Ephesians 2:1-22
It took a lot of reading and re-reading of different translations for me to finally understand the next two verses: 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… (vv. 13-14) Through my comments last year I came to understand that “both” referred to the two groups, Gentiles and Jews. So the Gentiles, who were “far off” have been brought “near” by Jesus’ death and He “has made us both one”. The NASB helped by translating “has made us both one” as “made both groups into one”.
But I was still hung up on this “dividing wall of hostility”. Then I looked back at how the Jewish people had truly separated themselves from the rest of the world – separate courts in the Temple where only Jews could enter; Jewish travelers bypassing Samaria on their travels between Jerusalem and Galilee; and even Jesus’ life (the woman at the well, John 3) and parables (the Good Samaritan). He Himself was breaking down this “dividing wall of hostility” even before His death.
Surprisingly, that “dividing wall of hostility” now runs the opposite direction, with anti-Semitism rampant in the Middle East, but also reflecting a long history of hostility toward the Jews. Interestingly, I looked up “anti-Semitism” online; a Wikipedia article listed some 30+ people who were regarded as anti-Semites. Hitler, of course, leads the list, along with his henchman, Joseph Goebbels. Others on that list included Henry Ford, Richard Wagner, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Charles Lindbergh.
See also: August 31 / Ephesians 2:1-10; September 1 / Ephesians 2:11-22
So often it happens that our Archbishop’s podcast supplements our reading for the day. Today is such a day. Please take a look and listen.
Amen!!
I am particularly drawn to vv. 8-10, especially: “…And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God…”
For the longest time, I was of the mindset that I had to earn God’s (and everyone else’s) favor or love by doing good works, working harder and better, achieving more, etc. And always I never measured up or was never good enough. It was a frustrating place to be and I kinda just gave up trying, if you know what I mean.
Once this verse sunk in, things changed. I understood the depth of God’s love for me and quit trying so hard to achieve stuff. What a load off my mind! It opened my heart to God’s love – His unconditional love. And I didn’t have to do works or achieve anything to earn it. What a gift!