Whether Jesus Abolished God's Law - Thoughts on Ephesians 2:11-22

In many churches this weekend, Ephesians 2:11-22 will be read at worship. Verse 15 is especially noteworthy: “…by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he (Jesus) might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace…” (ESV)

Undoubtedly many will interpret the above text to say that Jesus has abolished God’s moral law and, therefore, we are welcome to live as we please. Let us sin boldly so that grace may abound! Those with more sense will say that Jesus has indeed abolished the law and we can live as we please, but only insofar as we don’t violate the law of love.

That’s true, so far as it goes. But those who offer this interpretation seem to have trouble defining the law of love. The question that needs to be answered is this: Can we violate the moral law of God (e.g. “You shall not murder, commit adultery, steal, covet, etc.”) and still fulfill the law of love? In other words, can we murder, fornicate, steal, covet, etc., and still be loving people? The answer is obvious: By no means!

Three Types of Law: Moral, Civil, and Ceremonial

Then what law did Jesus abolish? If not the moral law of the Ten Commandments, then what law is Ephesians talking about? It is helpful to note that three types of laws are present in the Old Testament: moral, civil, and ceremonial.

God’s moral law is that which pertains to right and wrong, good and evil. That law has not been abolished by Jesus. I will return to its place in the Christian life toward the end of this post, but for now it suffices to say that Ephesians is not talking about God’s moral law. It speaks of a law that put a barrier between Jews and Gentiles. (Reading the entire passage shows this.) God’s moral law did not erect any such barrier. It always has been, and always will be, universal.

There is also God’s civil law, which was meant to govern ancient Israel. That type of law was strictly for that people and that time period. That's why Christians don't stone people to death, for example, even though the Old Testament civil law calls for it on certain occasions (e.g. Deuteronomy 17:5). 

God’s ceremonial law, meanwhile, was meant to instruct ancient Israel in worship. The ultimate purpose of that ceremonial law – and this is worth emphasizing – was to foreshadow Jesus Christ. For example, the unblemished Passover lamb (Exodus 12) was meant to point to Jesus, the “lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

Ephesians Speaks of Ceremonial Law

Now here's the main argument of this post: This is the type of law that was abolished by Jesus. Since the ceremonial law was a foreshadowing of Christ, it is no longer needed. Once the reality has come, we don’t need to follow the shadows anymore. Yes, the shadows can certainly be helpful in understanding more fully who Jesus is and what he came to do, but they’re not to form the basis of our identity.

The Ephesians passage in question speaks of the abolishment not of God’s moral law (as some would have it), but of the ceremonial law. That’s why Christians don’t need to be circumcised (that’s a ceremonial law that pointed to the circumcision of heart wrought by Jesus), but do need to refrain from fornication and robbery (those are moral laws, which the Spirit of Jesus does not abolish but actually writes on a believer’s heart).

The Role of God’s Moral Law Among Christians

If Jesus does not abolish God’s moral law, then what role does that law have in the Christian life? Three. One is to restrain sinful inclinations, much like a dam restrains the flow of a river. (Timothy 1:9-10.) Another is to reveal one’s own sinfulness, much like an internal mirror showing us the blemishes of sin on our hearts. (Romans 7:7-13)

A third and final function of God’s moral law is to instruct a believer in true righteousness and holiness. (Notice how so many of Paul's letters begin by proclaiming the gospel and then conclude by commanding moral obedience. Those commandments are examples of this third use of the law.) Put simply, a Christian doesn't get to make up the kind of righteousness he practices. Instead, God commands a particular kind.

And, among the elect, God not only commands his moral law but also writes it on their heart so that obedience happens freely and joyfully. (Jeremiah 31:31-34 is worth reading. “I will put my law within them…”) This obedience is certainly not the cause of a believer's righteousness before God, but it is the necessary effect and shape of it.

Last Word

For anyone who would interpret Ephesians 2:1-22 as an abolishment of God’s moral law, I hope the above points would give pause. And if they don't, let Scripture interpret Scripture, and let Jesus’ own words in Matthew govern our interpretation of Ephesians:

“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. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 5:17-19