UNDERSTANDING CIRCUMCISION
by
Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l
(Part 1 of 2)
Dear Mishpochah (family):
Many Christians
find the book of Galatians very
challenging because it SEEMS to CONTRADICT what is written in the
Torah, Prophets and the teachings of the Messiah.
Many use the book of
Galatians to justify that as believers
in Yeshua as the Messiah who are saved by grace through faith that we
should no longer observe the Torah even though Paul testified in Acts
21-26 that he kept the Torah and advocated believers in the Messiah who are
saved by grace through faith to observe the Torah (Romans 3:28-31).
Peter said that those who are
UNLEARNED in Torah will twist
the writings of Paul to their own destruction (II Peter
A couple of the challenging
verses in Galatians is:
KJV Galatians 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be
circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
KJV Galatians 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is
circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
How do we seek to understand
these Scriptures? In order to
do so, we MUST follow valid rules of Biblical interpretation which
consist among the following:
#1) No single scripture is of any private interpretation (stands
alone by itself)
#2) Scripture must be compared to Scripture
#3) Two or three witnesses establishes a matter (Biblical doctrine)
NO SCRIPTURE IS OF ANY PRIVATE INTERPRETATION
KJV 2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture
is of any private interpretation.
SCRIPTURE MUST BE COMPARED WITH SCRIPTURE
KJV 1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words
which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
BIBLE DOCTRINE IS ESTABLISHED BY TWO OR THREE WITNESSES
KJV Deuteronomy
any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth
of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter
be established.
WHAT MAKES YESHUA THE BIBLICAL MESSIAH?
Yeshua established that He was the Messiah based upon the
criteria mentioned in the Torah, Prophets and Writings.
TORAH = WITNESS
PROPHETS = WITNESS
WRITINGS (Psalms, Proverbs) = WITNESS
KJV John
for he wrote of me.
So, BELIEVING MOSES = BELIEVING YESHUA
KJV Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to
believe all that the prophets have spoken:
KJV Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he
expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning
himself.
KJV Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I
spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be
fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the
prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
The WITNESS / TESTIMONY that Yeshua is the Messiah is
what is
written in the Torah, Prophets and Writings (Psalms, Proverbs etc).
TORAH MEANS TEACHING / INSTRUCTION or BUILD A
FOUNDATION
The Hebrew word TORAH is the Strong's number
8451. It is
associated with the Hebrew word YARAH which is Strong's number 3384
which means, "to teach, to instruct, to lay a foundation, to point
out as aiming the finger".
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES = Lays the foundation
PROPHETS / WRITINGS = Builds upon that
foundation
GOSPELS /
EPISTLES = Completes the house
If the Gospels / Epistles CONTRADICTS what is written
in the
Torah and the Prophets, you destroy the foundation of the house.
WHAT DOES TORAH SAY ABOUT CIRCUMCISION?
KJV 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.
We are told in Galatians 3:16 that the
"seed" is the Messiah.
KJV Galatians
He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy
seed, which is Christ.
Believers in Yeshua as the Messiah are heirs of this
covenant.
KJV Galatians
and heirs according to the promise.
KJV Genesis 17:9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my
covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their
generations.
KJV Genesis
and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be
circumcised.
KJV Genesis
and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
KJV Genesis 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised
among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the
house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
In these
Scripture passages, we learn several things:
#1) CIRCUMCISION = COVENANT
Circumcision can be a "code word"
which means being in COVENANT
relationship with YHVH
KJV Genesis
and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall BE
CIRCUMCISED.
#2) CIRCUMCISION = SIGN OF THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
YHVH said that circumcision is a sign of
those who identify
with His covenant with Abraham.
KJV Genesis
and it shall be a TOKEN of the COVENANT betwixt me and you.
#3) CIRCUMCISION = NATIVE BORN AND SOJOURNER
KJV Genesis 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised
among you, every man child in your generations, he that is BORN in the
HOUSE, or bought with money of any STRANGER, which is NOT of thy SEED.
