Firstly, physical circumcision is the,
“A
religious rite performed on male children of Jews on the eighth day after
birth; also, on their slaves, whether born in the house or not.”[1]
However, Paul in the letter to the Romans made
an unusual statement regarding circumcision when he said,
28 “For no one is a Jew
who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29
But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by
the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from people but God” (Rom
2:28-29 ESV).
On this matter, Paul also said that this is not
a circumcision done by a person, and it was confirmed through baptism,
11 “In Him (Jesus Christ) also you were
circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body
of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried
with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith
in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Col 2:11-12
ESV).
In the Old Testament, first mentions circumcision in the Bible with Abraham being circumcised. It was a sign of the covenant that God made with him and then flowing on to Israel (Gen 17:2,4,7,9-14,23-27). The message of circumcision was a physical reminder that Abraham and his offspring (later to become Israel) were cut off from the world, and cut into the promises of another world, a heavenly world.
The circumcision of the heart is not only a New Testament Idea, but God also made similar statements to Israel in the Old Testament, as Paul had made to the church at Rome,
40 “But if they confess their sin and the sin of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against Me, and also in walking contrary to Me, 41 so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their sin, 42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land” (Lev 26:40-42 ESV).
Again, God said to Israel to,
“Circumcise,
therefore, the foreskin of your heart and be no longer stubborn” (Deut
10:16 ESV).
Israel was to “cut away the thickening around
their hearts and not stiffen their necks anymore.”[2]
Jeremiah also dealt with this as part of
Judah’s repentance and
their turning from their idolatry,
“Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove
the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem;
lest My wrath goes forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of
the evil of your deeds” (Jer 4:4 ESV).
What has this got to do with loving God? In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses drew out some spiritual and practical features. He joined the two aspects of circumcision of the heart and loving the LORD your God with all your heart together. He pointed out that these two need to work together.
“And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of
your offspring so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all
your soul, that you may live” (Deut 30:6 ESV).
So, it is highlighted for one to love the LORD their God with all their heart; the heart needs to be circumcised. Circumcision has a spiritual meaning when it is connected to the heart. Once the heart has been circumcised, then this love can flow from one’s heart to God. But what kind of love is being spoken of in this case? His people needed an open and teachable heart to be able to love Him as they should. They were to demonstrate their love for Him through their hearing and obedience to God’s Word, Deut 30:7-10.
Pause in His presence for a moment and think this over…[1] “Circumcision.” http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/4391-circumcision (2nd February 2021).
[2] “Circumcise your hearts: (Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25).”
http://www.jewishjournal.com/torah_portion/article/circumcise_your_hearts_20120808 (2nd February 2021).
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