To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery …
Summary: Who is “them?” “Them” are the “Lord’s people.” People like you and me.
To make any sense of this passage, we have to step back a few paces and pull in some context.
Paul has been talking about the commission God gave him. His task is to present the Word of God to the Gentiles. He begins by pointing out that the Word was a “mystery that has been kept hidden for ages.” This “mystery” has now been revealed as the Good News about God’s Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Paul notes that this Good News, the Gospel, has been given to “the Lord’s people.” This is part of the mystery! Who are the “Lord’s people?”
Jesus answered this question when he spoke with the woman at the well (John 4: 1-42). He had just revealed that he knew all about her sordid past. She responded excitedly, realizing he was a prophet. Then Jesus said:
“‘Woman,’ Jesus replied, ‘believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.’” (John 4: 21-23)
Later, while talking about his “sheep,” Jesus said:
“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16)
In both cases, Jesus hints that while “salvation is from the Jews,” God does not limit his salvation. The Jews exist to bring the offer of salvation to all of mankind.
So, who are the “Lord’s people?”
Anyone who will “worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth.” This includes non-Jews, called Gentiles.
For centuries, the Jews had looked down on Gentiles as lesser beings. They ate unclean food and engaged in offensive practices. Some of these practices were offensive because they transgressed the laws of the Pharisees, and some because they transgressed the laws of God. Through Jesus, all of us are offered forgiveness of sins and the restoration of our souls.
In one sense, Paul might have drawn the short straw, being tasked with the challenging role of being the apostle to the Gentiles. Yet, thank God he did because he is eminently qualified to explain the “glorious riches of this mystery.”
Application: Thank God he allows all people to worship him in the Spirit and in truth.
Food for Thought: Why does Paul equate the Gospel to “glorious riches?”
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