Ezekiel 20:40
“For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh, “there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.”
What does Ezekiel 20:40 mean?
God is painting a picture of restoration here, speaking to Israelites in exile who felt abandoned and cut off from worship. He's promising that one day his people will return to their holy mountain (Jerusalem and the temple) and offer him their gifts freely, as a whole community united again. The emphasis on "all of them" and "I will accept them" reveals his deep desire to be in relationship with his people once more, not out of judgment but out of genuine welcome. This message carried hope to people who wondered if God still wanted anything to do with them after their failure and exile. For us, it speaks to how God never permanently closes the door on those who return to him, no matter how far we've wandered.