#4) PHYSICAL CIRCUMCISION = AFTER ABRAHAM OBEYED YHVH BY FAITH
KJV Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy
country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a
land that I will shew thee:
KJV Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him
that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be
blessed.
KJV Genesis 17:9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my
covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their
generations.
KJV Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the
same are the children of Abraham.
KJV Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify
the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham,
saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
KJV Galatians 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with
faithful Abraham.
What Paul wrote in Galatians 3:7-9 is CONSISTENT
with what is
written in the Torah.
YHVH
REQUIRES A CIRCUMCISED HEART
KJV Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God
REQUIRE of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his
ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy
heart and with all thy soul,
KJV Deuteronomy 10:13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his
statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
KJV Deuteronomy
and be no more stiffnecked.
A CIRCUMCISED HEART = LOVES YHVH WITH ALL THEIR HEART
KJV 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.
YOU MUST BE CIRCUMCISED TO EAT THE
PASSOVER
KJV Exodus 12:48 And when a STRANGER shall sojourn with thee, and will
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 one that is
born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
THOSE
WHO LIVED IN THE WILDERNESS
WHO ENTER THE LAND OF ISRAEL MUST BE CIRCUMCISED
KJV Joshua 5:2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp
knives, and CIRCUMCISE again the children of Israel the second time.
KJV Joshua 5:3 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the
children of
THOSE IN THE WILDERNESS WERE NOT CIRCUMCISED
KJV Joshua 5:4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All
the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men
of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of
Egypt.
KJV 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
WHAT DO THE PROPHETS SAY?
KJV Jeremiah 4:3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of
KJV Jeremiah 4:4 CIRCUMCISE yourselves to the LORD, and take away the
FORESKINS of your HEART, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem
This
is consistent with Deuteronomy 10:16
KJV Deuteronomy 10:16 CIRCUMCISE therefore the FORESKIN of your HEART,
and be no more stiffnecked.
CIRCUMCISION = JUDAH; UNCIRCUMCISION = NATIONS
KJV Jeremiah 9:25 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will
punish all them which are CIRCUMCISED with the UNCIRCUMCISED;
KJV Jeremiah 9:26 EGYPT, and JUDAH, and Edom, and the children of
Ammon, and Moab, 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.
UNCIRCUMCISION = WITHOUT BEING IN COVENANT WITH YHVH
KJV Jeremiah 9:26 EGYPT, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of
Ammon, and Moab, 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.
CAN BE PHYSICALLY CIRCUMCISED BUT UNCIRCUMCISED IN HEART
KJV Jeremiah 9:26 Egypt, and JUDAH, and Edom, and the children of
Ammon, and Moab, 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.
HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US A CIRCUMCISED HEART
KJV Ezekiel 36:26 A NEW HEART also will I give you, and a NEW SPIRIT
will I put within you: and I will take away the STONY HEART out of
your flesh, and I will give you an HEART of FLESH.
KJV Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my SPIRIT within YOU, and cause you
to WALK in my statutes, and ye shall KEEP my judgments, and DO them.
NORTHERN KINGDOM = CUT OFF FROM THE COVENANT = UNCIRCUMCISED
KJV Hosea 1:6 And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God
said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will NO more have MERCY
upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.
KJV Hosea 1:9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are NOT my
PEOPLE, and I will not be your God.
NO MERCY / NOT MY PEOPLE = CUT OFF FROM THE COVENANT = UNCIRCUMCISED
WHAT DOES OUR FOUNDATION
ESTABLISH?
