A Circumcised Heart

Minister Monardo · May 1, 2020

The Lord gave Moses and Aaron further instructions in regard to strangers and servants desiring to keep the Passover, that all males must be circumcised. Circumcision was a hot topic in the early church with regard to expectations placed upon Gentile believers.

Exodus 12:48. And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.

Paul resolved the issue:
Romans 2:28 & 29. For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Note the clear symmetry between the two verses right up to “in the spirit and not in the letter”. But then Paul adds this final clarification; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
When our heart is circumcised, we can say like Paul:
Galatians 1:10. For do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:4. But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men but God, which tries our hearts.

Some translations change this to “God, who tries our hearts.'' Granted, He certainly does try us, but the point Paul is making is that the test of a circumcised heart is to put ourselves to this question: am I pleasing men or God. This is the issue which tries our hearts.

Twice Paul makes an interesting statement in 1 Co 1:31 and 2 Co 10:17, “let them that glory, glory in the Lord.” The statement suggests that he is quoting a verse from the Old Testament. In actuality, he is paraphrasing a passage from the prophet Jeremiah. Paul is attempting to remind them of instructions he gave while he was with them.

Paul’s stay in Corinth is chronicled in Acts 18. He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks...then he continued there for 18 months! “teaching the Word of God among them”. v.11.

So let’s look at the text from Jeremiah that Paul would have been teaching from to apply this paraphrase he uses “to glory in the Lord.”
Jeremiah 9:23 & 24. Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty glory in his might, let not the rich glory in his riches: but let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord which exercises loving-kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Now let’s jump back over to 1 Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 1:26-29. for you see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world and things which are despised God has chosen, yes and the things which are not to bring to naught things that are; that no flesh shall glory in His presence.

Try to set aside the obvious inference that the church is made up of foolish, weak, base and despised members and hear the echo of Jeremiah 9 in this passage. So what was Paul teaching on by using Jeremiah 9 as his text? Let’s continue through the final two verses:

Jeremiah 9:25&26. Behold, the days come says the Lord, that I will punish all of them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

In the time of Jeremiah, all the people of Israel had become blind to God’s Word. Even as Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 3:15-17. For unto this day when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The blindness of the uncircumcised heart is a paramount issue. For the Lord has set a day when the veil will be lifted from the hearts of Israel. This is an opportunity to look at the first of the mysteries of God revealed in Christ that Paul speaks of:
1 Corinthians 4:1&2. Let a man so account of us as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.

In order to be a faithful steward, a saint must know what these mysteries are of which Paul speaks.
Romans 11:25. For I would not brethren that you should be ignorant of this mystery, less you should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

Compare to this verse, and consider the time:
Luke 21:24. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

dqhall · May 1, 2020

Minister Monardo said:
The Lord gave Moses and Aaron further instructions in regard to strangers and servants desiring to keep the Passover, that all males must be circumcised. Circumcision was a hot topic in the early church with regard to expectations placed upon Gentile believers.

Exodus 12:48. And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.

Paul resolved the issue:
Romans 2:28 & 29. For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Note the clear symmetry between the two verses right up to “in the spirit and not in the letter”. But then Paul adds this final clarification; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
When our heart is circumcised, we can say like Paul:
Galatians 1:10. For do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:4. But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men but God, which tries our hearts.

Some translations change this to “God, who tries our hearts.'' Granted, He certainly does try us, but the point Paul is making is that the test of a circumcised heart is to put ourselves to this question: am I pleasing men or God. This is the issue which tries our hearts.

Twice Paul makes an interesting statement in 1 Co 1:31 and 2 Co 10:17, “let them that glory, glory in the Lord.” The statement suggests that he is quoting a verse from the Old Testament. In actuality, he is paraphrasing a passage from the prophet Jeremiah. Paul is attempting to remind them of instructions he gave while he was with them.

Paul’s stay in Corinth is chronicled in Acts 18. He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks...then he continued there for 18 months! “teaching the Word of God among them”. v.11.

So let’s look at the text from Jeremiah that Paul would have been teaching from to apply this paraphrase he uses “to glory in the Lord.”
Jeremiah 9:23 & 24. Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty glory in his might, let not the rich glory in his riches: but let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord which exercises loving-kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Now let’s jump back over to 1 Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 1:26-29. for you see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world and things which are despised God has chosen, yes and the things which are not to bring to naught things that are; that no flesh shall glory in His presence.

