In Ephesians 2:14–15, how can Christ abolish the Law yet also affirm it elsewhere in the New Testament?

Understanding the Context of Ephesians 2:14–15

Ephesians 2:14–15 reads: “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace.” At first glance, this statement can seem to contradict other passages where Christ affirms the Law (cf. Matthew 5:17–18). The key to understanding this lies in the context of Ephesians and the broader biblical teaching regarding the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

In Ephesians 2, the apostle Paul emphasizes the unity between Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ. Once separated by the ceremonial and national distinctions of the Mosaic system, these two groups have been reconciled into one Body through the work of Christ. This reconciliation required the removal of the “dividing wall,” a metaphor derived from the literal partition in the Jerusalem Temple that separated Gentiles from Jews. Paul uses that metaphor to show how Christ’s sacrifice ushers Jews and Gentiles equally into God’s presence.

Christ’s Fulfillment of the Law in the Gospels

While Ephesians 2:15 states that Christ “abolished” the Law of commandments in His flesh, elsewhere Scripture clarifies Christ’s relationship to the Law. Matthew 5:17 reports Him saying: “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.” These two statements must be reconciled as complementary, rather than contradictory.

• In Matthew 5:17–18, Christ emphasizes that His life and ministry complete every prophetic and typological element of the Law.

• In Ephesians 2:14–15, Paul underscores the end of the Law as a system of separation and ritual commands that stood between Jew and Gentile.

This indicates that the Law’s ultimate purpose—pointing forward to the Messiah—has been achieved in Christ. Once He accomplished His atoning work, the ceremonial regulations that once distinguished Israel from the nations were no longer needed (Galatians 3:24–25). Consequently, the moral teachings of the Law, which reflect God’s character, remain integral (cf. Romans 13:8–10), while the ceremonial and civil aspects tied to Israel’s national identity have been set aside.

Abolishing the Ceremonial Barriers

The Mosaic Law contained multiple layers of instruction:

1. Moral laws (e.g., the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1–17)

2. Ceremonial laws (e.g., sacrifices, dietary restrictions, festivals)

3. Civil laws (unique governance laws for the ancient Israelite community)

In Ephesians 2, the reference to “the law of commandments and decrees” focuses strongly on ceremonial or ritual commandments that highlighted Jewish identity and physically separated Jews from Gentiles, such as circumcision, cleansing rites, and dietary restrictions. According to Acts 10 and 15, these ceremonial steps do not define one’s standing before God under the New Covenant. Christ’s atoning death rendered those practices unnecessary for salvation, thereby uniting all who believe in Him into one family (Galatians 3:28).

Affirming the Moral Principles

Despite this “abolishing” of the ceremonial distinctions, Scripture clearly indicates the moral principles remain consistent. In Matthew 22:37–40, Jesus summarizes the Law: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ … ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Christ and the apostles consistently reinforce such moral instructions (Romans 13:9–10; 1 Peter 1:15–16). Thus, while the New Covenant supersedes the Old Covenant’s ceremonial aspects, it upholds the eternal moral truths that find their anchoring in God’s character.

The Unbreakable Consistency of Scripture

From Genesis to Revelation, the unified message is that the Law points toward the necessity of salvation in the Messiah. Where the Old Testament foreshadows, the New Testament testifies to the reality fulfilled in Christ. Early manuscripts—such as portions of Paul’s epistles found in papyri like P^46 (which many scholars place in the late second century)—support the consistency and reliability of Ephesians’ text. The Dead Sea Scrolls further confirm the transmission accuracy of the Old Testament, showing that God’s promises and prophetic expectations remained intact over centuries (these writings also bear witness to the anticipation of a coming Messiah who would establish a new order).

Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (first century AD) corroborates the centrality of the Temple worship system to Jewish identity, highlighting how it was uniquely distinct from Gentile practices. In Ephesians 2:14, Paul draws precisely on those details to emphasize that, through Christ, the walls distinguished by ceremonial laws are brought down.

Practical Implications for Believers

1. Unity in Christ

Since Gentiles no longer need to adopt the ceremonial customs of Israel to belong, the dividing lines have been removed. Believers from every nation and culture now stand on level ground before God, reconciled in Christ.

2. Fulfillment of Righteousness

The moral call to “be holy” (1 Peter 1:16) remains binding, illuminated by Christ’s teaching that internal attitudes—love, mercy, faith—are at the heart of God’s Law (Matthew 23:23).

3. Freedom from the Ceremonial Observances

No longer are believers compelled to keep the sacrificial system or feast days to obtain atonement. Christ’s sacrifice once for all made these ceremonies unnecessary (Hebrews 10:11–14).

4. Confidence in Scripture’s Reliability

The continuity between the Old and New Covenants, confirmed by textual and historical evidence, points to the trustworthy nature of God’s Word. Modern scholarship and textual findings uphold the reliability of the manuscripts behind passages like Ephesians 2.

Conclusion

Therefore, Christ “abolishes” the aspects of the Law that maintained division and ceremony, fulfilling their role in pointing to Himself. At the same time, He “affirms” the Law by consummating its prophetic and moral foundations in His own life and teaching. This resolution, supported by the broader witness of Scripture and historical evidence, underscores that God’s Word speaks with one harmonious voice about His redemptive plan. This unity solidifies the truth that in Christ, Jew and Gentile are fully reconciled, the moral character of the Law remains, and all who trust in Him experience the fullness of fellowship that God has designed from the beginning.