Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;
The coming days bring a divine punishment that falls on all who are circumcised together with the uncircumcised, so outward circumcision and every outward religious mark, standing, or profession gives no exemption from judgment. The setting of this announcement is the rejection of glorying in human wisdom, might or strength, and riches or wealth, since outward status and worldly advantages cannot take the place of knowing the Lord. Temporal honor, riches, and power are not to be made the objects of ambition.
Instead people are to glory only in understanding and knowing the Lord. The Lord so known exercises loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, and His character and delight are in these things. Outward standing gives no protection when the heart is not devoted to Him and does not understand and know Him. Those who rely on the sign while using their gifts to exalt themselves are no better before God than the uncircumcised, for a heart given to self is unclean, marked by selfishness, impurity, pride, and deceit.
Outward status cannot make disloyalty acceptable, because God distinguishes the obedient from the disobedient and makes a real difference between those who obey Him and those who do not. The announcement therefore calls for distinguishing obedience from disobedience and the sacred from the common. God judges circumcised and uncircumcised alike when they share in wrongdoing, so religious profession does not protect those who claim to believe the truth yet join political parties and partisan conflict. He condemns both classes without distinction, warning against dishonoring Him through party spirit and contention.
The coming days bring a divine punishment that falls on all who are circumcised together with the uncircumcised, so outward circumcision and every outward religious mark, standing, or profession gives no exemption from judgment. The setting of this announcement is the rejection of glorying in human wisdom, might or strength, and riches or wealth, since outward status and worldly advantages cannot take the place of knowing the Lord. Temporal honor, riches, and power are not to be made the objects of ambition.
Instead people are to glory only in understanding and knowing the Lord. The Lord so known exercises loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, and His character and delight are in these things. Outward standing gives no protection when the heart is not devoted to Him and does not understand and know Him. Those who rely on the sign while using their gifts to exalt themselves are no better before God than the uncircumcised, for a heart given to self is unclean, marked by selfishness, impurity, pride, and deceit.
Outward status cannot make disloyalty acceptable, because God distinguishes the obedient from the disobedient and makes a real difference between those who obey Him and those who do not. The announcement therefore calls for distinguishing obedience from disobedience and the sacred from the common. God judges circumcised and uncircumcised alike when they share in wrongdoing, so religious profession does not protect those who claim to believe the truth yet join political parties and partisan conflict. He condemns both classes without distinction, warning against dishonoring Him through party spirit and contention.