And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
By the cross Christ puts to death the hostility between Jew and Gentile and reconciles both together to God in one body. His death breaks down the middle wall of partition that shut Gentiles out, so that those who accept the gospel share equally with Jewish believers as fellow-heirs without needing circumcision. Through Him both are brought near by His blood and have access to the Father by one Spirit, becoming fellow citizens, members of God's household, and a holy temple built on Christ as the chief cornerstone. In Him no nationality, race, caste, rank, or social standing divides, but all are joined in one common brotherhood and made equal before God. This ending of enmity sends the gospel beyond custom and nationality to all the world, calling believers to lay aside division and labor together in peace as one.
Meaning of Reconciliation
Ephesians 2:16 means that both Jews and Gentiles are reconciled to God in one body by the cross, where the enmity between them is put to death. Christ's death brings the divided groups together into one body and destroys the hostility that separated them. This reconciliation belongs to His abolition of the law of commandments contained in ordinances, whose sacrificial ceremonies prefigured His death and ended when type met antitype, while the enduring commandments, including the Sabbath, were not blotted out. It is instruction and comfort joined to salvation by grace through faith and to Christ dwelling in the heart by faith, cherished as a beloved friend. It is an instructive lesson for believers who are not working in harmony, calling them to lay aside division and strife and to live and labor together in peace and unity.
Both includes those who were far from God and those who were near, brought together as one people through the cross which destroys the enmity between them. Those afar off are brought near by the blood of Christ, sharing access to the Father through one Spirit and becoming fellow citizens in God's household, built together into a holy temple with Christ as its cornerstone. Even men in high positions of trust and influence, however exalted in this world, are in sin and under condemnation unless they accept Christ. If they are in bondage to Satan, enemies of Christ, and under condemnation of the law of God, they can be reconciled to God by His blood, and to follow Christ by faith is the only path to true greatness and true honor.
Slaying the enmity establishes peace in which unity replaces dissension, so that divided people are reconciled to God in one body by the cross. In Christ believers are united rather than drawing apart, with unity and love brought about by the Holy Spirit. His cross is the center that unites believers, who must not separate but grow together as God's people.
Partition Wall Broken
Christ's death on the cross broke down the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile and reconciled both to God in one body. That breaking let the Gentiles into the full privileges of the gospel, yet many believing Jews still had the veil untaken from their eyes and could not clearly discern to the end of that which was abolished. Failure to recognize that the barrier had been removed hindered the gospel and led to attempts to bind Gentile believers to Jewish customs. Christ's mercy in healing the afflicted Gentile woman in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon was an example to lead the disciples from Jewish exclusiveness and open their minds to labor among the Gentiles, and after his death, when the Jews turned from the disciples for declaring Jesus the Saviour of the world, that lesson directed them to work for others besides their own people.
The exclusion broken through was that symbolized by the temple's dividing wall, when Jesus' welcome of the Gentiles brought them the salvation the Jews refused. It was every wall of partition thrown open in every compartment of the temple of His creation, so that every soul, Jew or Gentile, may have free access to the presence of God. It was the wall formed by self-love and national prejudice, whose tearing down removes divisions between nations and social groups and teaches love for all people. It was the removal of every wall of separation between person and person, so that sanctified judgment makes all human distinctions one and binds men and women to Christ, to God, and to one another as one family. The torn temple veil and the canceled partition walls and ordinances signify that access to God is opened through Christ, so that by faith Jews and Gentiles may share the living bread and fellowship with God.
With the barrier broken, heathen nations were made partakers equally with the Jews in the blessings and privileges of the gospel and the promises of God, and made fellow-heirs with the Israel of God. Gentiles who accepted the gospel were to share equally in its blessings with Jewish believers, without having to be circumcised. The division that had kept the Gentiles from the blessings of salvation was ended, joining both peoples to God in one body and expressing the worldwide reach of God's plan.
