A light unto the Gentiles --

[H. Richard]

It is obvious that God wanted His people in Israel to be a LIGHT unto the Gentiles; to become a nation of Priest to teach the whole world, including the Gentiles, about their God.

Luke 2:30-32
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."
NKJV

Isa 49:6
6 Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'"
NKJV

HOWEVER, the nation of Israel rejected their Messiah and King therefore the nation of Israel could not be a light unto the Gentiles.

Therefore; God has temporally set aside the nation of Israel along with their Law of Moses and made Jesus Himself the Light unto the Gentiles by giving Paul a gospel of God's grace for the whole world.

Eph 5:14
14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep (Gentiles), Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."
NKJV

 

[FHII]

Amen! Eph 5 is a tremendous chapter! I understand that particular verse to be speaking to the children of God. However, saying it is to the gentiles is not out of line, given Paul's discourse in the first and second chapter.