The Dividing Wall of Hostility Between Jews and Gentiles

In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul mentions the dividing wall of hostility, that is the wall that used to divide Jews and Gentiles:

'Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.'

This wall had, as it were, been made artificially higher in Jesus' day. The Jewish leaders had gained permission from their Roman overlords to kill anyone who entered the inner courts of the temple. There was actually a sign put up warning Gentiles not to enter the Jerusalem temple - on pain of death!

Not only that, 'Paul writes this letter from prison because he has been falsely charged with taking a non-Jew inside the temple in Jerusalem (Acts 21:28).'* So a law made by people, that wasn't even part of the Torah, was causing Paul to have to sit in prison writing letters to churches rather than being able to visit them in person (though that was ultimately to our benefit, for it turns out he was adding to the writings that made up Second Testament).

No longer are the bloody sacrifices, ritual purity, and circumcision essential for the worship of God

How did Jesus destroy this barrier? By dying on the cross. 'By his death on the cross, Jesus has fulfilled the law and thus brought to an end the ceremonies and rituals associated with the temple. No longer are the bloody sacrifices, ritual purity, and circumcision essential for the worship of God.'**

So Paul is most likely referring to the detailed commandments about rituals, sacrifices and the rite of passage that made a man Jewish, i.e. circumcision (what is 'made in the flesh by [human] hands' Eph 2:11). All of these kinds of laws are 'fulfilled' by Christ on the cross in the sense that his one perfect sacrifice made an end to them.

There are, however, laws written in the Torah that continue to be relevant to us today. In fact much of the First Testament is fulfilled by pointing to Christ (i.e. to the Messiah). This means we still read it and enjoy seeing a preview of what is to come, that is the salvation that God is going to bring about, just as he saved his chosen people the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.

Notice too, that according to Ephesians 2, Gentiles haven't been added to Jews or vice versa. Instead Christ has created 'one new man' i.e., a new humanity. Both Jews and Gentiles are now at peace with God and at peace with each other through what Christ achieved on the cross, and are part of a new community that belongs to God, made up of both Jews and Gentiles!

What a pity it is when humans make up new laws, and stir up hostility between peoples. This undermines the work that Christ has achieved by his death and resurrection. Through him a change has come about that operates at a cosmic level. This means that any barriers between people groups are a case of reverting to the old way of operating, when the Jewish leaders sought to prevent Gentiles coming too near the presence of the Lord, who is 'enthroned between the cherubs' (Isa 37:16). Such Gentiles, according to the book of Isaiah, had been prophesied to come to the Lord as a result of the 'light' shone out by the Jews - or failing that, by the servant leader (Messiah) representing them (Isa 49:6). Oh the irony!

So, that dividing wall of hostility has been removed, and there is good news for all, and this creates peace for all humanity, just as the shepherds learnt from the angels at the time of Christ's birth (Luke 2:10).

Scripture quote from: The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), p. Eph 2:11–22

*Keener, Craig S., The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. Eph 2:14–16

**Arnold, Clinton E., Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to Philemon. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), III, 317

Picture also from Arnold, Clinton E., Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to Philemon. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), III, 317.