Recently I mended a fence. Suburban fences are interesting things that in many ways attempt to maintain personal privacy at the expense of cutting off neighbors. (I know, guilty as charged.) Upon the Temple Mount in the first century rose a similar dividing wall - a 3-foot barrier that maintained separation between the Jew and the Gentile. It was this fence - called the soreg - that led to Paul's arrest and death, and it was this dividing wall that he adamantly opposed not only for what it represented in his day, but also for what it represents in ours.
Model of the temple with a short wall (soreg) surrounding it (seen on left side). This wall separated the Jew from the Gentile. Considering the immensity and beauty of the temple in Jerusalem during the first century, one cannot help but be amazed. Layered in importance and solemnity, the closer a person came to the Holy of Holies, the purer and more select a person had to be. Gentile G-D-fearers were allowed on top of the Temple Mount, but they were limited to where they could go. There was a barrier that surrounded the Temple: the soreg, and this fence served as a partition to prevent all but those fully committed to Judaism inside. Those who chose to proceed who were not fit were cautioned with these words: "No foreigner is to enter the barriers surrounding the sanctuary. He who is caught is responsible for his own death which will soon follow.”
Fragment from the soreg that explains what happens to a non-Jew who passes through the barrier: he or she will be killed.
Harsh words, but the reality that existed in the first century between Jew and Gentile...until Jesus and His followers. In fact, as Paul neared the end of his ministry, he was accused of bringing a Gentile beyond the soreg. This incident was so monumental that it led to his arrest, trial, and eventual death in Rome. Jews upon the Temple Mount took their space seriously. Only those qualified could enter.
Expressed through the physical soreg was the more pronounced social separation between the Jew and the Gentile. Religious Jews kept to themselves primarily, and most Gentiles probably preferred it that way. The two groups of people were too unique, too different, too opposite. No one expected these two people groups to get together, and quite frankly, few wanted it.
Paul (because of Jesus) had other ideas. Paul saw the death and resurrection of Jesus as the barrier-breaker. No longer would distinguishing markers like race, gender, or socio-economic class exist in the Kingdom of Heaven. Now no one would be kept at arms distance from G-D. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:14-18:
Expressed through the physical soreg was the more pronounced social separation between the Jew and the Gentile. Religious Jews kept to themselves primarily, and most Gentiles probably preferred it that way. The two groups of people were too unique, too different, too opposite. No one expected these two people groups to get together, and quite frankly, few wanted it.
Paul (because of Jesus) had other ideas. Paul saw the death and resurrection of Jesus as the barrier-breaker. No longer would distinguishing markers like race, gender, or socio-economic class exist in the Kingdom of Heaven. Now no one would be kept at arms distance from G-D. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:14-18:
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 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, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Paul saw the soreg serving the opposite goals G-D intended. Instead of inclusion, it promoted exclusion. Instead of holiness, hate. For Paul, the wall no longer existed; it had been decimated by G-D through the death and resurrection of Jesus. And as Paul came to the Temple to offer sacrifices, he was accused of bringing a Greek - Trophimus - to the other side of the soreg, the dividing wall. Though Paul claims he did no such thing (Acts 24:13), it would be just like him to challenge that wall.
Interestingly, the verses quoted above were from the letter to the Ephesians. (There was no title on the letter, and we are not sure if it was specifically written to them. Early Church tradition decided to attribute this letter from Paul to the church in that city.) Imagine living in Ephesus during the first century. A letter arrives to your community and it speaks about barriers being broken and how peace was made through Jesus. There is a member of the community you know well, a certain Greek (or Gentile) who later on, arrived with Paul in Jerusalem. His name was...Trophimus - the very person accused of passing over the soreg.
For Paul, the soreg had vanished. A Gentile could come into G-D's presence at the Temple, and just as importantly, peace was now brought between Gentile and Jew.
What about now?
The air fills with tension and animosity, name-calling and belittlement. Fear breeds indifference and hate. Love appears absent.
But it is at these times and in these places that Paul's inspired words bring the very hope and love our world craves. In the Kingdom of Heaven there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, black or white, citizen or cop. We are all - EVERY. LAST. ONE. OF. US. - we are all ONE in Jesus our Messiah.
Therefore, when you talk among family and friends, let Grace season your conversation. When you post on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, let Love guide your thoughts and your fingers. When you turn on the news (which I hope is rare), remember that for every story of violence and hate, dozens of acts of kindness, unity, hope, and love occur and counter those events, reminding us that's G-D's Kingdom continues to advance, continues to shine, and continues to call, "We are all ONE in Christ Jesus." May the Giver of Peace, who tore down walls, continue to bring His Peace on all people in all places.
Interestingly, the verses quoted above were from the letter to the Ephesians. (There was no title on the letter, and we are not sure if it was specifically written to them. Early Church tradition decided to attribute this letter from Paul to the church in that city.) Imagine living in Ephesus during the first century. A letter arrives to your community and it speaks about barriers being broken and how peace was made through Jesus. There is a member of the community you know well, a certain Greek (or Gentile) who later on, arrived with Paul in Jerusalem. His name was...Trophimus - the very person accused of passing over the soreg.
For Paul, the soreg had vanished. A Gentile could come into G-D's presence at the Temple, and just as importantly, peace was now brought between Gentile and Jew.
What about now?
The air fills with tension and animosity, name-calling and belittlement. Fear breeds indifference and hate. Love appears absent.
But it is at these times and in these places that Paul's inspired words bring the very hope and love our world craves. In the Kingdom of Heaven there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, black or white, citizen or cop. We are all - EVERY. LAST. ONE. OF. US. - we are all ONE in Jesus our Messiah.
Therefore, when you talk among family and friends, let Grace season your conversation. When you post on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, let Love guide your thoughts and your fingers. When you turn on the news (which I hope is rare), remember that for every story of violence and hate, dozens of acts of kindness, unity, hope, and love occur and counter those events, reminding us that's G-D's Kingdom continues to advance, continues to shine, and continues to call, "We are all ONE in Christ Jesus." May the Giver of Peace, who tore down walls, continue to bring His Peace on all people in all places.