Ephesians 2:16

16 and might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, killing the enmity in himself.

Ephesians 2:16 Meaning and Commentary

Ephesians 2:16

And that he might reconcile both unto God
This is another end of the abrogation of the ceremonial law: the Jews had run up a long score against the ceremonial law, as well as against the moral law; and Christ by fulfilling it for them, and thereby abrogating it, reconciled them; and the Gentiles could not be reconciled together with them, without the abrogation of it: and this reconciliation of them is made to God, who was the person offended; and who yet first set on foot a reconciliation, in which his glory is greatly concerned; and reconciliation with others depends upon reconciliation with him: and this is made

in one body by the cross;
by which "body" is meant, the human body of Christ, which the Father prepared for him, and he assumed, and that in order to make reconciliation for his people; and is said to be "one" body, because it was in one and the same body, which he reconciled both Jews and Gentiles unto God, and in or by one sacrifice of that body; reconciliation being so effectually made by it that there is no need of a reiteration: or the sense is, he reconciled them into "one body"; into one mystical body, the church, of which he is head; and this he did "by the cross", that is, by his blood shed on the cross, or by his suffering the death of the cross; which shows that reconciliation is made in a way of satisfaction to the law and justice of God, by Christ's bearing the penalty of the law, and suffering the strokes of justice on the cross; and expresses the efficacy of his blood and sacrifice, and the greatness of his condescension and love:

having slain the enmity thereby;
the ceremonial law, as before; and the slaying it is the same with abolishing it; unless the enmity between God and man is meant, which was slain by removing the cause of it, sin; and which laid a foundation for the slaying of it in the hearts of his people in regeneration, when sin is made odious to them, and they are reconciled to God's way of salvation; hence being slain in both senses, peace with God can never be broken.

Ephesians 2:16 In-Context

14 For he himself is our peace, who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition, the enmity, in his flesh,
15 invalidating the law of commandments in ordinances, in order that he might create the two in himself into one new man, [thus] making peace,
16 and might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, killing the enmity in himself.
17 And coming, he proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to the ones who were near,
18 because through him [we] both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "by it" (referring to the cross)
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.