Now if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of God 18 and know his will and are able to discern what is important since you are instructed from the law, 19 and if you are confident that you are a guide for the blind and a light for those in darkness, 20 that you are a trainer of the foolish and teacher of the simple, because in the law you have the formulation of knowledge and truth— 21 then you who teach another, are you failing to teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast of the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 For, as it is written, “Because of you the name of God is reviled among the Gentiles.” 25 Circumcision, to be sure, has value if you observe the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Again, if an uncircumcised man keeps the precepts of the law, will he not be considered circumcised? 27 Indeed, those who are physically uncircumcised but carry out the law will pass judgment on you, with your written law and circumcision, who break the law. 28 One is not a Jew outwardly. True circumcision is not outward, in the flesh. 29 Rather, one is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not the letter; his praise is not from human beings but from God.
Paul discussed the attitude the Jews had with respect to the Mosaic Law. Israel’s attitude towards God – 1) I am a Jew; – 2) I rely on the Law; – 3) I can boast of Yahweh; – 4) I understand Yahweh’s will; – 5) I am instructed by the Law and know right from wrong (vv. 17-18). These are a blessing from God and a sign of Jewish privilege.
Israel’s attitude towards others – 1) I am a guide for the blind; – 2) I am a light for those in darkness; – 3) I am a trainer of the foolish; – 4) I am a teacher of the simple; – 5) I have the formulation of knowledge and truth from the Law (vv. 19-20). This is the ministerial role that Israel was to play with regard to the Gentiles.
Paul’s five rhetorical questions to the Jews – 1) Are you failing to teach yourself? – 2) Do you steal? – 3) Do you commit adultery? – 4) Do you rob temples? – 5) Do you dishonor God by breaking the law? (vv.21-23). They do not practice what they teach and preach; therefore, they do not reflect God’s holiness (Lev. 19:2)
The Jews were entrusted with every privilege by God (Rom. 9:4-5) but possession of the privilege is not enough. Being a Jew will not give them a special privilege at God’s judgment. They have failed to keep God’s Law as God intended and their teachings re: the Law are not in harmony with their actions. Circumcision, the sign of the covenant with Abraham (Gen 17:10-11), admitted them as members of God’s chosen people but only had value if the Law was observed (Gal. 5:3).
Paul, speaking from the teachings of Jesus Christ, equated a good Pagan who kept the precepts of the Law with a circumcised Jew (v. 26); “For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love (Gal. 5:6).” Paul had previously told the Jews, “For when the Gentiles who do not have the law by nature observe the prescriptions of the law, they are a law for themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the demands of the law are written in their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even defend them (Rom 2: 14-15).” A person should not be judged by outward appearance but by their actions as dictated by the circumcision of their heart by the Spirit (Deut. 10:16; Jn. 7:24); “Who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor. 3:6).”
Almighty God, through your grace stir our hearts to reflect on our lives to see if we live in accordance with the precepts you have given us through your Son Jesus Christ. In our dark corners bring light that we may see clearly to fulfill the mission you have given to us. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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