The wall still stood in the minds of the apostles, who excluded Gentiles from the privileges of the gospel, confined their labors to the Jews, and looked upon them as an unclean race excluded from the promises of God and shut out from God. Peter had to be divested of his settled prejudice against the Gentiles to comprehend the world-wide extent of God's plan, with the conversion of Cornelius as the first one of importance among the Gentiles. By the vision of the sheet he learned that Gentiles cleansed through Christ were no longer to be called common or unclean. This was proved when Peter became a messenger to the Gentiles, souls were converted, and the Lord sent His Holy Spirit upon Gentile believers, which Jewish believers found hard to believe and contended over in the church at Jerusalem until Peter rehearsed his experience with Cornelius.
Access Household and Temple
Through Christ both Jew and Gentile are brought near by His blood and reconciled in one body by the cross where their enmity is slain, and through Him both share peace and access to the Father by one Spirit. Those far from God and those near are thus made one people, with hostility destroyed and barriers removed so that nationality, race, caste, rank and religious background do not restrict approach to God. Every wall of partition is broken down and every compartment in the temple of creation is thrown open, so that every soul, Jew or Gentile, has free access to the presence of God. The message brought from the Father is for the whole world, as universal as light, with no boundaries to grace and mercy toward all who seek Him with contrition, calling all to yoke with Christ to reach every caste and nation.
This unity makes the reconciled fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, brought into one spiritual fold, one church and one family. True sanctified judgment in Christ makes all human distinctions one, binding men and women to Christ, to God and to one another, and pure religion is not proud, partial or exclusive but receives suffering humanity of all classes with full sympathy for the lowly. Through Christ men and women are adopted into the divine family as sons and daughters of God and given every advantage of His power and redeeming love.
Together they are built upon the apostles and prophets with Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone, joined together into a holy temple and a habitation of God through the Spirit where God meets with His people. Believers themselves are the temple of the living God, so even the most splendid outward temple amounts to nothing if hearts are not right. The greatest anxiety must therefore be over spiritual condition, shown in reverence on entering the house of God and in educating children to have their thoughts directed heavenward.
Through sin the world was separated from heaven by a deep and impassable gulf, but Christ with His own body bridged the gulf that sin had made and provided a way whereby fallen men may again be united with heaven. To every soul that desires to cross that gulf He gives help and strength, so that exiles are made prisoners of hope and placed on probation. This bringing of Jew and Gentile into one is the fulfillment of the covenant made with Abraham that in him all families of the earth would be blessed. No outward privilege or position can secure the spiritual blessings of that covenant, and no outward disability can debar any man who complies with its conditions, for name or position is of no real value with God, but in every age he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of Him.
Law Sacrifice and Salvation
The reconciliation belongs to Christ's abolishing of the law of commandments contained in ordinances, whose sacrificial ceremonies foreshadowed his death and came to an end when type met antitype at the cross, while the enduring commandments, including the Sabbath, were not blotted out. The canceled ordinances and broken partition walls, signified by the torn temple veil, declare that access to God is opened through Christ, so that by faith Jews and Gentiles may share the living bread and fellowship with God. Gentiles who accepted the gospel were therefore to share equally in its blessings with Jewish believers without having to be circumcised. They do not need circumcision or observance of the ceremonial law to enter the church or to be near God, and those who observe that law are not nearer to God than those who do not.
Christ's sacrifice on the cross redeems people from transgression of the law and makes it possible for sinners to be reconciled to God and return to allegiance to His commandments. He is the propitiation not only for our sins but for the sins of the whole world, and in facing death on the cross, central to His mission of bringing Jew and Gentile together, Jesus bore the guilt of fallen humanity and the Father's wrath because of sin. Though Satan caused Christ to be crucified, Christ rose from the grave and now serves in heaven as Advocate. He is a compassionate, tender High Priest who lovingly calls the weary and burdened to come to Him and find rest, and seeing what sin cost leads the sinner to hate the sins that wounded Jesus and to keep a contrite heart while looking to Christ.
The gospel is the means ordained by God to restore His moral image in man and to stem the tide of hostility against His law. It is His remedy for universal disorganization and the power which draws men together in unity. The teaching that Christ reconciles both to God in one body through the cross, putting the enmity to death, is given as instruction and comfort, joined to salvation by grace through faith and to Christ dwelling in the heart by faith, cherished as a beloved friend.
