 |
CIRCUMCISION
The
issue of circumcision is somewhat contentious and there seems to be
good argument for both sides of the debate. As with the majority of
articles on this site, you are presented with mostly Scripture as
man's words can be biased and lead to confusion. We need to lay aside
“I think..” and “I feel...” and ask ourselves,
what does
Yahweh say?
WHAT
THE TORAH COMMANDS
Genesis
17:9-14: 9
And Elohim said to Abraham, “As for you, guard My covenant, you
and
your seed after you throughout their generations. 10
“This
is My covenant
which you guard between Me and you, and your seed after you: Every
male child among you is to be circumcised. 11
“And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it
shall
become a
sign of the covenant
between Me and you. 12
“And a son of eight days is circumcised by you, every male child
in
your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with silver
from any foreigner who is not of your seed. 13
“He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your
silver, has to be circumcised. So shall My covenant be in your flesh,
for an
everlasting covenant. 14
“And an
uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised
in the flesh of his foreskin, his life shall be cut
off from his people
– he has broken
My covenant.”
Note:
This Scripture is very clear. The sign of the covenant made with
Abraham and his seed is, “in your flesh”,
“everlasting” and
whoever is not circumcised will be “cut off” and has
“broken
His covenant.”
Exodus
4:21-26: 21 And
YHWH said
to Mosheh, “As you go back to Mitsrayim... 24 And
it came to be on the way, in the lodging place, that YHWH met
him and sought to kill him. 25 And
Tsipporah took a sharp stone and cut
off the foreskin of her son and
threw it at Mosheh’s feet, and said, “You are indeed a
bridegroom
of blood to me!” 26 So
He let him go. Then she said, “You are a bridegroom of
blood,” because
of the circumcision.
Note:
It appears from this text that Mosheh should have circumcised his
son, yet had not, and that this act of disobedience was worthy of
death!
Exodus
12:43-49: 43
And YHWH said
to Mosheh and Aharon, “This is the law of the Passover: No son of
a
stranger is to eat of it, 44 but
any servant a man has bought for silver, when
you have circumcised him, then let him eat of it...
47
“All
the congregation of Yisra’ĕl are to perform it. 48
“And
when a stranger sojourns with you and shall perform the Passover to
YHWH, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near
and perform it, and he shall be as a native of the land. But let
no uncircumcised eat of it. 49
“There
is one
Torah for the native-born and for the stranger who
sojourns among you.”
Note:
The Passover is not to be performed nor eaten by anyone
who is uncircumcised.
Joshua
5:2-10: 2 At
that time YHWH said
to Yehoshua, “Make knives of flint for yourself, and circumcise
the sons of Yisra’ĕl again the
second time.” 3 So
Yehoshua made knives of flint for himself, and circumcised the sons
of Yisra’ĕl at the Hill of Foreskins. 4 And
this is why Yehoshua circumcised them: All the people who came out of
Mitsrayim who were males, all the men of battle, had died in the
wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Mitsrayim. 5 For
all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all
the people who were born in the wilderness on
the way as they came out of Mitsrayim had
not been circumcised. 6 For
the children of Yisra’ĕl walked forty years in the wilderness,
till all the nation – the men of battle who came out of Mitsrayim
–
were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of YHWH, to whom
swore not to show them the land which had sworn to their fathers that
He would give us, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” 7 And
Yehoshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for
they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the
way. 8 And
it came to be, when they had completed circumcising all the nation,
that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. 9 And
YHWH said to Yehoshua, “Today
I have rolled away the reproach of Mitsrayim from you.” So
the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day. 10 And
the children of Yisra’ĕl camped in Gilgal, and performed
the Passover on
the fourteenth day of the month at evening on the desert plains of
Yeriho.
Note:
Either the children of Israel had not performed the Passover during
the time spent in the wilderness, or they had continued with the
Passover being uncircumcised. Both of these actions breaking Yahweh's
covenant. The Israelites had to be circumcised in order to perform
the passover and also to enter the promised land.
CIRCUMCISION
OF THE HEART
Deuteronomy
10:16: 10
“And
you shall circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and harden your neck
no more. Note:
Here we have an indication that circumcision is not just physical
matter...
Deuteronomy
30:6: “And
YHWH your
Elohim shall circumcise
your heart and
the heart
of your seed, to
love YHWH your
Elohim with all your heart and with all your being, so that you might
live.
