Efeziërs 2:15

15 Heeft Hij de vijandschap in Zijn vlees te niet gemaakt, namelijk de wet der geboden in inzettingen bestaande; opdat Hij die twee in Zichzelven tot een nieuwen mens zou scheppen, vrede makende;

Efeziërs 2:15 Meaning and Commentary

Ephesians 2:15

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity
The ceremonial law, as appears by what follows,

even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;
which consisted of many precepts, and carnal ordinances; and is so called because it was an indication of God's hatred of sin, by requiring sacrifice for it; and because it was an occasion of stirring up the enmity of the natural man, it being a burden and a weariness to the flesh, by reason of its many and troublesome rites; and because it was the cause of enmity between Jew and Gentile: the Jews say ^F7, that Sinai, the mount on which the law was given, signifies "hatred"; and that it is so called because from it descended (hanv) , "hatred" or "enmity" to the nations of the world: now this Christ abolished, "in his flesh", or by it; not by his incarnation, but by the sacrifice of his flesh, or human nature, and that as in union with his divine nature; but not until he had fulfilled it in himself, which was one end of his coming into the world; and then he abolished it, so as that it ought not to be, and so as that it is not, and of no use and service; and that because it was faulty and deficient, weak and unprofitable, as well as intolerable; and because there was a change in the priesthood; and because it was contrary to a spirit of liberty, the great blessing of the Gospel; and that there might be a reconciliation and a coalition between Jew and Gentile, as follows:

for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
which explains what is meant before by making both one; and expresses the strictness of the union between Jew and Gentile, they became as one man; and points at the manner in which they became so strictly united; and that is by being made new men, or new creatures, by having a work of grace upon their souls, and so baptized into one body, and made to drink of one and the same Spirit; the foundation of which union is in himself; for Jew and Gentile, male and female, bond and free, are all one in Christ Jesus; he is the cornerstone in which they all meet, and the head to which the whole body is joined.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 89. 1. Shemot Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 92. 4.

Efeziërs 2:15 In-Context

13 Maar nu in Christus Jezus, zijt gij, die eertijds verre waart, nabij geworden door het bloed van Christus.

14 Want Hij is onze vrede, Die deze beiden een gemaakt heeft, en den middelmuur des afscheidsels gebroken hebbende,

15 Heeft Hij de vijandschap in Zijn vlees te niet gemaakt, namelijk de wet der geboden in inzettingen bestaande; opdat Hij die twee in Zichzelven tot een nieuwen mens zou scheppen, vrede makende;

16 En opdat Hij die beiden met God in een lichaam zou verzoenen door het kruis, de vijandschap aan hetzelve gedood hebbende.

17 En komende, heeft Hij door het Evangelie vrede verkondigd u, die verre waart, en dien, die nabij waren.