Circumcision: Cutting around. This rite, practised before, as some think, by divers
races, was appointed by God to be the special badge of his chosen
people, an abiding sign of their consecration to him. It was
established as a national ordinance
(Genesis 17:10,11) In compliance with
the divine command, Abraham, though ninety-nine years of age, was
circumcised on the same day with Ishmael, who was thirteen years old
(Genesis 17:24-27) Slaves, whether home-born or purchased, were circumcised
(Genesis 17:12,13) and all foreigners must have their males circumcised
before they could enjoy the privileges of Jewish citizenship
(Exodus 12:48) During the journey through the wilderness, the practice
of circumcision fell into disuse, but was resumed by the command of
Joshua before they entered the Promised Land
(Joshua 5:2-9) It was
observed always afterwards among the tribes of israel, although it is
not expressly mentioned from the time of the settlement in Canaan
till the time of Christ, about 1,450 years. The Jews prided
themselves in the possession of this covenant distinction
(Judges 14:3)
(Judges 15:18; 1 Samuel 14:6; 17:26; 2 Samuel 1:20; Ezekiel 31:18) As a rite of the
church it ceased when the New Testament times began
(Galatians 6:15)
(Colossians 3:11) Some Jewish Christians sought to impose it, however, on the
Gentile converts; but this the apostles resolutely resisted
(Acts 15:1; Galatians 6:12) Our Lord was circumcised, for it "became him to
fulfil all righteousness," as of the seed of Abraham, according to
the flesh; and Paul "took and circumcised" Timothy
(Acts 16:3) to
avoid giving offence to the Jews. It would render Timothy's labours
more acceptable to the Jews. But Paul would by no means consent to
the demand that Titus should be circumcised
(Galatians 2:3-5) The great
point for which he contended was the free admission of uncircumcised
Gentiles into the church. He contended successfully in behalf of
Titus, even in Jerusalem. In the Old Testament a spiritual idea is
attached to circumcision. It was the symbol of purity
(Isaiah 52:1)
We read of uncircumcised lips
(Exodus 6:12,30) ears
(Jeremiah 6:10) hearts
(Leviticus 26:41) The fruit of a tree that is unclean is spoken of as
uncircumcised
(Leviticus 19:23) It was a sign and seal of the covenant of
grace as well as of the national covenant between God and the
Hebrews.
1. It sealed the promises made to Abraham, which related to the
commonwealth of Israel, national promises.
2. But the promises made to Abraham included the promise of
redemption
(Galatians 3:14) a promise which has come upon us. The
covenant with Abraham was a dispensation or a specific form of
the covenant of grace, and circumcision was a sign and seal of
that covenant. It had a spiritual meaning. It signified
purification of the heart, inward circumcision effected by the
Spirit
(Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Ezekiel 44:7; Acts 7:51; Romans 2:28; Colossians 2:11)
