Ephesians 2:17

“and He came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh”

“He came and preached peace”: This appears to be preaching which followed His cross, for it includes preaching to the Gentiles. “First He achieved it; then He announced it” (Stott p. 103).

This was the fulfillment of Isaiah 2:19. Jesus preached the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles through His messengers the Apostles (John 14:26; John 16:13; Acts 26:23; 2 Corinthians 5:18). Just as Jesus had preached through Noah (1 Peter 3:18) and the Old Testament prophets (1 Peter 1:10). To listen to the message and writings of the Apostles, is to listen to Christ (Matthew 10:40; John 13:20). The gospel is. message of "peace". It offers us peace with others, because it challenges us to change (Ephesians 4:25-32). It offers us peace with God, for it commands us to repent and acknowledge that we are in the wrong (Acts 17:30). It also offers us peace with ourselves, because it offers us freedom from our own selfishness and arrogance.

“Far off”: The Gentiles (Ephesians 2:13). “Though Israel probably did not realize it at the time, when this peace was preached to those ‘who were far away', it would not be just to the exiled Jews, but also to the Gentiles” (Boles p. 236). "Nigh": Did not mean "locked in". The Jewish person still had to believe in Christ, repent, confess that Jesus was the Son of God and submit to baptism (Acts 2:38). Special privileges does not guarantee salvation.. lesson that many children who are raised in "Christian" homes need to hear.