they can no longer label people with old labels like male/female, Jew/Gentile, slave/free, rich/poor, Barbarian/Scythian, and so on. They must see people in a new light.3 When they see people as God’s creations, beloved by the King and welcome in the kingdom, they must open their hearts, homes, tables, and fellowships to everyone, without regard for old distinctions. That’s radical for everyone, but especially for Jesus’ fellow Jews, whose unique identity and devotion made them very suspicious of mixing with non-Jews.
