1 Kings 8:39-41

Amplified Bible

³⁹then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and give to each according to his ways, whose heart (mind) You know, for You and You alone know the hearts of all the children of men, ⁴⁰so that they may fear You [with reverence and awe] all the days that they live in the land which You have given to our fathers.

⁴¹“Moreover, concerning a ^[a]foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, but comes from a far (distant) country for the sake of Your name [to plead with You]

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Footnotes

1 Kings 8:41 Solomon’s request for the foreigner underscores the fact that Gentiles had access to God before the way of salvation was formally opened to them in the first century a.d., when Peter preached at Cornelius’ home (Acts 10:44-11:15). But until Christ came, the path of access for Gentiles was only through Israel. Thankfully, when our Lord Jesus died on the cross, the heavy curtain concealing the Holy of Holies was torn open (Matt 27:51), signifying that mankind would forever after have direct access to God, with no need for an earthly temple or priests (cf John 4:21-24).