Note:
“...so that you might live.” indicates that one must be
circumcised of heart and not just flesh.
Jeremiah
4:4: “Circumcise
yourselves unto YHWH, and take
away the foreskins of your hearts,
you men of Yehudah and inhabitants of Yerushalayim, lest My wrath
come forth like fire and burn, with none to quench it, because of the
evil of your deeds.”
Note:
Another mention that possibly the state of our heart is what Yahweh
is concerned with.
Jeremiah
9:25-26: 25
“See,
the days are coming,” declares YHWH, “when I shall punish
all
circumcised with the uncircumcised – 26
“Mitsrayim,
and Yehudah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Mo’ab, and
all those trimmed on the edges, who dwell in the wilderness. For all
the gentiles are uncircumcised,
and all the house of Yisra’ĕl are uncircumcised
in heart!”
Note:
Yahweh makes no distinction between those who are uncircumcised in
the flesh or in the heart.
Ezekiel
44:5-9: 5 And YHWH said
to me, “Son of man, set your heart and see with your eyes and
hear
with your ears, all that I say to you concerning all the laws of the
House of YHWH and
all its Torot. And you shall set your heart to the entrance of the
house, with all the exits of the set-apart place, 6 and
shall say to the rebellious, to the house of Yisra’ĕl,
‘Thus
said the Master YHWH,
“O house of Yisra’ĕl, enough of all these abominations of
yours, 7 that
you brought in sons of a foreigner, uncircumcised
in heart and uncircumcised in flesh,
to be in My set-apart place to profane it, My house! That you brought
near My food, the fat and the blood, and you broke My covenant
because of all your abominations. 8
“And
you did not guard the charge of that which is set-apart to Me, but
you have set others to guard the charge of My set-apart place for
you.” 9
‘Thus
said the Master YHWH,
“No
son of a foreigner, uncircumcised
in heart or uncircumcised in flesh, comes
into My set-apart place, even
any son of a foreigner who is among the children of Yisra’ĕl.
Note:
This Excerpt from Yehezqel's vision appears to be prophecy of a time
yet to come which would indicate that circumcision of heart and
flesh
is essential for entry to Yahweh's Miqdash. However, this vision also
includes mention of sacrifices of animals which seems to be in
contrast to the one sacrifice for all by Yahushua.
Jeremiah
31:31-34: 31
“See,
the days are coming,” declares YHWH,
“when I
shall make a new covenant with the house of Yisra’ĕl and
with the house of Yehudah, 32 not
like the covenant I made with their fathers in
the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of
Mitsrayim, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to
them,” declares YHWH. 33
“For
this is the covenant I shall make with the house of Yisra’ĕl
after
those days, declares YHWH: I
shall put My Torah in their inward parts,
and write
it on their hearts.
And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. 34
“And
no longer shall they teach, each one his neighbour, and each one his
brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH,’
for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of
them,” declares YHWH.
“For I shall forgive their crookedness, and remember their sin no
more.”
Note:
The first indication of a renewed covenant not
like the first, but inwardly on our hearts.
THE
RENEWED COVENANT
At
this point the debate is one sided and without doubt advocating
circumcision outwardly and
inwardly. The question now is: Did the death and resurrection of
Yahushua ha'Mashiach fulfill the command to be circumcised in the
flesh?
Matthew
26:26-28: 26 And
as they were eating, Yahushua took
bread, and having blessed, broke and gave it to the taught ones and
said, “Take, eat, this is My body.” 27 And
taking the cup, and giving thanks, He gave it to them, saying,
“Drink
from it, all of you. 28
“For
this is My
blood, that
of the
renewed covenant,
which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Note:
(See also Mark 14:24 and Luke 22:20) Not once does Yahushua Yahushua
mention the Torah or circumcision being done away with, but as His
blood is that of the renewed covenant it may have some weight in the
debate.
Question:
are we under the first covenant or under the renewed covenant?
THE
YERUSHALAYIM COUNCIL
Since
this is the primary text in the B'rit Chadashah regarding the issue
of circumcision it is important to read the whole chapter in
context.
Acts
15: 1 And
certain men came down from Yehudah and were teaching the brothers,
“Unless
you are circumcised, according to the practice of Mosheh, you are
unable to be saved.”
