44:4–9 While some portions of the Old Testament emphasize restrictions on the participation of foreigners in Israel’s worship (Ex. 12:43; Lev. 22:25; Neh. 9:2; Jer. 51:51), other passages anticipate the participation of foreigners (47:22, 23; 1 Kin. 8:41, 43; 2 Chr. 6:32, 33; Is. 56:3, 6; cf. Zech. 14:21; Eph. 2:12, 19). Similar restrictions on foreigners characterize other writings from the period after the Babylonian exile (Ezra 4:1–3; 10:10–44; Neh. 13:1–9; Hag. 2:14). In the New Testament period there was a written warning at the entrance to the temple prohibiting Gentiles from entering the temple on pain of death (cf. Acts 21:26–30). In the New Israel of the new covenant, the church, all such distinctions between Jew and Gentile have been removed. Part of Christ’s purpose was to destroy these barriers (Matt. 10:18; Luke 2:32; Acts 9:15; 10:28, 45; 11:1, 18; 13:46–48; Rom. 1:5, 16; 2:10; 3:29; 10:12; 15:16; Gal. 3:8, 28; Eph. 2:11–18; 3:6).