1233. Circumcision Is Not Anything
Circumcision Is Not Anything
"For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature" (Gal_6:15, A. S. V.).
We have already suggested the difference between the significance of circumcision and uncircumcision. They stand, respectively for Jew and Gentile. We want to emphasize four distinct things for which circumcision stands.
1. Circumcision stands for the Jew and everything that relates to him. The Jew is a special people unto God, a people separated from among the nations, a people beloved above all the people upon the face of the earth. To these people God gave a special land: to them He gave the oracles of God; to them He gave the Law and the Prophets; and, from them, as concerning the flesh, Christ came.
Certainly the Jew has advantage every way, and yet the Jew, apart from Christ, is not anything. They never did have and never can have any approach unto the Father, save through Jesus Christ. This fact was clearly established in all their covenant relationships. It was set forth in every feast and in every sacrifice which God gave to Israel.
Thus, while the Jew holds every natural advantage, those advantages will profit nothing apart from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Circumcision stands for the Law and its legal requirements. Circumcision is Mount Sinai, with its thunderings and lightnings, with its terror and tremblings, with its great darkness. The Law was holy and just and good, but it was impotent because of the weakness of the flesh.
Circumcision stood for a separation unto God, based upon obedience to every law that God had given, but it profited nothing inasmuch as Israel broke the Law, and therefore, stood guilty before God. "Therefore, by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight."
3. Circumcision stands for religion and its rites. There was not anything lacking in the marvelously beautiful and descriptive ceremonies which God had given unto the children of Israel. The scribes and the Pharisees had gone far beyond these rites, and they had given commandments known as "the tradition of the elders." These traditions of men made the commandments of God of none effect. No one could have doubted for a moment that Israel was religious. She was super-religious so far as outward things were concerned, and yet, all of her religiousness profited nothing. The Lord said of her: "This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mat_15:8 and Mat_15:9).
4. Circumcision stands for outward ceremonials. These things were, of course, included in their religious rites, but they went beyond them. In the practice of their religion the Pharisees made broad their phylacteries, and enlarged the borders of their garments. They appeared pious unto men. Outwardly they put on great religious effrontery, but inwardly they were full of corruption. They were indeed like whited sepulchers which appear beautiful without, but within are full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness.
Thus, it was with the Jew. Men beheld a great show of righteousness; but God, Who looketh at the heart, knew them to be full of hypocrisy and iniquity. They paid tithes of mint and of anise and cummin but they omitted the weightier matters of the Law, judgment, mercy and faith. They could strain out gnats, and swallow camels. They could make long prayers, but continue withal to rob widows' houses. It is no marvel then that the Holy Spirit wrote, "In Christ Jesus circumcision is not anything."
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR