When Did The Wall Fall?

A familiar Bible truth is that Israel is God’s favored and special nation. That’s what Judaism is. This truth is referenced in Ephesians 2:14, as “the middle wall of partition,” which now God “hath broken down.” What is not so commonly understood is their favored status created a narrow and restricted access to God as long as that wall is in place. Jesus Christ is called “the door” and also “the way” (John 10:9, & 14:6). Jesus said, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” But this favored nation status of Israel in time past involved more than just coming through Jesus Christ.

Matthew 15:22-28 is a remarkable story! Consider what Jesus himself said to a woman of Canaan who came to him desperate for help. After initially ignoring her request, He said, “I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then, “It is not meet [fitting or proper] to take the children’s bread, and cast it to dogs.” When she answers, “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table,” the Lord honors her faith and then grants her request! The words “master’s table” indicates privilege and authority. “God so loved the world,” as that famous verse says, and Jesus loved her, too. She definitely had come to the right person, but then the narrow way also included coming through Israel by acknowledging the privilege of Israel, and her outsider status as a Gentile. When she got under Israel’s table, she got the blessing!

This was the middle wall of partition – of Israel’s favored status!

After his death and resurrection that wall is still in place. The apostle Peter speaking to the Jews and proselytes refers to the promise made to Abraham, and Jesus’ resurrection. “Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning every one of you from his iniquities” (Acts 3:26). Salvation was through Jesus Christ but also through the terms and conditions of Israel’s covenants and promises, because he came to save “his people from their sins” and to fulfill them! The Gentiles (all) could join in, if they got under Israel’s table!

So “when did the wall fall?” It was later, as God saves and commissions the apostle Paul and gives him his every man no difference Gentile ministry. Paul is the one telling us in Ephesians that now the wall has been broken down! His ministry opens up the cross to the Gentile world through Israel’s fall. God invites all to come today totally apart from Israel’s table of privilege! All can come directly to God through Jesus Christ, by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ and his full payment for our sins, plus nothing! Today the door is now open even wider! That’s Christianity!