Acts 28:23-24, And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuaded them concerning Jesus, both out of the Law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. Acts 28:28, Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
During my childhood, and beyond into my adulthood, I often heard the term “two wrongs don't make a right.” This is true, and even more so when we misinterpret scripture to our own liking depending what we have come to believe, what we have heard form the pulpit, and heard from many others who profess faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. In the case which I am ready to present, I first have to admit my error in that I had determined the following scripture to refer to only “temple ordinances,” deemed as belonging only to the Jews i.e. Israel. I was partially right, but this isn't what Paul was referring to, for in Christ, the Priesthood, with its ordinances has not been abolished, but yet rather established in Spirit. On the other side of the equation, it is also an error to say all of God's law (in the Old Testament) has been abolished through Christ which is also a falsehood.
I have recently acquired a transcript, translated into English, from the original Eastern Oriental Aramaic Peshitta text written by Paul to the Ephesians. The focus of these two wrongs is
Ephesians 1:15 highlighted in red. First is the King James version, and following second will be from the “Peshitta English Aramaic translation” with explanations of Paul's true intention to the church in Ephesus. In so doing, this will also reveal these two errors previously mentioned.
Ephesians 2:13-18 (KJV)
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having
abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Ephesians 2:13-14 from the original Eastern Oriental Aramaic Peshitta.
13 But now, by Y'shua the Mashiyach; you who before were afar off, have been brought near by the blood of the Mashiyach.
14 He is Himself our peace, who has made the two (become) one, and has demolished the
wall which stood in the midst, and the enmity, by His flesh;
Arimaic for
wall is “syaga.” Ironically, this exact term was picked up by the Talmudic rabbis in “Pirkei Avot” (Sayings of the Fathers) that commanded “make a fence around the Torah.” Y'shua specifically warned against this activity in Matthew chapter 15 rebuking the Pharisees in the process. Later on, Y'shua said he was the “door/gate” using a synonym for “syaga,” known as “taarea,” which is a homonym for “torah” and “teachers,” meaning the Pharisees. So while the Pharisees are busy erecting the fence, Y'shua is pulling it down, allowing everyone access!
I will interject that Jesus plainly said that He was the teacher of Torah the right way so all have access, and not the way the Pharisees taught by restriction. I will post more in the following post so this won't get too long.