2
So when Sha’ul and Barnabah had no small dissension
and dispute
with them, they arranged for Sha’ul and Barnabah and certain
others
of them to go up to Yerushalayim, to the emissaries and elders, about
this question. 3
So, being sent on their way by the assembly, they passed through
Phoenicia and Shomeron, relating the conversion of the gentiles. And
they were causing great joy to all the brothers. 4
And having arrived in Yerushalayim, they were received by the
assembly and the emissaries and the elders. And they reported all
that Elohim had done with them. 5
And some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees,
rose up, saying, “It
is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the
Torah of Mosheh.” 6
And the emissaries and elders came together to look into this matter. 7
And when there had been much
dispute,
Kĕpha rose up and said to them, “Men, brothers, you know that a
good while ago Elohim chose among us, that by my mouth the gentiles
should hear the word of the Good News and believe. 8
“And Elohim, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving
them the Set-apart Spirit, as also to us, 9
and made no distinction between us and them, cleansing
their hearts by belief. 10
“Now then, why do you try Elohim by putting a yoke on the neck of
the taught ones which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11
“But
through the favour of the Master Yahushua Messiah
we trust to be saved, in the same way as they.” 12 And
all the crowd was silent and were listening to Barnabah and
Sha’ul
declaring how many miracles and wonders Elohim did among the
gentiles, through them. 13 And
after they were silent, Yaʽaqob answered, saying, “Men, brothers,
listen to me: 14
“Shimʽon
has declared how Elohim first visited the gentiles to take out of
them a people for His Name. 15
“And
the words of the prophets agree with this, as it has been written: 16
‘After
this I shall return and rebuild the Booth of Dawid which has fallen
down. And I shall rebuild its ruins, and I shall set it up, 17 so
that the remnant of mankind shall seek , even all the gentiles on
whom My Name has been called, says who is doing all this,’ 18 who
has made this known from of old. 19
“Therefore
I judge that we should not trouble those from among the gentiles who
are turning to Elohim, 20 but
that we write to them to abstain from the defilements of idols, and
from whoring, and from what is strangled,
and from blood. 21
“For
from ancient generations Mosheh
has, in every city, those proclaiming him – being read in the
congregations every Sabbath.” 22 Then
it seemed good to the emissaries and elders, with all the assembly,
to send chosen men from among them to Antioch with Sha’ul and
Barnabah: Yehudah being called Barsabba, and Sila, leading men among
the brothers, 23 having
written by their hand this: The emissaries and the elders and the
brothers, To the brothers who are of the gentiles in Antioch, and
Syria, and Kilikia: Greetings. 24 Since
we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with
words, unsettling your lives, to whom we gave no command – 25 it
seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to send chosen men to
you with our beloved Barnabah and Sha’ul, 26
men who have given up their lives for the Name of our Master Yahushua Messiah. 27 We
have therefore sent Yehudah and Sila, who are also confirming this by
word of mouth. 28 For
it seemed good to the Set-apart Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no
greater burden than these necessities: 29 that
you abstain from what is offered to idols, and blood, and what is
strangled, and whoring. If
you keep yourselves from these, you shall do well. Be strong!
Note:
It seems as though this question of circumcision arose amongst the
very first believers and caused “no small dissension and
dispute.”
It is important to note in verse 21 that the converts were to learn
to the commands of Mosheh taught every Shabbat.
Question:
If circumcision is “everlasting” and whoever is not
circumcised
will be “cut off” and has “broken His
covenant.” (as per Gen
17:9-14) then why was it not listed in the “necessities”
given by
all the emmissaries, elders and brothers?
Acts
16:1-3: 1 And
he came to Derbe and Lustra. And see, a certain taught one was there,
named Timothy, the son of a certain Yehudite woman who believed –
but his father was Greek – 2 who
was well spoken of by the brothers who were at Lustra and Ikonion. 3 Sha’ul
wished to have this one go with him. And he took him and circumcised
him because of the Yehudim who were in those places,
for they all knew that his
father was Greek.
Note:
No uncircumcised gentile was allowed into the synagogue, so Sha'ul
circumcised Timothy in order for them to witness of Messiah in those
places.
