EPHESIANS 2:14: PEACE VS. ENMITY

Hello Friend,

Today I would like to share with you what I have been digging into within the New Testament for some time now. The particular passage we will use to dive into the Greek is Ephesians 2:11-14 follow along with me in your own bible.

11. Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision made in the flesh by hands--

12. that at that time you 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 you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14. For He Himself is our PEACE, who has made both one; and, has broken down the middle wall of separation,

15. having abolished in his flesh THE ENMITY that is the law of commandments contained IN ORDINANCES, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making PEACE;

16. and, that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death THE ENMITY. 

17. And He came and preached PEACE to you who were afar off; and, to those that were near. 18. For through Him we both have access by one spirit to the Father. 19. Now, therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners; but, fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God 

Ok. First. "He is our peace" is a reference to The Covenant of Life & Peace that originally belonged to LEVI which was thereby passed thru to Aaron; then to Phinehas; and, finally to his descendant Zadok. See Malachi 2:4-5. Jesus's blood; and His death allows us/give us access to this Covenant. 

It is a topic that deserves extensive attention and surprisingly has very little written about it. I challenge you to study it out.

HERE IS SOMETHING TO CHEW ON.
KING DAVID ELEVATED THE ZADOK.
YESHUA IS GIVEN THE THRONE OF DAVID.
HE ELEVATES THE ZADOK. WHY?
WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST A ZADOK?

*** SEE EZEKIEL 40-44 ***

THE COVENANTS OF LIFE & PEACE ARE
THE "COVENANTS OF PROMISE"

Friends this covenant is what was given to Moses upon Mt. Sinai; and, given to Israel. Why? It was YAH'S Intention was that this covenant (Covenant of Life & Peace) would be shared with all nations; and, not just Israel. They were to take it to all nations. Malachi 2:4 tells us this covenant continues. Put that in your brain pan and let it marinate for a bit. 

Next 

"who has made both one; and, has broken down the middle wall of separation." 

Made WHO one?

The text declares that He makes the two (2): Gentiles (uncircumcision) & Jews (circumcision); into ONE by putting to death THE ENMITY BETWEEN THEM. 

The Moshiach; the Christ desires to bring both Jew & Gentile together IN FAITH as they WORSHIP the same ELOHIM that He does. He doesn't join them together to abandon the worship of His ELOHIM. 

The "middle wall of separation" was a reference to the wall (soreg) that was erected in the Temple which isn't in the Temple's Design anywhere. If you read carefully thru the Written Torah (Gen-Deut.) and, also the Temple design in Ezekiel 40-44 you will see NOTHING about there being a middle wall of separation. 

This was something added by the rabbis of Judaism. It is not part of His design.

I would like you to take note that the Bible's text declares that He Abolishes THE ENMITY. The text tells us about this enmity. The enmity is in these ordinances.  

"the law of commandments contained in ordinances."

Notice the italics. "Contained" is not in the Greek of the Text. The italics means this word is inserted. Paul is talking about a set of laws (IN) ordinances. 

For many of us; we have been conditioned to believe that this is speaking/writing about the Torah of Moses (The Torah Schibictov) delivered to Israel upon Mt. Sinai. For most of my life I too (just as many of you also) believed that Jesus abolishes the written Torah by His death upon Calvary; co-mingled with His resurrection.

What if, this isn't actually the truth? What if THAT is actually UN-TRUE, aka a LIE?

The problem we have as believer's in Messiah Yeshua is that the text tells us their location. "In Ordinances" (δογμασιν) DOGMASIN. When we search the LXX for this term (δογμασιν) we find its absence. However, we do find variants; and, the root term (δογμα) DOGMA appear in 13 passages. If we study out this root term we find it primarily in the book of Ester & the book of Daniel. 

Here is the problem. This term is NEVER used in the LXX to mean the Written Torah of Moses. Not even once. WAIT! WHAT??? I will say it again. This term (δογμα) is NEVER used in the Greek LXX to describe the Torah of Moses given to Moses upon Mt. Sinai.

*** IT IS NEVER USED - ZERO - ZILCH - NADA - NOT EVEN ONCE *** 

δόγμα dogma dog'-mah From the base of G1380

a law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical): - decree, ordinance.