Try to set aside the obvious inference that the church is made up of foolish, weak, base and despised members and hear the echo of Jeremiah 9 in this passage. So what was Paul teaching on by using Jeremiah 9 as his text? Let’s continue through the final two verses:

Jeremiah 9:25&26. Behold, the days come says the Lord, that I will punish all of them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

In the time of Jeremiah, all the people of Israel had become blind to God’s Word. Even as Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 3:15-17. For unto this day when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The blindness of the uncircumcised heart is a paramount issue. For the Lord has set a day when the veil will be lifted from the hearts of Israel. This is an opportunity to look at the first of the mysteries of God revealed in Christ that Paul speaks of:
1 Corinthians 4:1&2. Let a man so account of us as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.

In order to be a faithful steward, a saint must know what these mysteries are of which Paul speaks.
Romans 11:25. For I would not brethren that you should be ignorant of this mystery, less you should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

Compare to this verse, and consider the time:
Luke 21:24. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

I am not descended from Egyptian slaves. I have read the scriptures and remember Jesus and the 12 disciples were Jewish. I also recognize meaningful contributions from uncircumcised Christians in math, science, languages, inventions and works of charity. In Acts 15 Paul argued against making the Gentile converts observe the imperfect law of the Torah. Jesus reiterated the importance of laws against adultery and murder in his Sermon on the Mount. He allowed people to rest or work on the Sabbath.

Minister Monardo · May 1, 2020

dqhall said:
I am not descended from Egyptian slaves. I have read the scriptures and remember Jesus and the 12 disciples were Jewish. I also recognize meaningful contributions from uncircumcised Christians in math, science, languages, inventions and works of charity. In Acts 15 Paul argued against making the Gentile converts observe the imperfect law of the Torah. Jesus reiterated the importance of laws against adultery and murder in his Sermon on the Mount. He allowed people to rest or work on the Sabbath.

I am sorry. What does any of that have to do with the of circumcision of the heart, as opposed to the false doctrine that Paul taught "Greeks must be circumcised". The point of the OP is the clarification of what is meant by the circumcision of the Spirit.
"But he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God."
Did you read, or are you just reacting to the Title of the OP? You have contributed nothing to the discussion thus far, as you are not even close to being on topic.

dqhall · May 1, 2020

Minister Monardo said:
I am sorry. What does any of that have to do with the of circumcision of the heart, as opposed to the false doctrine that Paul taught "Greeks must be circumcised". The point of the OP is the clarification of what is meant by the circumcision of the Spirit.
"But he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God."
Did you read, or are you just reacting to the Title of the OP? You have contributed nothing to the discussion thus far, as you are not even close to being on topic.

What is circumcision of the heart? Is that like a stent or bypass surgery?

The ancient Egyptians thought the mind was located in the heart as all the blood vessels were connected to it. When they embalmed their dead for the presumed afterlife, they placed the heart in a jar, but discarded the brains.

Paul was writing like one had to be a Jew inwardly in order to be saved. If Jewishness is a race, a short nosed Gentile can not change his race inwardly and appear Jewish outwardly. If Judaism is a religion, then it must include circumcision as the Torah demands such. If Christianity uses parts of Judaism, but not other parts, Jesus teaches a New Covenant not based on racial characteristics, nor strict adherence to the Torah in its entirety. That does not mean a Torah law against stealing should be ignored. Jesus recommended mercy instead of judgement. Christians do not cut off the hands of thieves.

Soyeong · May 1, 2020

Minister Monardo said:
The Lord gave Moses and Aaron further instructions in regard to strangers and servants desiring to keep the Passover, that all males must be circumcised. Circumcision was a hot topic in the early church with regard to expectations placed upon Gentile believers.

Exodus 12:48. And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.

Paul resolved the issue:
Romans 2:28 & 29. For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Note the clear symmetry between the two verses right up to “in the spirit and not in the letter”. But then Paul adds this final clarification; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
When our heart is circumcised, we can say like Paul:
Galatians 1:10. For do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:4. But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men but God, which tries our hearts.

Some translations change this to “God, who tries our hearts.'' Granted, He certainly does try us, but the point Paul is making is that the test of a circumcised heart is to put ourselves to this question: am I pleasing men or God. This is the issue which tries our hearts.

Twice Paul makes an interesting statement in 1 Co 1:31 and 2 Co 10:17, “let them that glory, glory in the Lord.” The statement suggests that he is quoting a verse from the Old Testament. In actuality, he is paraphrasing a passage from the prophet Jeremiah. Paul is attempting to remind them of instructions he gave while he was with them.

Paul’s stay in Corinth is chronicled in Acts 18. He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks...then he continued there for 18 months! “teaching the Word of God among them”. v.11.

