The Wall Of Partition
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." (Ephesians 2:14)
This middle wall of partition is a figure with important symbolic applications. The only specific Old Testament reference to a partition is to the wall shielding the Holy Place in the Temple of God as built by Solomon. "So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold" (1 Kings 6:21). This gold-covered wall separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, where God met annually with the high priest at the Ark of the Covenant. Apparently the opening through the partition was covered with a thick veil, preventing others from entering or even seeing the Ark inside. But that veil was rent, and soon the wall itself torn down, when Christ died and rose again, forever opening the way to God for all who would come in faith through Him (Hebrews 10:19-20).
The "middle wall of partition" mentioned in our text, however, refers to a wall separating the court of the Gentiles from the rest of the Herodian temple. This is the only New Testament reference to a partition, and symbolizes the distinction placed between Jew and Gentile in the Mosaic economy. This economy served the divine purpose of preparing a nation to receive the coming of Christ, with the goal of providing salvation for all people. But this wall also has now been broken down by Christ, and "through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:18).
No longer is there a distinction between priest and people, or between Jew and Gentile, or any other difference. "There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:11).
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