Eugene Merrill writes concerning Deuteronomy 23:1, “The ‘congregation’ refers here to the formal gathering of the Lord’s people as a community at festival occasions and other times of public worship and not to the nation of Israel as such.”
Deuteronomy 23:1-8 categorizes those who were to be excluded from the congregation of Israel. Men who had been emasculated were prohibited (23:1); illegitimate children couldn’t be part of the congregation (23:2); Ammonites and Moabites were to be excluded for up to ten generations (23:3-6); and only after three generation could Edomites and Egyptians be authorized to enter (23:7-8). The privilege of being part of the congregation of Israel was limited to those who had been born an Israelite.
Thankfully, today, anyone can be part of God’s people! All you have to do is submit to the Lord Jesus Christ be born again of the water and Spirit (Jn. 3:3-8). Your genealogy doesn’t disqualify you. Your economic situation doesn’t exclude you. Your past mistakes don’t prohibit you. The color of your skin, nor your ethnicity precludes you. The apostle Paul said it this way, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:28-29).
Dear reader, come enter the congregation and worship the Lord Jesus Christ freely!