Acts
21:21-25: ...21
“And they have been informed about you that you teach all the
Yehudim who are among the gentiles to forsake
Mosheh,
saying not
to circumcise the children
nor to walk
according to the practices. 22
“What then is it? They shall certainly hear that you have come. 23
“So do this, what we say to you: We have four men who have taken
a
vow. 24
“Take them and be cleansed with them, and pay their expenses so
that they shave their heads. And all shall know that what they have
been informed about you is not so, but that you
yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Torah. 25
“But concerning the gentiles who believe, we have written and
decided that they should keep themselves from what is offered to
idols, and blood, and what is strangled, and whoring.”
Note:
It seems in this portion of Acts that the Yehudim had confused the
“necessities” given to the ex-gentiles was all that was
left
regarding the keeping of Torah.
Romans
2:25-3:31: 25
For circumcision
indeed profits if you practise the Torah,
but if you are a transgressor of the Torah, your circumcision has
become uncircumcision. 26
So, if an uncircumcised one watches over the righteousnesses of the
Torah, shall not his
uncircumcision be reckoned as circumcision? 27
And the uncircumcised by nature, who perfects the Torah, shall judge
you who notwithstanding letter and circumcision are a transgressor of
the Torah! 28 For he
is not a Yehudite who is so
outwardly, neither
is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But a
Yehudite is he who is so
inwardly,
and circumcision
is that of the heart,
in
Spirit, not literally,
whose praise is not from men but from Elohim. 1
What then is the advantage of the Yehudite, or what
is the value of the circumcision? 2 Much
in every way!
Because firstly indeed, that they were entrusted with the Words of
Elohim...
29
Or is
He the
Elohim of the Yehudim only, and not also of the gentiles? Yea, of the
gentiles also, 30 since
it is one Elohim who shall declare right the circumcised by belief
and the uncircumcised through belief. 31 Do
we then nullify the Torah through the belief? Let it not be! On
the contrary, we
establish the Torah.
Note:
Very unclear what Sha'ul is teaching here. On one hand circumcision
is profitable, and on the other circumcision is inwardly of the
heart.
Romans
4:6-12: ...6 even
as Dawid also says of the blessedness of the man to whom Elohim
reckons righteousness without works: 7
“Blessed are those whose lawlessnesses are forgiven, and whose
sins
are covered, 8 blessed
is the man to whom shall
by no means reckon sin.” 9 Is
this blessing then upon the circumcised only, or
also upon the uncircumcised? For
we affirm: Belief was reckoned unto Abraham for righteousness. 10 How
then was it reckoned? Being in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not
in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And
he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of
the belief while in
uncircumcision, for him to be a father of all those
believing through uncircumcision,
for righteousness
to be reckoned to them also, 12 and
the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the
circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the belief which our
father Abraham had in uncircumcision.
Note:
This text affirms that forgiveness is available to both the
circumcised and uncircumcised.
1
Corinthians 7:18-19: 18 Was
anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was
anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 The
circumcision is naught, and the uncircumcision is naught,
but the guarding of the commands of Elohim does
matter!
Note:
Unless this text has been fiddled with, or lost in translation, the
conclusion is clear. Circumcision (the sign of the first covenant) is
of little importance, but guarding the Commands is.
Galatians
2:1-3: 1 Then
after fourteen years I again went up to Yerushalayim, with Barnabah,
taking Titus along too. 2
And I went up by revelation, and laid before them that Good News
which I proclaim among the gentiles, but separately to those who were
esteemed, lest somehow I run, or had run, in vain. 3
But not
even Titus who was with me, though a Greek, was compelled to be
circumcised.
Note:
It appears that over time (14 years) the acceptance of uncircumcised
believers had increased.
Galatians
5:1-6: 1
In the freedom with which Messiah has made us free, stand firm, then,
and do not again be held with a yoke of slavery. 2
See, I, Sha’ul, say to you that if
you become circumcised, Messiah shall be of no use to you. 3
And I witness again to every
man being circumcised that he is a debtor to do the entire Torah. 4
You who are declared right by Torah have severed yourselves from
Messiah, you have fallen from favour. 5
For we, in Spirit, by belief, eagerly wait for the expectation of
righteousness. 6
For in Messiah Yahushua neither
circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength,
but belief working through love.