Here is what the Greek Text of the Bible says in Ephesians 2:14:
"the law of commandments in ordinances abolished"

• τον νομον (LAW) 
• των εντολων (COMMANDMENTS) 
• εν δογμασιν (ORDINANCES) 
• καταργησας (ABOLISHED)

Because the term law (νομον) "nomon" is used so frequently in the LXX to speak of the Torah of Moses there is massive assumption that this passage is referring to the Written Torah itself being abolished by Christ's death. Likewise there is the usage and appearance of commandments (εντολων) "entolon" also used in the LXX to speak of the Torah of Moses. 

Unfortunately this also helps to persuade the reader that this passage is speaking about the Written Torah of Moses. For those who are unfamiliar with the usage and appearance of (δογμασιν) dogmasin; or, its root (δογμα) dogma; THIS IS WHERE the text tells us this "law of commandments" resides...

IN ORDINANCES.

Should we take the time to study out (δογμασιν) dogmasin and (δογμα) dogma we discover that this term is NEVER used to refer to the Commandments of YHVH; but, within the decrees of men. When I looked up where these term(s) appear; the majority are within the book of Daniel. Here is what the Outline of Biblical Usage tells us.

Friend I'm going to assert to you right here in the tools that we use is DECEPTION; whether intentional; or, not this has still served to deceive those unwilling to look up every single place that the term (δογμασιν) or its root (δογμα) appear within the Bible's text. These two terms are NEVER used to write about "the rules and requirements of the Law of Moses..."

Most Bible students make the mistake of only examining where; and, how a word is used in Greek by ignoring it's usage and appearance in the LXX (Septuagint); however, I have grown accustomed to searching out Greek terms from the New Testament; within the body of the LXX, then examining the underlying Hebrew words translated by the Greek text. 

When I bothered to do this I discovered that there isn't even a SINGLE passage which uses these term(s) to refer to the Torah of Moses. NONE!!! What this means is that we cannot; if we are an honest people, continue to interpret this passage in such a way that it deceives those who read it.

 

I'm going to assert to you that is referring to "the Oral traditions of the Fathers." This would be inclusive of the Mishnah, the Gemara; yes, even the Talmud. 

The Doctrines of Men taught as commandments. 

The Commandments of Men; and, not of YHVH.

What actually came from YHVH?

Friends. If you are Jewish (Ethnically); or through Conversion (to orthodoxy) most of you have been conditioned to believe the very doctrine of the Pharisees.

The very doctrine that Messiah warned us about.

SEE THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES:

Matthew 16:6; Matthew 16:11-12; Mark 8:15; Mark 12:38; Luke 12:1; Luke 20:46. Take note of the warning about the Pharisees; and, the Scribes.

The Scribes were responsible for the copying; and, writing of the Torah Scrolls. The MASORETIC TEXT was written by a dedicated group of SCRIBES and Scholars active during the 6th - 10th Century CE, primarily in Tiberias Israel who standardized the Hebrew Bible (TaNaK). This text is what ALL Western Bibles are based upon.

ALL OF THEM

The oldest almost complete manuscripts of their work include the Aleppo Codex (c. 925 CE.) and the Leningrad Codex (1009 CE).

They DO NOT utilize the LXX (Greek Septuagint) which differs from the Masoretic Text because it was based upon a Hebrew Manuscript that pre-dated the Masoretic Text. When I study I utilize BOTH Manuscripts. Why? To see what was removed; or, possibly inserted. 

When I studied the Talmud itself I was surprised to discover it contains the boast of an unbroken chain of authority going back the the Pharisees themselves.

Exactly what Messiah warned us about.

Malachi chapter 2 declares that the Kohen (High Priests) have departed from the Way. That they do not render honor to His Name. They call Him "Ha Shem" which simply means "The Name." How does THAT render honor to His Name? Friends. It doesn't. 

Here is what I found when examining where; and, how DOGMA (δογμα) was used in the TaNaK.

PASSAGE:    English     Greek         Hebrew          Whose Decree

Daniel 2:13    decree        δογμα       דת H1882       Nebuchadnezzar

Daniel 3:10    decree        δογμα       טעם H2942     Nebuchadnezzar

Daniel 3:29    decree        δογμα       טעם H2942     Nebuchadnezzar

Daniel 4:6      decree        δογμα       טעם H2942     Nebuchadnezzar

Daniel 6:8      decree        δογμα       אסר H633       Darius 

Daniel 6:9      decree        δογμα       אסר H633       Darius    

Daniel 6:10    writing        δογμα       כּתב H3792     Darius

Daniel 6:12    decree        δογμα       אסר H633       Darius

Daniel 6:13    decree        δογμα       אסר H633       Darius

Daniel 6:15    decree        δογμα       אסר H633       Darius

Daniel 6:26    decree        δογμα       טעם H2942     Darius

None of these passages even hint at referring to the commandments of YHVH. 

