Christian Biblical Laws Commentary
Aug 10, 2021 18:27:25 GMT -8
Post by Michael on Aug 10, 2021 18:27:25 GMT -8
Ephesians 2:14-19
14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, 15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; that he might create in himself of both, one new man, [so] making peace; 16 and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the stake, having slain the hostility thereby: 17 and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were near: 18 for through him we both have our access to that one Spirit, The Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,...
The Gentile converts had the same law.
Exodus 12:49
The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among you.”
Leviticus 7:7
“‘The same law applies to both the sin offering and the guilt offering: They belong to the priest who makes atonement with them.
Leviticus 24:22
You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the Lord your God.’”
Numbers 15:16
The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.’”
Numbers 15:29
One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.
Ephesians 2:15
This verse is not correctly translated. See commentary below.
by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,
1 Timothy 1:7
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
1 Timothy 1:8
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.
Hebrews 7:12
For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.
Hebrews 10:1
The law is a shadow of better things to come.
James 1:25
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
2 Peter 3:17
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.
1 John 3:4
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.
The barrier to winning converts to Judaism had been the Commandments of Moses, they govern the feasts and sacrifices. Moses Commandments were the middle wall partition.
Here is my translation of Ephesians 2:14-19. 14
For he is our peace, who has made us one, and has broken down the middle wall partition, 15. By abolishing with his flesh the hostility of the commandment laws of ordinances; for to create in himself and us, one new man, making peace; 16. thereby reconciling us to God in one body through the stake, having slain the hostility. 17. He came to those near and far preaching peace. 18. For through him we both have access to one Spirit, the Father. 19. Therefore you are not alienated foreigners, but citizens with the holy household of God.
Enmity means "hostility."
Romans 8:7
Because the carnal mind is hostile against God: for it is not subject to the laws of God, neither indeed can be.
Ephesians 2:15
Having abolished in his flesh the hostility, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of both, one new man, so making peace;
Ephesians 2:16
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the stake, having slain the enmity thereby:
James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Hostility towards the laws of God is what has been abolished.
Christians often refer to Ephesians 2:15 in the N.I.V. as proof that the commandments have been done away with.
Ephesians 2:15 N.I.V.: by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.
Ephesians 2:15 King James. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;.
Note:The word [enmity] in the K.J. means hostility.
(Ephesians 2:15 (a modern translation.) by abolishing in his flesh the hostility of the law with its commandments and regulations.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:17: Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets...
The Sabbath feasts and sacrifices were not given as Commandments of God, but God commanded (ordered) Moses to speak to the Israelites about them. That is why God, in Isaiah 1:11-14 it says, "Who has asked this of you," The Sabbath feasts and sacrifices were given as part of the covenant, for which the Israelites continually broke.
As a result of that, God says in Zephaniah 3:18, "the sorrows for the appointed feast I will remove from you; they are a burden and a reproach to you."
The Sabbath feasts and sacrifices were given as a command of Moses. I am able to say with certainty that there is to be no more animal sacrifices for sins.
According to 2 Chronicles 8:12-13; 12 On the altar of the LORD that he had built in front of the portico, Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the LORD, 13 according to the daily requirement for offerings commanded by Moses for Sabbaths, New Moons and the three annual feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles.
Hebrews 7:27
Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
Joshua copied the laws of Moses onto stone also.
Joshua 8:32
There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua copied on stones the laws of Moses, which he had written.
2 Corinthians 3:7
Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was,…
In regards to "Ministry of The Spirit." What that means is that you keep God's commandments, not because they are written in stone and are law, but because they are written in your heart; and you keep them for the love of God and your fellow man, because it is the right thing to do. "The ministry that brought death" is the Mosaic laws of the priesthood, not God's commandments.
2 Corinthians 3:3
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
2 Corinthians 3:8
will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
Deuteronomy 31:26
Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
Note: The commandments were written in stone. There are two sets of laws, God's commandment laws, and the priestly Levitical law. The Levitical laws brought death to those who would not keep the laws.
Romans 10:4
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Footnotes: a. Romans 10:4 Or goal
Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
The commandments and good works have not been done away with. All Paul is getting at is that you cannot buy your way into heaven just by keeping the commandments and good works. Evil people can keep the law and do good works. Such people have even been known to hide among us.
Matthew 5:18
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 4:12
to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Romans 3:31
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans 6:15
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Romans 7:7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Matthew 5:19
Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of the commandments and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches the commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
The Gentiles whom did not have the written laws, but were keeping them, because they were written upon their hearts.
Romans 2:14
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Covenant and non-covenant circumcision. Non-Covenant circumcision is practiced by many Christians these days, but it does not mean they are under the old covenant. Covenant circumcision was to be continual until the New Covenant was established. Forever is forever, unless there should come a change. Circumcision, Festivals, sacrifices, and the old priesthood is what was done away with. The Sabbath and moral commands of God remain as part of the New Covenant.
Genesis 17:13
Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an (everlasting / continual) covenant.
Jeremiah 31:31-32
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
32
It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,”
declares the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:19
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.
So, what is the difference between obeying the Law when it is written upon our hearts and the Law when it is written upon two tablets of stones as long as the Law is obeyed? The point is obedience to the Law period and not HOW it is obeyed.
The difference is between doing what you have to, and doing what you want to. The written laws did not make better persons, but better persons would want to keep the laws.
Hostility towards the laws of God is what has been abolished.
Christians often refer to Ephesians 2:15 in the N.I.V. as proof that the commandments have been done away with.
Ephesians 2:15 N.I.V.: by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.
Ephesians 2:15 King James. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;.
Note:The word [enmity] in the K.J. means hostility.
(Ephesians 2:15 (a modern translation.) by abolishing in his flesh the hostility of the law with its commandments and regulations.
Romans 10:4
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 For Christ is the [goal / end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Footnotes: a. Romans 10:4 Or goal
Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them