#1) Circumcision = A term for COVENANT
#2) Circumcision = SIGN of the ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
#3) Circumcision = NATIVE BORN and SOJOURNER
#4) PHYSICAL Circumcision = AFTER Abraham obeyed YHVH by FAITH
#5) YHVH REQUIRES a circumcised HEART
#6) A CIRCUMCISED HEART will LOVE YHVH with all his HEART
#7) You must be circumcised to EAT the PASSOVER
#8) Those who were BORN in the WILDERNESS were NOT CIRCUMCISED
#9) Circumcision is required when ENTERING the LAND of Israel
#10) CIRCUMCISION = Term for JUDAH or JEWS
#11) You can be PHYSICALLY circumcised but UNCIRCUMISED in HEART
#12) NATIONS WITHOUT COVENANT with YHVH = UNCIRCUMCISED
#13) HOLY SPIRIT gives us a CIRCUMCISED HEART
#14) The NORTHERN KINGDOM who were CUT OFF from the covenant obtained
the status of
"uncircumcism"
Because Paul refers to the role of
the Torah for believers in
the Messiah, we need to know what the Torah says about Torah as it
relates to understanding what Paul writes in Galatians.
WHAT DOES THE TORAH TEACH US ABOUT THE TORAH?
YOU ARE BLESSED IF YOU OBEY TORAH
KJV Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken
diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do
all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy
God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
OBEYING TORAH = OBEYING THE VOICE OF YHVH
KJV Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and
overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy
God.
WE ARE TO LIVE BY OBEYING THE TORAH
KJV Leviticus 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my
judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
TORAH CAN BRING LIFE OR DEATH TO US
KJV Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day
against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and
cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
WE ARE CURSED IF WE
DISOBEY TORAH
KJV Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not
hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his
commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all
these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
WHAT DO THE PROPHETS SAY?
THE SOUL
THAT SINS SHALL DIE
KJV Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the
father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it
shall die.
PROVERBS SAYS:
KJV Proverbs 19:16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own
soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
MAN TRUSTING IN HIMSELF SHALL DIE
KJV Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth
in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the
LORD.
MAN TRUSTING IN YHVH SHALL LIVE
KJV Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and
whose hope the LORD is.
WHAT DOES OUR FOUNDATION SAY ABOUT TORAH?
#1) You are BLESSED if you OBEY TORAH
#2) OBEYING TORAH = OBEYING the VOICE of YHVH
#3) TORAH can bring LIFE or DEATH to us
#4) We are CURSED if we DISOBEY TORAH
#5) The SOUL that SINS shall DIE
#6) MAN TRUSTING in HIMSELF shall DIE
#7) MAN TRUSTING in YHVH shall LIVE
THE USE OF CIRCUMCISION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
From the information contained in this lesson, we have at
least
14 different applications and understanding of circumcision from what
is given in the Torah and the prophets. Therefore, circumcision can
be used in any one of these 14 ways in the New Testament.
WHY WAS MESSIAH CIRCUMCISED THE 8TH DAY?
KJV Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the
circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so
named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
The reasons why Yeshua was circumcised the 8th day
were among
the following:
#1) It is a commandment in the Torah
#2) It is a sign of the Abrahamic covenant
#3) He was born in the land of Israel
Being born in the land of Israel carries a HIGHER
DEGREE of
sanctify than being born in the nations (or the wilderness).
CIRCUMCISION = BEING IN COVENANT WITH YHVH = KEEPING TORAH
KJV Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the
brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of
Moses, ye cannot be saved.
KJV Acts 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees
which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to
command them to keep the law of Moses.
In this case, the use of the term
circumcision means that
circumcision is a sign for being in covenant relationship with YHVH.
One who is in covenant relationship with YHVH vows to obey His voice
or follow the Torah.
CIRCUMCISION = BEING A JEW
KJV Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were
astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles
also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
KJV Acts 11:2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were
of the circumcision contended with him,
KJV Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is
there of circumcision?
CIRCUMCISION = JEW; UNCIRCUMCISION = THE NATIONS
KJV Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the
circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
KJV Romans 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision
only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was
reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
A CIRCUMCISED
HEART HAS GREATER VALUE
THAN BEING PHYSICALLY CIRCUMCISED AND DON'T OBEY YHVH
KJV Romans 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the
law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made
uncircumcision.
