Matthew Poole and continuators on Ephesians 2:15

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 .

Abrogated, taken away the power of binding men.

Not the flesh of Sacrificed Beasts, but his own Flesh: before he mentioned his Bloud, and now his Flesh, to imply the whole Sacrifice of Christ, comprehending his Flesh as well as Bloud. The Ceremonies had their accomplishment in Christ, and so their abolishment by him.

By a Metonymy he so calls the Ceremonies, which were the cause and the sign of enmity between Iew and Gentile. The Iews hated the Gentiles as Uncircumcised, and the Gentiles despised the Iews for being Circumcised.

Either by the Law of Commandments, the Apostle means the Law of Ceremomonial Rites, and by the word which we render Ordinances, he means Doctrine, and then (the word contained not being in the Gr.) the sense is, that Christ by his Doctrine or Commandments abolished those Ceremonial Rites: the word Commandment seems thus to be used, Deut. 16.12. and 1 Kings 2.3. Ezek. 18.21. Or else (which yet comes to the same) the word rendred Ordinances signifies such Ordinances as depended upon the sole will of the Law-giver; and is, Col. 2.14. taken for Ceremonial ones, and so is to be taken here, This the Apostle seems to add, to shew what part of the Law was Abrogated by Christ, viz. nothing of the Moral Law, but onely the Ceremonial.

Or create, or form, in opposition to abolish.

By Union with himself as the Head in which the several Members agree.

Two Bodies or two People, Iews and Gentiles.

i. e. New Body (or new (viz. Christian) people. As the body of a Commonwealth is one civil person, so the body of the Church is in a like sense one person.

Between Iew and Gentile having taken away those Ceremonial Laws, which were the cause of the difference between them.

Marginal references: Col. 2.14.; 2 Cor. 5.17. Gal. 6.15.