Unity Without Distinction
The reconciliation in one body by the cross puts enmity to death so that no nationality, rank, or creed divides those Christ brings together, for His mercy and love are offered without exclusion. The cross removes hostility and barriers so that nationality, race, and social status do not restrict access to God, but every soul may come to Him and all stand equal before Him. This unity joins Jew and Gentile, black and white, free and bond, rich and poor in a common brotherhood, equal in God's sight, with Christ's love and saving work extended to every human being. His religion makes no caste distinctions, treating neighbor and stranger, friend and enemy without partiality, and slaying enmity removes every wall of separation between person and person. True sanctified judgment in Christ makes all human distinctions one, binding men and women to Christ, to God, and to one another as one family, adopted into the divine family as sons and daughters of God with every advantage of His power and redeeming love.
The message Christ brought from the Father is for the ears of the whole world, a blessing as universal as light, with no boundaries to God's grace and mercy to all who seek Him with contrition of soul. He came to break down every wall of partition and throw open every compartment in the temple of His creation so that every soul, Jew or Gentile, may have free access to the presence of God. All are called to yoke up with Christ to reach every caste and every nation and draw every soul to Him. Pure and undefiled religion is not proud, partial, or exclusive toward a few, but receives suffering humanity of all classes, with the lowly given full sympathy.
The verse is an instructive lesson for believers who are not working in harmony, calling them to lay aside division and strife and to live and labor together in peace and unity. His cross is the center that unites believers, who must not separate but grow together as God's people. The cross of Christ is fully able to make the members of the church of God in every place act as one, blending in perfect union. Consecrated to His service in body, soul, and spirit, with every addition to the church becoming one more agency for carrying on the great plan of redemption, the church becomes a living, active missionary agency moved and controlled by the Holy Spirit, and this oneness is a miracle accomplished for the good of an unbelieving world.
This unity applies across nationalities, so that separating German and Scandinavian believers into distinct organizations would build walls and hinder the spiritual development of God's work rather than advance it. Christ tears down the wall of partition formed by self-love and national prejudice, removing divisions between nations and social groups and teaching love for all people. His followers are to treat every needy person as a neighbor and the whole world as their field. In Christ, people of every nationality, race, caste, and religious background are brought near by His blood and given access to God, and loving service to those in need can break down religious prejudice and draw people to God.
Mission Beyond Israel
The death on the cross broke down the partition wall between Jews and Gentiles and reconciled both to God in one body with the enmity slain, so that gospel work is not restricted by custom or nationality but is to be carried to all the world beyond those limits. This was proved when Peter became a messenger to the Gentiles, souls were converted, and the Holy Spirit fell upon Gentile believers. Jewish believers in Jerusalem found this hard to believe and contended over it until Peter rehearsed his experience with Cornelius.
The disciples had to learn that these barriers must be broken down rather than allowing Jewish pride to shut them off from the needs of others, bringing Jews and heathen together in sympathy. Christ’s welcome of the Gentiles broke through the exclusion symbolized by the temple’s dividing wall and brought them the salvation the Jews refused to accept. His mercy in healing the afflicted Gentile woman in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon was the example given to lead the disciples away from Jewish exclusiveness and to open their minds to labor among the Gentiles.
That lesson afterward directed them to work for others besides their own people when the Jews turned from them for declaring Jesus the Saviour of the world. Failure to recognize that the division had been removed hindered the gospel and led to attempts to bind Gentile believers to Jewish customs.
The broken wall let the Gentiles into the full privileges of the gospel and made this an important era for vigorous work among the Gentiles to strengthen the church by a great ingathering of souls. Many believing Jews still had the veil untaken from their eyes and could not clearly discern to the end of that which was abolished. The message of mercy is offered first to Israel and then to all nations, so that Jews and Gentiles can both be reconciled through Christ and gathered into one church, and all who believe may receive everlasting life.
Men in high positions of trust and influence, however exalted in this world, are in sin and under condemnation unless they accept Christ. If they are afar off in sin they can be brought near by the blood of Christ, and if they are in bondage to Satan as enemies under condemnation of the law they can be reconciled to God by His blood. To follow Christ by faith is the only path to true greatness and true honor.