None of them. 

So how can someone even make that claim? 

How can someone declare that Ephesians 2 is writing about the Written Torah which came from the "finger of God" the one whose title ADONAI YHVH (אדני יהוה) "Lord GOD" tells us a great deal.

Friend if you have never done so; you should go and look up EVERY SINGLE PLACE you find the title (אדני יהוה) "Lord GOD" Lord (lower case) GOD (UPPER CASE). It appears over 300 times in the Bible's text. Jesus was giving us a "REMEZ" (HINT) in Psalm 110. 

If we were to translate from Hebrew into Greek; and, then Greek into English it would be rendered as "Lord LORD." Just as we find in the following passages:

Matthew 7:21, 7:22; Matthew 25:11; Luke 4:46; Luke 13:25; 

SEE MY NEW TEACHING "THE MESSIAH'S REMEZ"  HERE

Do you recall Mt. Sinai? Ephesians 2 tells us that there is "ENMITY" associated with these particular commandments that Yeshua allegedly "abolishes" or "destroys." 

The problem is that in Matthew 5:17 Yeshua declares:

"Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets."

LOCATED WITHIN THE TANAK. WITH THE WRITTEN TORAH.

"Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy; but, to fulfill. For assuredly I say to you till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments; and, teaches men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but, whoever DOES and TEACHES, HE shall be called Great in the Kingdom of Heaven."

He declares this TWICE.

Friend Have you ever even bothered to read the Torah for yourself? Its contained within the very Bible you have on your own shelf. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers; and, Deuteronomy. If you haven't done so I would like to encourage you to do so. Read it cover to cover; word for word. And take notes in a 3 ring spiral notebook. 

I recently went back thru it again very carefully to make sure I was not in error about this particular statement. There is ZERO enmity in the Written Torah towards the Gentile. 

NONE. ZERO. ZILCH. NADA.
ZERO ENMITY TOWARDS THE GENTILE
WITHIN THE WRITTEN TORAH

I'll say it again for those who need it. There is ZERO enmity in the Written Torah towards the Gentile. In fact the Law given by YHVH upon Mt. Sinai was also for the "stranger" who dwells among you. Why? Because there was a mixed multitude who left Egypt with Israel. If you love YHVH and His way; if you love YHVH and His People you will improve your argument. 

Raising your voice won't help.  

However, since I have been studying Judaism; and, Islam both since 2009 I can tell you without ANY hesitation that there is enmity within them. I tell you the truth. There is Enmity in the Collections of "Jewish" Writings towards the Non-Jew (Goyim); and, likewise there is deep hostility within the Quran towards the Non-Muslim (Kufar). 

I bring this up because there is a false peace that will blanket this earth until the day of command.

The hostility will be directed towards those who Love YHVH (יהוה); obey His Commandments (the one's He gave upon Mt. Sinai at Horeb); and, Hold to the Testimony of Jesus Christ the one who pre-existed. The one who created all things; the one who became flesh; and, died for you shedding His own blood that you might have a seat in His kingdom. That you might see through the lies and deceit told about Him

Back to Ephesians 2:15

"Having abolished in His flesh" The word here for "abolished" is the Greek term (καταργησας) G2673

καταργέω    katargeō    kat-arg-eh'-o    From G2596 and G691; to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively: - abolish, cease, cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail, loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void.

I have previously written a 42 page paper entitled "But Jesus Did Away With the Law...Right?" Although it doesn't cover this particular subject matter in Ephesians 2:15 it does give you a great deal to consider; and, frankly I need to ADD this data into it to make it complete. 

So what exactly am I proposing? Friend I am strongly asserting that the collection which was truly abolished upon the cross by Jesus's Flesh was the Oral Traditions of Judaism. He calls us to what He gave to Moses upon Mt. Sinai. The Way. The Truth. The Life. The Light. Exactly what Messiah was filled with. The Bible calls the Written Torah these exact same things? Were you aware of that?

Come and walk like a High Priest. 

Like a Melchizedek. 

Not a corrupt priest who rejects his name. 

If my own study blesses you; you would please take the time to bless me?

All I ask is a cup of coffee.

https://10-virgins-parable.blogspot.com/p/but-jesus-fulfilled-law.html