Hip Homiletics

The Dividing Wall of Hostility

Here’s my attempt at illustrating the Jew-Gentile relationship found in Ephesians 2:11-22 (I used this illustration in my message from this text on Sunday). The illustration breaks down, but I do hope it might help provide clarity in understanding this amazing passage on reconciliation between Jews and Gentiles, and God and man:

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. -Ephesians 2:14–18

Picture a grand home with great big windows and a large yard enclosed by a fence. Picture part of a family in the home and another part of the family outside in the yard working in the garden. Picture neighbors outside beyond the fence, some standing at the fence looking at the home while others walk along the street going about their day paying little to no attention to the home.  Inside the home is a loving dad, the head of the home, who leads and guides his large family. The family in the home is enjoying the father’s love, his company, and even his discipline. The family outside in working the garden paid no attention to the fact that they were missing out on the enjoyment of the father. They simply worked the garden and took pride in their being inside the fence and were unlike those who were passing by or watching from afar.

Notice: The building illustrates the people of God. The people inside the home are those Jews who’s faith is in God. The people in the yard are Jews who think that they are well off because they are inside the fence, not noticing that they really aren’t in the home with the Father. The fence is the Law of God which distinguishes Jews from the Gentiles as the people of God. Inside the home is God who is the loving Father who orchestrates things for his people who love Him. The gentiles are those outside of the home behind the fence, some of whom are looking from afar, others knowing that the home was there, but never paid much attention to it. For the Jews, to have a relationship with the Father and to live inside the home comes by faith, not location or ethnicity. The Gentiles don’t really even know about the Father, because they are nowhere near the home, many don’t even know the home exists. Don’t you see how terrible the Gentile situation was. Separated from the hope of a Messiah/Deliverer/Savior/Christ, alienated from Israel (on the other side of the fence), strangers to God’s promises to his people (nowhere near the home). By His death, Jesus tore down the fence. He fulfilled the moral requirements of the law, he nullified the commandments and ordinances of the Law, thus making a way for both Jews and Gentiles have access to God’s household as “one man” by faith.