So let’s look at the text from Jeremiah that Paul would have been teaching from to apply this paraphrase he uses “to glory in the Lord.”
Jeremiah 9:23 & 24. Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty glory in his might, let not the rich glory in his riches: but let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord which exercises loving-kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Now let’s jump back over to 1 Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 1:26-29. for you see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world and things which are despised God has chosen, yes and the things which are not to bring to naught things that are; that no flesh shall glory in His presence.

Try to set aside the obvious inference that the church is made up of foolish, weak, base and despised members and hear the echo of Jeremiah 9 in this passage. So what was Paul teaching on by using Jeremiah 9 as his text? Let’s continue through the final two verses:

Jeremiah 9:25&26. Behold, the days come says the Lord, that I will punish all of them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

In the time of Jeremiah, all the people of Israel had become blind to God’s Word. Even as Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 3:15-17. For unto this day when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The blindness of the uncircumcised heart is a paramount issue. For the Lord has set a day when the veil will be lifted from the hearts of Israel. This is an opportunity to look at the first of the mysteries of God revealed in Christ that Paul speaks of:
1 Corinthians 4:1&2. Let a man so account of us as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.

In order to be a faithful steward, a saint must know what these mysteries are of which Paul speaks.
Romans 11:25. For I would not brethren that you should be ignorant of this mystery, less you should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

Compare to this verse, and consider the time:
Luke 21:24. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

According to these passages, what does it look like to have a circumcised heart, to know God, to walk in His ways, and to love God with all of our heart and soul?

Jeremiah 9:1-26
Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Deuteronomy 10:12-22
Deuteronomy 30:1-16
Acts 7:51-53
Romans 2:25-29

In Jeremiah 9:1-11, it describes them doing all sorts of evil actions for which God will punish them and God said that they do not know Him and refuse to know Him. Verses 12-13 say that this punishment is because they have forsaken the Mosaic Law, they did not obey God's voice or walk in accord with it. In verses 24-26, it says but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows God, that He is the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things He delights. Furthermore it says that a day is coming when God will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh and who are circumcised in heart. So it connects having a circumcised heart with knowing God and obeying the Mosaic Law, while having having an uncircumcised heart us connect with not know God and forsaking the Mosaic Law.

In Deuteronomy 6:4-7, it connects loving God with all of our heart, soul, and might with having the Mosaic Law on our hearts, teaching it diligently to our children, and talking about it throughout our day both in public and in private.

In Deuteronomy 10:12-22, it connects having a circumcised heart with loving God with all of our heart and soul, walking in His ways, obeying the Mosaic Law, and knowing who God is through describing himself almost similar lines as Jeremiah 9:24 as being impartial, executing justice for the fatherless and the widow, and who loves the sojourners.

In Deuteronomy 30:1-16, It connects having a circumcised heart with repenting and obeying God's voice, with keeping the Mosaic Law, with loving God will all of our heart and soul, and with walking in God's ways.

In Acts 7:51-53, it connects having an uncircumcised heart with resisting the Holy Spirit, with not knowing God's prophets or the Righteous One, and with not keeping the Mosaic Law.

In Romans 2:25-29, circumcision has value if we keep the Mosaic Law, but if we break it, then it becomes uncircumcision. If a man who is uncircumcised keeps the Mosaic Law, then he will be regard as circumcision and will condemn those who are circumcised, but break the Mosaic Law. Real Jews are not just psychically circumcised, but also have circumcised hearts by the Spirit, not by the letter. Clearly, this passage is speaking about Gentiles obeying the Mosaic Law and what Gentiles are being told to do by loving God with all of our heat and soul should not be interpreted as being something different from what Jews are being told to do by loving God with all of our heart and soul.

In 1 John 2:3-6, it equates following Christ's commands with saying that those who are in Christ are obligated to walk in the same way he walked, and he walked in complete obedience to the Mosaic Law. Furthermore, it says that those who say that they know Christ, but don't obey his commands are liars and the truth is not in them. Furthermore, in 1 John 3:4-6, sin is the transgression of God's law and those who continue to practice sin have neither seen or known him. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said that he tell people that he never knew to depart from him because they were workers of lawlessness. In addition, he said that only those who do the Father's will will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Father straightforwardly makes His will known through His law (Psalms 40:8).

So the Israelites needed to be taught about how to know who God is and the Mosaic Law was given for that purpose. It was through their obedience to it that they came to know Him and through their disobedience that they refused to know Him. Jesus is the exact imprint of God's nature (Hebrews 1:3), so he put who the Father is on display through expressing His nature through his actions, and what that looked like was sinless obedience to the Mosaic Law, so the way that we come to know the Father is through the life, death, and and resurrection of Jesus.

A Circumcised Heart

Minister Monardo

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A Circumcised Heart

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