By the cross Christ puts to death the hostility between Jew and Gentile and reconciles both together to God in one body. His death breaks down the middle wall of partition that shut Gentiles out, so that those who accept the gospel share equally with Jewish believers as fellow-heirs without needing circumcision. Through Him both are brought near by His blood and have access to the Father by one Spirit, becoming fellow citizens, members of God's household, and a holy temple built on Christ as the chief cornerstone. In Him no nationality, race, caste, rank, or social standing divides, but all are joined in one common brotherhood and made equal before God. This ending of enmity sends the gospel beyond custom and nationality to all the world, calling believers to lay aside division and labor together in peace as one.
Meaning of Reconciliation
Ephesians 2:16 means that both Jews and Gentiles are reconciled to God in one body by the cross, where the enmity between them is put to death. Christ's death brings the divided groups together into one body and destroys the hostility that separated them. This reconciliation belongs to His abolition of the law of commandments contained in ordinances, whose sacrificial ceremonies prefigured His death and ended when type met antitype, while the enduring commandments, including the Sabbath, were not blotted out. It is instruction and comfort joined to salvation by grace through faith and to Christ dwelling in the heart by faith, cherished as a beloved friend. It is an instructive lesson for believers who are not working in harmony, calling them to lay aside division and strife and to live and labor together in peace and unity.
Both includes those who were far from God and those who were near, brought together as one people through the cross which destroys the enmity between them. Those afar off are brought near by the blood of Christ, sharing access to the Father through one Spirit and becoming fellow citizens in God's household, built together into a holy temple with Christ as its cornerstone. Even men in high positions of trust and influence, however exalted in this world, are in sin and under condemnation unless they accept Christ. If they are in bondage to Satan, enemies of Christ, and under condemnation of the law of God, they can be reconciled to God by His blood, and to follow Christ by faith is the only path to true greatness and true honor.
Slaying the enmity establishes peace in which unity replaces dissension, so that divided people are reconciled to God in one body by the cross. In Christ believers are united rather than drawing apart, with unity and love brought about by the Holy Spirit. His cross is the center that unites believers, who must not separate but grow together as God's people.
Partition Wall Broken
Christ's death on the cross broke down the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile and reconciled both to God in one body. That breaking let the Gentiles into the full privileges of the gospel, yet many believing Jews still had the veil untaken from their eyes and could not clearly discern to the end of that which was abolished. Failure to recognize that the barrier had been removed hindered the gospel and led to attempts to bind Gentile believers to Jewish customs. Christ's mercy in healing the afflicted Gentile woman in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon was an example to lead the disciples from Jewish exclusiveness and open their minds to labor among the Gentiles, and after his death, when the Jews turned from the disciples for declaring Jesus the Saviour of the world, that lesson directed them to work for others besides their own people.
The exclusion broken through was that symbolized by the temple's dividing wall, when Jesus' welcome of the Gentiles brought them the salvation the Jews refused. It was every wall of partition thrown open in every compartment of the temple of His creation, so that every soul, Jew or Gentile, may have free access to the presence of God. It was the wall formed by self-love and national prejudice, whose tearing down removes divisions between nations and social groups and teaches love for all people. It was the removal of every wall of separation between person and person, so that sanctified judgment makes all human distinctions one and binds men and women to Christ, to God, and to one another as one family. The torn temple veil and the canceled partition walls and ordinances signify that access to God is opened through Christ, so that by faith Jews and Gentiles may share the living bread and fellowship with God.
With the barrier broken, heathen nations were made partakers equally with the Jews in the blessings and privileges of the gospel and the promises of God, and made fellow-heirs with the Israel of God. Gentiles who accepted the gospel were to share equally in its blessings with Jewish believers, without having to be circumcised. The division that had kept the Gentiles from the blessings of salvation was ended, joining both peoples to God in one body and expressing the worldwide reach of God's plan.
