Defense Mechanism and Walls of Hostility

he has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility… (Ephesians 2:14)

Hostility is the motivation behind separation.

When the writer used “hostility”, he removed any argument that the dividing wall is a metaphysical one only, somehow mysteriously built by an invisible negative force. It is a very real division built by… us!… the manifestation of our hostility. It is not only spiritual but visceral.

So this passage is written not only against those who built the wall to separate themselves from others. It is also written for those against whom the wall was built to keep them out. It is an emotional issue.

The message of Jesus is about destroyed walls, broken fences and demolished barriers. It is also about exposing the hostility which motivates the building of these walls. Just because nice words and religious jargon and spiritualized tones are employed, the motivation behind the building of walls is hostility.

It is a defense mechanism. Which sounds like another wall.