Ephesians 2:14-15
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“For He is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace.”
What was the “middle wall of partition” that existed between Jews and Gentiles, which was “broken down”? Was it the law that was “abolished”? Let’s carefully examine this almost universally misunderstood passage phrase-by-phrase:
(1) Jesus Christ is “our [Jew and Gentile] peace…” (Eph 2:14).
(2) “…who hath made both (Jew and Gentile) one (people).”
(3) “having abolished…the enmity [the hatred between peoples was abolished, not the law]” (Eph 2:15).
(4) The word “even” (Eph 2:15) is in italics. This means it is a manmade addition, thought by the 1611 translators to be helpful in making the passage more easily understood. It actually confuses the reader and the passage is best rendered “due to the law of commandments.”
(5) Similarly, the word “contained” is in italics and this word is best rendered “interpreted in ordinances,” or talmudic traditions.
See Mark 7:7 and Colossians 2:20-22 for reference. Recognize that “ordinances” derives from the Greek dogmasine—from which comes the English word dogma. These dogmas, or ordinances, were the Pharisaical “do’s and don’ts” recorded and still found in the Jewish Talmud! Sixty-five of these traditions pertained to just the Sabbath day alone and how Jewish leaders—who did not have God’s Spirit!—decided that it was to be observed!
What Christ abolished was the hatred—“enmity”—between Jews and Gentiles due to these awful, self-righteous laws. It was this approach that made the Jews believe and teach that they were superior to Gentiles.
No suggested reading.