What is the Meaning of Ephesians 2:11-16?
By Kelly McDonald, Jr.
In Ephesians 2:11-16, Paul wrote “11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 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; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:…” (KJV)
Common Argument: These verses have been used by some to say that the entire law of God, including the Sabbath, was torn down when Christ was sacrificed.
Think it Through: Christ said He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17-18; for more explanation, see the first book in this series, Jesus and the Sabbath, chapters 1 and 2). Therefore Paul cannot refer to the Law of God in these passages. He died because we transgressed/violated God’s Law (I John 3:1-5).
Short Answer: Christ tore down man-made laws so that Gentiles and Israelites could be one in Christ (see Acts chapters 10 and 11). These verses do not negate God’s laws and commandments.
Longer Answer: In Ephesians 2:11-15, Paul explained that Gentiles were at one time excluded from citizenship in Israel. However, through the blood of Christ they have been made one with Israel and the covenants of promise. For Gentiles and Israelites to be unified, Christ had to die to abolish the ‘law of commandments contained in ordinances’ that separated us from citizenship in Israel. What is Paul saying?
The Greek word translated as ‘ordinances’ is dogmasin, and it refers to a man-made ordinance or decree. The phrase “law of commandments contained in ordinances” refers to the laws and commandments in man-made ordinances of the Jewish leaders, which separated Gentiles from becoming members of Israel.
The man-made rules of the Pharisees, Essenes, and other groups often treated Gentiles as second-class human beings. For instance, some Jewish people had a rule which stipulated that any fellowship with Gentiles would make them unclean. God never said this in the Bible. Peter struggled with this for years; the Lord had to correct Him (see Acts chapters 10 and 11).
These kinds of rules separated Gentiles from covenant with God and becoming citizens in Israel. It excluded them and diminished their value. This is the wall of regulations that were built to create enmity between Israelites and Gentiles. According to the Law of God, Gentiles were allowed to enter into covenant with God (Leviticus 24:22).
When the Israelites left Egypt, they left a mixed multitude (Exodus 12:38). The Gentiles that left Egypt with the Israelites became members of the community. They were baptized into Moses by the sea and cloud (I Cor. 10:1-4). Rahab and Ruth are examples of Gentiles allowed to be part of God’s covenant people.
Through Christ’s death, we have access to all the promises God made to the patriarchs and citizenship in Israel without having to go through man-made rules which tried to separate us from Israel.
Kelly McDonald, Jr.
Pastor, David’s Tent Christian Fellowship