CIRCUMCISION = VOW TO OBEY YHVH = SIGN OF THE COVENANT
So, "if you be a breaker of the Torah" (if you disobey Torah)
then
your PHYSICAL CIRCUMCISION = COVENANT VOW TO OBEY YHVH'S VOICE
has no value if you DISOBEY = UNCIRCUMCISED HEART then "your circumcision
is made uncircumcision"
CIRCUMCISED HEART = OBEYS TORAH
KJV Romans 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness
of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
The "uncircumcision" = Those from the nations
If those from the nations obey Torah (showing a circumcised
heart) their "uncircumcism" (the New Covenant was ONLY made with the
house of Israel and the house of Judah) or being otherwise "outside
the covenant" is counted as being in covenant relationship with YHVH
if you obey Torah and keep your vow to obey His voice or Torah.
CIRCUMCISION = SEAL OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH
KJV 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:
Being physicall circumcised AFTER we are saved is a SIGN of
our
seal of righteousness by faith (that we have pledged to obey the
voice of YHVH in our heart).
OBEYING TORAH = BEING CIRCUMCISED IN HEART = RULE THE NATIONS
KJV Romans 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it
fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost
transgress the law?
If those who are
otherwise "outside of the covenant of
Torah" (symbolized by circumcision) obey the Torah they will be
judges or rulers over those who are physically circumcised but don't
obey the Torah.
CIRCUMCISED HEART = OBEYS TORAH = PRAISER OF YHVH
KJV Romans 2:29 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.
A TRUE JEW (which means a 'Praiser of YHVH') is
one who is
circumcised in heart (obeys Torah) in the spirit (with the help of
the Holy Spirit) and not in the letter (physical circumcision) whom
men praise because they THINK that physical circumcision is the TRUE
way to follow Torah.
Paul is comparing someone who obeys Torah (circumcised in
heart)
verses someone who is physically circumcised and doesn't follow
Torah.
MESSIAH IS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE
CIRCUMCISED HEARTS WHO WANT TO FOLLOW TORAH
KJV Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the
circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto
the fathers:
"Minister of the circumcision" = Minister for those who have
circumcised hearts for the "truth of God" (Truth = Torah = Psalm
119:142, 151)
CIRCUMCISION = JEWS; UNCIRCUMCISION = NATIONS / NORTHERN KINGDOM
KJV 1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is
nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
The issue isn't whether you are "circumcision" (Jewish)
or
"uncircumcision" (those from the nations or the Northern Kingdom who
wer "cut off" (became uncircumcised) from the covenant) but keeping
the commandments / Torah of YHVH.
Keeping the commandments = Obeying Torah = Circumcised heart
CIRCUMCISED HEART = OBEY THE TORAH IN THE SPIRIT
KJV Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in
the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the
flesh.
The TRUE circumcision are those "who worship Elohim in
spirit"
(have a NEW HEART and are circumcised in heart).
THE ISSUE OF
CIRCUMCISION IN GATATIANS
As we are seeing from our study, circumcision has a WIDE
VARIETY
of applications and understandings. Therefore, in order to understand
the meaning of the term "circumcision" in any particular verse, you
must read it in context with an understanding of how the word in used
in Scripture.
PAUL'S MINSTRY WAS TO NON-JEW: PETER TO JEWS
KJV Galatians 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of
the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the
circumcision was unto Peter;
KJV Galatians 2:8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the
apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the
Gentiles:)
In these verses, circumcision doesn't mean physical
circumcision.
Circumcision means JEW. Uncircumcision means NON-JEW.
THE MAIN ISSUE IN GATATIANS IS HOW ARE WE SAVED
It is a GIVEN in Torah (from Genesis 17:9-14) that
circumcision is
a SIGN of being in covenant relationship with YHVH. Also, it is a
GIVEN that YHVH REQUIRES for His people to circumcised in HEART
(Deuteronomy 10:12-16).
