Essays in Ephesians #14
. . . [Jesus] reconciles us, both Jew and Gentile, to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility between us. And he came and preached the good news of peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Ephesians 2: 16-18 adapted
The hostilities dividing Jews from Gentiles in the first century began with God’s covenant promise to Abraham in Genesis 15. God’s choice of the Israelites set them apart from every other nation. Four hundred years later, when God confirmed His covenant with Abraham’s’ descendants and gave His law to Moses on Mt. Sinai, the law fed the enmity.
God’s covenant was with Israel alone. Other nations were barred from covenant relationship with God. Gentiles were far off uncircumcised strangers who lived outside of Mosaic laws. They had no rights of citizenship in God’s nation. They had no covenant connection with the promised Messiah of Israel. After Jesus’ death, His Holy Spirit changed that.
But until then, the law fed hostility and division in several ways. First, the law made distinctions between the Israelites and the Gentiles. God planned these distinctions to become a blessing to all nations. He wanted Israel to keep His laws and teach others how to live in healthy, loving, just communities. But Israel forgot God’s purpose for the law; the nation became legalistic and misused the law.
Second, at the heart level, some (not all) first century sons of Abraham felt superior because God had given them His covenants and laws. Because their ancestors had known His supernatural presence, some felt superior and began to look upon Gentiles with contempt, not with humble blessing. They saw Gentiles as uncircumcised heathens, idolatrous pagans—which they mostly were.
Third, since the the law required ritual purity and cleanliness for temple worship, all good religious Jews avoided contact with anything unclean to maintain outward purity. The laws on cleanliness instructed them to avoid blood, death and unclean meats. Since the Gentile nations were not restricted in handling blood, death and meats, it was impossible to tell if a Gentile was clean or unclean. So most Jewish people avoided all contact with all Gentiles. Legalism, based on self-protection and fear of contamination, weakened and all but erased God’s desire to always bless all nations through Israel.
Added to this, it was naturally easy for Jewish people to feel defensively hostile toward Gentiles. The land God gave to their Father Abraham, the land ruled by their historic kings, had been invaded, conquered, and occupied by Romans who worshiped Caesar, dead idols and false gods. Many Romans who reveled in sins that were abhorrent to the God of Israel and felt proudly superior to the Israelites. It easy for pagan Gentiles to feel hostile to the Jewish people—after all, who can like someone who avoids you like the plague and thinks they’re better than you are.
But then Christ Jesus came. He fulfilled the purpose of the law and brought a new covenant. His death on the cross did an amazing thing: it abolished the law, the dividing wall of hostility. In Him all are brought near to God, Jewish and Gentile believers alike are cleansed and brought near to God through the blood of Christ. Though functions may differ, we all become part of His one body. He brings peace to the hostilities in our hearts and gives access to the Father. We can all confess our sins and receive His grace, His humility, His mercy His very life —a life that loves God wholly and loves our neighbor as our selves— no matter his or her race or creed.
