16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
16 Christ brought us together through his death on the Cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility.
16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ephesians 2:16
Commentary on Ephesians 2:14-18
(Read Ephesians 2:14-18)
Jesus Christ made peace by the sacrifice of himself; in every sense Christ was their Peace, the author, centre, and substance of their being at peace with God, and of their union with the Jewish believers in one church. Through the person, sacrifice, and mediation of Christ, sinners are allowed to draw near to God as a Father, and are brought with acceptance into his presence, with their worship and services, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, as one with the Father and the Son. Christ purchased leave for us to come to God; and the Spirit gives a heart to come, and strength to come, and then grace to serve God acceptably.