Circumcised Heart
Introduction: The circumcision of the male foreskin was required by the LORD as a token of the covenant He made with Abraham and to his descendants. Scripture reveals that outward obedience by circumcision of the flesh is not sufficient in itself: there must be a commitment in the heart by faith; otherwise circumcision of the flesh is of no value. Whether circumcised in the flesh or not, those whose heart is “circumcised” through the mercy and grace of God will desire to walk in all the ways of the LORD God with love and service to Him and to others because of the eternal inheritance God then has given to them.
NOTE: All Bible passages are from the 1769 King James Bible.
A — Circumcision as the Token of the Covenant
Genesis 17 “7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. 19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant. 21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac.”
Comments: The LORD changed Abram’s name to Abraham and said He was establishing an everlasting covenant with him, to be a God to Abraham and to his descendants. Every male child was to be circumcised when eight days old. The LORD said His covenant in the flesh was an everlasting covenant, and the male child whose foreskin flesh is not circumcised has broken the covenant. Abraham was concerned about his son Ishmael when the LORD said that Sarah would bear a child to be named Isaac. The LORD assured Abraham that he would bless Ishmael in many ways, but His covenant would be established with Isaac. Abraham took Ishmael his only son at that time, and every male among those of Abraham’s house, and circumcised them that very day, as God had said.
B — Moses Wrote of the Need for Circumcision of the Heart
Deuteronomy 10 “16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. 17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.”
Deuteronomy 30 “6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.”
Joshua 5 “5 Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.”
Comments: During the forty years in the wilderness, Moses wrote that only the circumcision of the heart, made without hands, enabled men to worship with all the heart and soul, and to serve the LORD out of love as they kept His commandments. Moses reminded the children of Israel that it was God’s choice to set their generations apart for His love above other people: He is a great and mighty God above all gods, and he does not regard the merit of any person. In chapter 30 Moses again emphasized the need to have that genuine inward commitment to the LORD expressed as circumcision of the heart — performed only by the LORD for those who place full faith and trust in Him. After Moses and all the generation that had rebelled against the LORD had died, it was necessary for Joshua to circumcise all the males who had been born during the forty years in the wilderness.
C — The Centuries of Judges and Kings Ended in Exile
Jeremiah 4 “4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.”
Jeremiah 9 “24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. 25 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised; 26 for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.”
Comments: In Jeremiah chapter 4 the message from God was that Judah and Jerusalem would not be removed if they would return to God with a circumcised heart. Two figures of speech were used: they were like those who don’t properly prepare the soil and even sow among thorns; and they needed the full commitment described as a circumcised heart. Otherwise the LORD said His fury would come upon them like an unquenchable fire. These words had little effect, and therefore that judgment came to pass. In Jeremiah chapter 9 the LORD said the days will come that He will punish all them which are circumcised along with the uncircumcised — indicating the lack of circumcision of the heart by Israel with only the token of circumcision in the flesh.
D — Jesus Said Honoring God with Love in the Heart Is the Only True Worship
Matthew 15 “7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Mark 12 “30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.”
Comments: Jesus had no hesitation when he addressed some scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites because they would draw near to God with their mouth, and honor with their lips; but their hearts were far from Him. Their worship was in vain because they taught for doctrines the commandments of men. When a scribe who had perceived that Jesus had answered well asked which was the first commandment of all, Jesus gave him two commandments: love God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself. The scribe agreed beautifully, and Jesus told him he was not far from the Kingdom of God.
E — The New Testament Confirms Jew and Gentile Are Alike by Circumcision Made Without Hands
Romans 4 “11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.”
Galatians 5 “6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
Colossians 2 “11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.”
Comments: After much disputing at Jerusalem, Peter and James gave their own testimonies to bring the discussion to the point where all finally agreed salvation in Christ is available to Jew and Gentile alike — not necessary to be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses to be saved. Paul pointed out in Romans 4 that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness before he was circumcised — therefore, Abraham can rightly be called the father of all who have that faith in God, whether their flesh is circumcised or uncircumcised. In Galatians Paul addresses believers who are by faith descendants of Abraham and Isaac and have been set free. In Colossians Paul says in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands.
Reflections in Prayer
LORD, I thank you for circumcision as the token of the covenant that set apart those who were blessed by you for their obedience to that requirement, which also made Abraham the father of all those who have genuine worship of the only true God. By your Spirit, before entry into the Promised Land Moses wrote about the necessity for “circumcision of the heart” for genuine worship. Jeremiah wrote in similar manner before the fall of the southern kingdom of Judah. But you, LORD God, sent your Son to be born of a virgin in the bloodline of King David to bring Jew and Gentile together when they believe in the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of the Savior of the world. Thank you for summarizing the commandments in a way that helps all who accept your gift by mercy and grace to show love by serving you and serving others because of the eternal inheritance the one and only God has given to them. May this be evident in my life. Amen, and amen.
Published 16 October 2018