TRUE AND FALSE CIRCUMCISION
Circumcision is one of many Biblical topics that mislead us if we interpret it in the natural sense that we find in a literal interpretation of the Bible. As we have said so many times elsewhere in this website, these literal interpretations miss the spiritual message hidden in the symbolism. The following scriptures help us get to that symbolism.
Romans 2:17-29: But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, 9 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,21a you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?
COMMENTARY: These verses are a scathing condemnation of self-righteous Jews who pride themselves on their ability to keep all aspects of the written law of Moses. It says that they practice all of the religious laws which they know very well, but do not know or practice the spiritual law which is contained in the symbolism of the written law.
21b You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
COMMENTARY: These statements verify that there are two kinds of stealing, adultery and idolatry: The kinds that are represented in the terms of the literal law and the kinds that are spiritual. In other words, the Jews do not physically steal, commit adultery or practice idolatry because that would be inconsistent with the literal law of Moses. They do, however, practice spiritual stealing by robbing God of his glory and receiving tithes and offerings from people. They practice adultery by not being faithful to God in keeping his spiritual laws. And they practice idolatry by worshiping spiritual idols instead of idols of wood or stone.
STUDY TIPS: See COMMENTARY ON INTIMACY, ADULTERY, PROSTITUTION AND SEX:, Commercial Religion, Religion is Idolatry, Sacrifices, Tithes and Offerings, and Tithes for understanding of the spiritual meaning of these sins.
23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? 24 For “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written.
COMMENTARY: In their prideful displays of their religious activity, Jews bring glory and honor to themselves instead of to God. Because they presume to represent God to the Gentile world, the Gentiles reject God because they know that the Jews are hypocrites. In effect, the Jews violate the Third Commandment.
25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
COMMENTARY: The law that the Jews practice is the written law which calls for circumcision of the flesh. They do not practice the spiritual law that should be written on their hearts according to the terms of the New Covenant. Thus, for the reasons described above regarding stealing, adultery and idolatry, we see that the Jews are not New Covenant disciples.
People who transgress the New Covenant are circumcised in their hearts and ears. This is the true, spiritual circumcision. Jews who are Old/First Covenant religionists are only circumcised in the flesh. In God’s view they are not circumcised at all (i.e. they are spiritually uncircumcised). This kind of circumcision has no value to God.
This scripture has application for Christians as well as Jews. Circumcision is not a doctrinal issue for Christians, but they do have other doctrines that they profess and practice with the same kind of zeal that Jews have regarding circumcision of the flesh. Examples include: Baptism, confirmation, Communion/Eucharist, prayer, regular church attendance and others that vary from one denomination to another. In God’s view, these are all types of circumcision because of the doctrinal weight placed on them.
26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?
COMMENTARY: In God’s view, anyone who places a religious value on physical circumcision is considered to be spiritually uncircumcised. He/she may be faithful to observe religious laws but they transgress God’s spiritual laws.
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly *, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
COMMENTARY: True Jews in God’s eyes are New Covenant disciples who have his spiritual laws written on their hearts.
1 Corinthians 7:18-19 Was any one at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was any one at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
COMMENTARY: God does not care if people are circumcised or not. What he cares about is if they keep his spiritual laws (i.e. commandments).
Galatians 6:12-15: Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
COMMENTARY: Religious people think it is virtuous to compel others to follow religious laws. They do this at the expense of disobeying God’s spiritual laws. For them, religion is all about making a name for themselves.
God does not care if people are physically circumcised or not. The only thing he cares about is if they have been born again spiritually. See this link for more about becoming a new, spiritual creation.
Ephesians 2:8-12: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. 11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called ” Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands
12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
COMMENTARY: Physical works such as circumcision will not save anyone. They are all religious works in which religious people take pride and boast.
People who are circumcised by human hands are strangers to the New Covenant and do not have God.
Philippians 3:1-6: Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.
COMMENTARY: ***
Colossians 2:8-14: See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
COMMENTARY:***
Jeremiah 9:25-26:“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD , “that I will punish all who are circumcised and yet uncircumcised –26 Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.”
COMMENTARY: ***
Romans 2:25-29: For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
COMMENTARY: The law in view here is God’s spiritual laws. The value, however, is not a spiritual value. Obedience to God’s spiritual laws has its own value that is fully spiritual and has nothing to do with whatever people might do to their flesh.
People who follow God’s spiritual laws have circumcised hearts. Whether they are circumcised physically or not does not matter to God. God’s only concern is the condition of the heart.
People who follow religious laws (e.g. circumcision, baptism, communion, etc.) with the belief that these activities have some spiritual value may be circumcised in the flesh, but their hearts are not circumcised. If their hearts are not circumcised (i.e. uncircumcision), they transgress God’s spiritual laws.
STUDY TIP: See The Law, Two Covenants Part 1, and Two Covenants Part 2 for more understanding about the law.
COMMENTARY: This is the way to paraphrase this verse:
If anyone, male or female, obeys God’s spiritual laws, that person will be regarded by God as having a circumcised heart — even if that person is not physically circumcised.
COMMENTARY: This is the way to paraphrase this verse:
People, who obey God’s spiritual laws are able to make righteous judgments about people who observe religious laws and do not obey God’s spiritual laws.
COMMENTARY ON RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS: All of God’s judgments are with respect to his spiritual laws. The basic question for God is this: Do they follow his spiritual laws or do they follow religious laws made by men. This question refers to the basic definition of sin. Because God’s laws are written on their hearts, New Covenant disciples are also able to make the same kind of judgments. Basically, what they do is discern between good and evil.
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly , nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
Circumcision of the heart is accomplished by God, but only God knows the condition of the heart of a man or woman whose heart has been circumcised. God, therefore, honors (i.e. praises) people with circumcised hearts.
It is worth noting that these scriptures about circumcision also apply to other religious rituals such as baptism and communion. These and all other rituals are conducted in public view. They are all conducted for the purpose of gaining public praise.
STUDY TIP: See Public Prayer and Making a Name for Yourself for more about things religious people do to gain public praise.