Eighteen Months Kindle Edition by Leslie Jones McCloud (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

One Humanity

The “wall of hostility” symbolizes the religious, cultural, and spiritual divide between Jews and Gentiles, which Jesus dismantled through His sacrifice, enabling unity and reconciliation in the body of Christ.

In Ephesians 2:14, the “wall of hostility” (or “dividing wall of hostility” in some translations) refers to the barrier that separated Jews and Gentiles in the context of the early Christian church. Is it still the same today?

The phrase comes from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, where he describes how Christ’s work has reconciled both groups to God and to each other. Here’s a clear explanation:

  • Context: In Ephesians 2:11–22, Paul addresses Gentile believers, reminding them that they were once excluded from God’s covenant with Israel, described as being “without hope and without God in the world” (v. 12). The Jews, as God’s chosen people, had the Law, covenants, and temple worship, which created a spiritual and social divide between them and Gentiles.
  • The Wall of Hostility: This metaphorical wall represents the division caused by:
    • The Mosaic Law: The Law, including ceremonial practices like circumcision, distinguished Jews from Gentiles, fostering separation and, at times, animosity.
    • Cultural and Religious Differences: Jews often viewed Gentiles as unclean or outside God’s plan, leading to mutual hostility.
    • Physical Symbolism: Some scholars connect the imagery to the literal barrier in the Jerusalem temple, which separated the Court of the Gentiles from areas reserved for Jews, with warnings against Gentiles crossing it.
  • Christ’s Role: Paul explains that Jesus, through His death on the cross, “destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (v. 14). By fulfilling and abolishing the ceremonial aspects of the Law (e.g., dietary rules, circumcision), Christ removed the legal and spiritual barriers, creating “one new humanity” (v. 15). This reconciled both Jews and Gentiles to God and united them as equals in the church.
  • Significance: The removal of this wall signifies peace, unity, and equal access to God through faith in Christ. Gentiles are no longer “foreigners and strangers” but “fellow citizens with God’s people” (v. 19), part of God’s household.


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