Ephesians 2:14 speaks about a dividing wall of hostility. This was a barrier that warned non-Jews they would be killed if they went beyond this point in the Temple.
Hostility is part of human history going back to Cain's murdering his brother Able in Genesis 4:8. He resented Able and was jealous of him (Genesis 4:4-7).
Alexander the Great and his four successors sought to create a world without conflict, so that everyone would speak a common language with a common culture and religion. But he spread this through violence, and the Greeks became the most brutal persecutors of the Jews in the Ancient world (2 Maccabees 6:10 with 2 Maccabees 7:3-7).
That is why the accusation that Paul brought Greeks into the temple was so serious (Acts 21:27-29).
Jesus sought unity, too, but he did so by allowing himself to be tortured, taking on himself the hatred and jealousy of depraved humanity (Ephesians 2:13-16).
As we look at Christianity in the first century, we discover that the Jews did not want non-Jews to become their equals, and so they became very jealous when they were included in the Gospel invitation (Acts 13:44-48; 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16). We also find great opposition from the pagans (Acts 14:8-18).
But even after having been stoned, Paul pressed on so that people would know the Lord (Acts 14:19-20).
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Bob Vincent
Wall of Enmity Tear down that Wall Sermons by Bob and Others
After serving Grace Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Louisiana, Bob was honorably retired on Sunday, September 27, 2015, and given the title "Pastor Emeritus." This was forty years to the day after he became their pastor.
He now works for the Presbytery of the Gulf South as...
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