With this in mind, Paul is addressing the following issues in
Galatians:
#1) What if I am physically circumcised and attempt to follow Torah
but don't believe that Yeshua is the
Messiah? (Uncircumcised in
heart)
Paul argues that you have the status of being
"uncircumcised"
and your physically circumcision has no eternal value
#2) What if I am physically circumcised and attempt to follow Torah
but don't believe that Yeshua is the Messiah and trust
in my
Torah observance to be in "right standing"
with YHVH? (uncircumcised
heart)
Paul argues that you have the status of being
"uncircumcised"
and your physically circumcision has no eternal value
PAUL'S TORAH BASED ARGUMENTS
KJV Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of
the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in
Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and
not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no
flesh be justified.
Works of the law = Trusting in salvation / life through your own
merit of Torah observance rather than
trusting in Messiah
Torah basis:
KJV Exodus 23:7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent
and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
KJV Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not
hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his
commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all
these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
KJV Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth
in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the
LORD.
KJV Psalm 143:1 {A Psalm of David.} Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear
to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy
righteousness.
KJV Psalm 143:2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in
thy sight shall no man living be justified.
MESSIAH HAS REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE TORAH
KJV Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,
being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that
hangeth on a tree:
CURSE = NOT OBEYING THE TORAH
KJV Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not
hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his
commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all
these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
CURSED IS ONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE = REBELLIOUS SON
KJV Deuteronomy 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son,
which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his
mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto
them:
KJV Deuteronomy 21:22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of
death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
VOICE OF YOUR MOTHER = TORAH
VOICE OF YOUR FATHER = TORAH
KJV Proverbs 1:8 My son, hear the INSTRUCTION of thy FATHER, and
forsake not the TORAH of thy MOTHER:
KJV Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep thy FATHER'S COMMANDMENT, and forsake
not the TORAH of thy MOTHER:
REBELLIOUS
SON = WON'T OBEY TORAH
KJV Ezekiel 2:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the
children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against
me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto
this very day.
Paul explains that
Messiah died on the tree to pay the
penalty for those who trust in their flesh or who disobey Torah.
HAGAR = UNDER THE LAW = TRUST IN THE FLESH = EARTHLY JERUSALEM
SARAH = CIRCUMCISED HEART = TRUST IN MESSIAH = HEAVENLY JERUSALEM
KJV Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye
not hear the law?
Paul is using the
Torah to define those who are "under the
law" or trust in their own works of Torah without trusting in Messiah.
KJV Galatians 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the
one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
KJV Galatians 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the
flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Under the law = Trusting in the flesh = Disobey Torah = Hagar
Trust in Messiah = Circumcised heart = Obey Torah in Spirit = Sarah
KJV Galatians 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two
covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage,
which is Agar.
KJV Galatians 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and
answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her
children.
KJV Galatians 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the
mother of us all.
Mount Sinai = Uncircumcised heart = Stony heart = Disobey Torah =
Earthly Jerusalem
Mount Zion = Circumcised heart = Obey Torah in Spirit = Heavenly
Jerusalem
WHAT IS PAUL SAYING IN GALATIANS 5 ??
KJV Galatians 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be
circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
The CONTEXT of Paul using the
term "circumcision" refers to
those who are physically circumcised and follow Torah but don't
believe that Yeshua is the Messiah. The Torah says that those who
"trust in the flesh" are "under the law" and physical
circumcision
has no merit for them without faith in Messiah and being circumcised
in the heart. In this case:
KJV Galatians 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be
circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
DEBTOR TO THE WHOLE LAW
KJV Galatians 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is
circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Continuing his argument, Paul is saying that those who are physically
circumcised and who seek to follow Torah and haven't accepted Yeshua
as the Messiah and are not circumcised in heart and thus "under the
law"
are "debtor to the whole law" meaning to them the Torah is a death
sentence.
KJV Deuteronomy 27:26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words
of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.
KJV Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not
hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his
commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all
these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
KJV James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend
in one point, he is guilty of all.
The "debt" for being "under the
law" or being physically
circumcised without being circumcised in heart = death
KJV Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the
father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it
shall die.
KJV 1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:
for sin is the transgression of the law.
(End Part 1 of 2)