The wall still stood in the minds of the apostles, who excluded Gentiles from the privileges of the gospel, confined their labors to the Jews, and looked upon them as an unclean race excluded from the promises of God and shut out from God. Peter had to be divested of his settled prejudice against the Gentiles to comprehend the world-wide extent of God's plan, with the conversion of Cornelius as the first one of importance among the Gentiles. By the vision of the sheet he learned that Gentiles cleansed through Christ were no longer to be called common or unclean. This was proved when Peter became a messenger to the Gentiles, souls were converted, and the Lord sent His Holy Spirit upon Gentile believers, which Jewish believers found hard to believe and contended over in the church at Jerusalem until Peter rehearsed his experience with Cornelius.
Access Household and Temple
Through Christ both Jew and Gentile are brought near by His blood and reconciled in one body by the cross where their enmity is slain, and through Him both share peace and access to the Father by one Spirit. Those far from God and those near are thus made one people, with hostility destroyed and barriers removed so that nationality, race, caste, rank and religious background do not restrict approach to God. Every wall of partition is broken down and every compartment in the temple of creation is thrown open, so that every soul, Jew or Gentile, has free access to the presence of God. The message brought from the Father is for the whole world, as universal as light, with no boundaries to grace and mercy toward all who seek Him with contrition, calling all to yoke with Christ to reach every caste and nation.
This unity makes the reconciled fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, brought into one spiritual fold, one church and one family. True sanctified judgment in Christ makes all human distinctions one, binding men and women to Christ, to God and to one another, and pure religion is not proud, partial or exclusive but receives suffering humanity of all classes with full sympathy for the lowly. Through Christ men and women are adopted into the divine family as sons and daughters of God and given every advantage of His power and redeeming love.
Together they are built upon the apostles and prophets with Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone, joined together into a holy temple and a habitation of God through the Spirit where God meets with His people. Believers themselves are the temple of the living God, so even the most splendid outward temple amounts to nothing if hearts are not right. The greatest anxiety must therefore be over spiritual condition, shown in reverence on entering the house of God and in educating children to have their thoughts directed heavenward.
Through sin the world was separated from heaven by a deep and impassable gulf, but Christ with His own body bridged the gulf that sin had made and provided a way whereby fallen men may again be united with heaven. To every soul that desires to cross that gulf He gives help and strength, so that exiles are made prisoners of hope and placed on probation. This bringing of Jew and Gentile into one is the fulfillment of the covenant made with Abraham that in him all families of the earth would be blessed. No outward privilege or position can secure the spiritual blessings of that covenant, and no outward disability can debar any man who complies with its conditions, for name or position is of no real value with God, but in every age he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of Him.
Law Sacrifice and Salvation
The reconciliation belongs to Christ's abolishing of the law of commandments contained in ordinances, whose sacrificial ceremonies foreshadowed his death and came to an end when type met antitype at the cross, while the enduring commandments, including the Sabbath, were not blotted out. The canceled ordinances and broken partition walls, signified by the torn temple veil, declare that access to God is opened through Christ, so that by faith Jews and Gentiles may share the living bread and fellowship with God. Gentiles who accepted the gospel were therefore to share equally in its blessings with Jewish believers without having to be circumcised. They do not need circumcision or observance of the ceremonial law to enter the church or to be near God, and those who observe that law are not nearer to God than those who do not.
Christ's sacrifice on the cross redeems people from transgression of the law and makes it possible for sinners to be reconciled to God and return to allegiance to His commandments. He is the propitiation not only for our sins but for the sins of the whole world, and in facing death on the cross, central to His mission of bringing Jew and Gentile together, Jesus bore the guilt of fallen humanity and the Father's wrath because of sin. Though Satan caused Christ to be crucified, Christ rose from the grave and now serves in heaven as Advocate. He is a compassionate, tender High Priest who lovingly calls the weary and burdened to come to Him and find rest, and seeing what sin cost leads the sinner to hate the sins that wounded Jesus and to keep a contrite heart while looking to Christ.
The gospel is the means ordained by God to restore His moral image in man and to stem the tide of hostility against His law. It is His remedy for universal disorganization and the power which draws men together in unity. The teaching that Christ reconciles both to God in one body through the cross, putting the enmity to death, is given as instruction and comfort, joined to salvation by grace through faith and to Christ dwelling in the heart by faith, cherished as a beloved friend.
