Ephesians 2:11-22
Read Ephesians 2:11-22
Helpful Background Information:
In Mark 7:24-29, Jesus responds to a Gentile mother’s request for healing by stating, “Let the children be fed first, because it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” (v. 27, CSB). In saying this, Jesus affirms his priority in ministry was to the Jews first, and then to the Gentiles. However, this should not confuse us. Jesus’ statement should not be taken to mean that either 1.) Gentiles (non-Jews) have no access to God’s saving grace in Christ, or 2.) Gentiles hold a secondary status in Christ’s covenant family. Rather, Jesus’s missional priority to the Jews is a matter of timing. The Gospel going forth unto all nations and the inclusion of Gentiles into God’s covenant family is a post-resurrection reality. Mark, in this passage, foreshadows God's abundant grace toward Gentiles, fully revealed through their widespread acceptance of Christ in Acts and the rest of the New Testament.
The Apostle Paul provides clarity to this in Ephesians 2:11-22. Before the death and resurrection of Christ, the Jews and Gentiles had a “dividing wall of hostility” between them. The Gentiles were foreigners to the “covenants of promises” and without hope in the world (v. 11). Meanwhile, the Jews were the group who, by God’s grace alone, were given covenantal access to God, the Scriptures, clear revelation of God’s commandments, the promises of the Messiah, the hope of forgiveness of sins, the prophets, and so on. However, after (and because of) the work of Christ on the cross and his resurrection, the sins of both Jew and Gentile were atoned for, and this “dividing wall of hostility” has been torn down. The result of this is beautifully and precisely laid out: Gentiles, through Christ, become fellow and equal citizens and members of God’s household with full access to him; a fellowship that transcends earthly boundaries and is built up together in the Spirit. This “dividing wall”, however, still existed when Christ was talking to this Gentile woman.
Reflection Questions:
Paul says that Gentiles are now “fellow citizens with the saints” (Eph. 2:19). Write down 10 devotional thoughts of thanksgiving and/or application of what it means to be members of God’s household from Ephesians 2:11-22.
Jesus' response to the Gentile woman might seem strange, harsh, or confusing at first glance. What does this reveal about the importance of understanding a Scripture passage within the larger redemptive context?
The image of being “built together into a dwelling place for God” (Eph. 2:22) is deeply communal. How can you intentionally contribute to building a spiritually healthy, unified church?