Note:
This is the strongest indication in the B'rit Chadashah that the
blood of Yahushua (the renewed covenant) has replaced the sign of the
Abrahamic covenant (circumcision).
Sha'ul
appears to be saying that those seeking to be justified by
circumcision are bound to the entire
Torah which includes the sacrifices.
Galatians
6:12-16: 12 As
many as wish to
make a good show in
the flesh, these compel
you to be circumcised,
only so that they should not be persecuted for the stake of Messiah. 13
For those who are circumcised do not even watch over the Torah, but
they wish to have you circumcised so that they might boast in your
flesh. 14
And for me, let it not be that I should boast except in the stake of
our Master Yahushua Messiah,
through whom the world has been impaled to me, and I to the world. 15 For in
Messiah Yahushua
neither
circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength,
but a renewed creature.16 And
as many as walk according to this rule, peace and compassion be upon
them, and upon the Yisra’ĕl of Elohim.
Note:
Some were apparently more interested in the outward appearance than
that of the heart and Sha'ul repeats the previous teaching.
Philippians
3:2-5: 2 Look
out for dogs, look out for the evil workers, look
out for the mutilation! 3
For we are the
circumcision,
who are serving Elohim in
the Spirit,
and boasting in Messiah Yahushua,
and do
not trust in the flesh, 4 though
I too might have trust in the flesh. If anyone else thinks to trust
in the flesh,
I more – 5 circumcised the
eighth day...
Note:
If this text is not referring to circumcision then it's a mystery;
but it seems apparent that “the mutilation” refers to those
who
would have everyone circumcised, yet Sha'ul alludes to our
circumcision “in the Spirit”, and chastises those who would
trust
in fleshly circumcision.
Colossians
2:11-14: 11 In
Him you were also circumcised
with a circumcision not made with hands,
in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, by the
circumcision of Messiah, 12
having been buried with Him in immersion, in which you also were
raised with Him through the belief in the working of Elohim, who
raised Him from the dead. 13
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your
flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all
trespasses, 14
having blotted out the certificate of debt against us – by the
dogmas – which stood against us. And He has taken it out of the
way, having nailed it to the stake.
Note:
Again we find the allusion to the inner circumcision.
Colossians
3:10-11:
...10
and have put on the new one who is renewed in knowledge according to
the likeness of Him who created him, 11
where there
is not
Greek and Yehudite, circumcised
and uncircumcised,
foreigner, Scythian, slave, free, but Messiah
is all, and in all.
Note:
This text is clearly teaching that there is no distinction between
the circumcised or uncircumcised who are on Messiah.
Hebrews
8:7-12: 7
For if that first covenant
had
been faultless,
then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 For
finding fault with them, He says, “See, the days are
coming,”
says YHWH,
“when I shall conclude with the house of Yisra’ĕl and with
the
house of Yehudah a renewed
covenant, 9 not
according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in
the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of
Mitsrayim, because they did not continue in My covenant, and I
disregarded them,” says YHWH. 10
“Because
this is the covenant that I shall make with the house of Yisra’ĕl
after those days, says YHWH,
giving My laws in their mind, and I shall write them on
their hearts,
and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. 11
“And
they shall by no means teach each one his neighbour, and each one his
brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH,’
because they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the
greatest of them. 12
“Because
I shall forgive their unrighteousness, and their sins and their
lawlessnesses I shall no longer remember.”
Note:
This is the letter to the Hebrews who were very familiar with the
first covenant and Sha'ul quotes the Scripture above through Yermiyah
(31:31-32) that the renewed covenant is not
according to the first.
Hebrews
10:16-17 16
“This
is the covenant that
I shall make with them after those days, says YHWH, giving
My laws into their hearts,
and in their minds I shall write them,” 17 and,
“Their sins and their lawlessnesses I shall remember no
more.”
Note:
Sha'ul repeats to emphasise the giving of His laws into our hearts.
CONCLUSION
The
conclusion of the matter is up to you in the end, but there appears
to be a heavy lean under the renewed covenant toward circumcision
being of little value. The most concerning being Galatians
5:2 that Yahushua and His death and
resurrection be made worthless.
This issue isn't that simple and
those who feel spiritually compelled to obey the whole of Torah
regardless of Yahushua and those who see Yahushua as the sign of the
renewed covenant shouldn't be judged by anyone but Yahweh.
|