Unity Without Distinction
The reconciliation in one body by the cross puts enmity to death so that no nationality, rank, or creed divides those Christ brings together, for His mercy and love are offered without exclusion. The cross removes hostility and barriers so that nationality, race, and social status do not restrict access to God, but every soul may come to Him and all stand equal before Him. This unity joins Jew and Gentile, black and white, free and bond, rich and poor in a common brotherhood, equal in God's sight, with Christ's love and saving work extended to every human being. His religion makes no caste distinctions, treating neighbor and stranger, friend and enemy without partiality, and slaying enmity removes every wall of separation between person and person. True sanctified judgment in Christ makes all human distinctions one, binding men and women to Christ, to God, and to one another as one family, adopted into the divine family as sons and daughters of God with every advantage of His power and redeeming love.
The message Christ brought from the Father is for the ears of the whole world, a blessing as universal as light, with no boundaries to God's grace and mercy to all who seek Him with contrition of soul. He came to break down every wall of partition and throw open every compartment in the temple of His creation so that every soul, Jew or Gentile, may have free access to the presence of God. All are called to yoke up with Christ to reach every caste and every nation and draw every soul to Him. Pure and undefiled religion is not proud, partial, or exclusive toward a few, but receives suffering humanity of all classes, with the lowly given full sympathy.
The verse is an instructive lesson for believers who are not working in harmony, calling them to lay aside division and strife and to live and labor together in peace and unity. His cross is the center that unites believers, who must not separate but grow together as God's people. The cross of Christ is fully able to make the members of the church of God in every place act as one, blending in perfect union. Consecrated to His service in body, soul, and spirit, with every addition to the church becoming one more agency for carrying on the great plan of redemption, the church becomes a living, active missionary agency moved and controlled by the Holy Spirit, and this oneness is a miracle accomplished for the good of an unbelieving world.
This unity applies across nationalities, so that separating German and Scandinavian believers into distinct organizations would build walls and hinder the spiritual development of God's work rather than advance it. Christ tears down the wall of partition formed by self-love and national prejudice, removing divisions between nations and social groups and teaching love for all people. His followers are to treat every needy person as a neighbor and the whole world as their field. In Christ, people of every nationality, race, caste, and religious background are brought near by His blood and given access to God, and loving service to those in need can break down religious prejudice and draw people to God.
Mission Beyond Israel
The death on the cross broke down the partition wall between Jews and Gentiles and reconciled both to God in one body with the enmity slain, so that gospel work is not restricted by custom or nationality but is to be carried to all the world beyond those limits. This was proved when Peter became a messenger to the Gentiles, souls were converted, and the Holy Spirit fell upon Gentile believers. Jewish believers in Jerusalem found this hard to believe and contended over it until Peter rehearsed his experience with Cornelius.
The disciples had to learn that these barriers must be broken down rather than allowing Jewish pride to shut them off from the needs of others, bringing Jews and heathen together in sympathy. Christ’s welcome of the Gentiles broke through the exclusion symbolized by the temple’s dividing wall and brought them the salvation the Jews refused to accept. His mercy in healing the afflicted Gentile woman in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon was the example given to lead the disciples away from Jewish exclusiveness and to open their minds to labor among the Gentiles.
That lesson afterward directed them to work for others besides their own people when the Jews turned from them for declaring Jesus the Saviour of the world. Failure to recognize that the division had been removed hindered the gospel and led to attempts to bind Gentile believers to Jewish customs.
The broken wall let the Gentiles into the full privileges of the gospel and made this an important era for vigorous work among the Gentiles to strengthen the church by a great ingathering of souls. Many believing Jews still had the veil untaken from their eyes and could not clearly discern to the end of that which was abolished. The message of mercy is offered first to Israel and then to all nations, so that Jews and Gentiles can both be reconciled through Christ and gathered into one church, and all who believe may receive everlasting life.
Men in high positions of trust and influence, however exalted in this world, are in sin and under condemnation unless they accept Christ. If they are afar off in sin they can be brought near by the blood of Christ, and if they are in bondage to Satan as enemies under condemnation of the law they can be reconciled to God by His blood. To follow Christ by faith is the only path to true greatness and true honor.