The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:25 that Jesus Christ has abolished the law of commandments.

Eph 2:15  having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

At first sight it looks like Paul is saying that the Ten Commandments have been abolished.  But this cannot be the meaning as Jesus said that He did not come to destroy (abolish) the law, but to fulfill it.

Mat 5:17  “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

What did Paul mean?  Let’s take a close look.

As always, it helps to look at the context. 

Eph 2:11  Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—
Eph 2:12  that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

The church at Ephesus comprised mostly Gentile converts, who the Jews called the “Uncircumcision”.  Paul reminded them that they were cut off from salvation, but now they have access to salvation through Jesus Christ.

Eph 2:14  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

Then Paul went on to say that Jesus Christ has made Jew and Gentile one, removing what separated them.  Paul wrote something very similar in Galatians 3:28.

Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The church at Ephesus was no doubt familiar with the physical wall in the Temple in Jerusalem which separated the Court of the Gentiles from the Court of Israel, preventing the Gentiles from entering the section of the temple that was for Jews only.  Crossing the wall carried the death penalty for any Gentile.

The New International Commentary of the New Testament: The Book of Acts explains (1974, p. 434):

That no Gentile might unwittingly enter into the forbidden areas, notices in Greek and Latin were fixed to the barrier at the foot of the steps leading up to the inner precincts, warning them that death was the penalty for further ingress. Two of these notices (both in Greek) have been found—one in 1871 and one in 1935—the text of which runs:

‘No foreigner [gentile] may enter within the barricade which surrounds the temple and enclosure. Anyone who is caught doing so will have himself to blame for his ensuing death’.

This is the “middle wall of separation” Paul referred to in Ephesians 2:14.  The wall was symbolic of the great separation between Jew and Gentile.  However, now in Jesus Christ, Jew and Gentile are no longer separated, but one, thus breaking down “the wall” that separated them.

Let’s continue, coming now to the verse in question.

Eph 2:15  having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances [dogma], so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
Eph 2:16  and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

Jesus abolished in his flesh (that is by His death) the enmity.  The enmity was causing the separation.  Paul described this enmity as “the law of commandments in ordinances”, which is more clearly rendered “the rule of commandments contained in decrees”.  The word “ordinances” is translated from the Greek word dogma, which means decree or ordinance.  Here is an example of where dogma is translated “decree”.

Luk 2:1  And it came to pass in those days that a decree [dogma] went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

Some of these decrees refer to those the Jews added and are not found in the Bible, such as the Jewish oral law and traditions.  However, some of these decrees refer to those God gave to ancient Israel, but are not required for salvation.  A good example of such a decree is circumcision, which served as a barrier between the Jews and Gentiles.  See “What was ‘The Circumcision’ sect?” and “Should you be circumcised?” for more information.  Another example is animal sacrifices.

God’s commandments (which show man how to love God and his neighbour) are certainly not included in these decrees as they have not been abolished and they cannot cause separation. 

Conclusion

The “law of commandments” that Jesus Christ abolished are those laws which separated the Jews from the Gentiles.  These laws are not required for salvation such as, Circumcision, animal sacrifices, and Jewish traditions; however they do not include other laws such as the Ten Commandments.