Bible Questions and Answers

Can you explain Ephesians 2:14-16? What does putting to death the enmity mean?

Ephesians 2:14-16 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

• He Himself is our peace — he has made peace between gentile (who is far off) and Jew (who is near) Isaiah 57:19 I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near, Says the LORD, and I will heal him.
• made both one — both gentiles and jews are on an equal footing with Christ
• broken down the middle wall of separation — under the Old Covenant there was a wall in the Temple courts to separate Jews and Gentiles. The court of the Gentiles was separated from that of the Jews. In Christ there is no partition.
• abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinance — Christ has fulfilled the Law of Moses and taken it out of the way.
• to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace — Salvation in Christ is by belief and baptism, and obedience to his commandments for both Jew and gentile.
• He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross — Christ’s sacrifice on the cross reconciles both Jew and Gentile believers to God.
• thereby putting to death the enmity — the enmity between God and men due to their inability to keep the Law of Moses.
  • Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
  • Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn