Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
circumcise
your hearts,
you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done—
burn with no one to quench it. Jeremiah 4:4
you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done—
burn with no one to quench it. Jeremiah 4:4
Circumcision
(the removal of the skin from around the tip of the penis) was an action meant
to “mark” a Jew as a Jew. It was a
commitment of the parents to raise their legacy in obedience to God. Since the male penis produces the seed of the
child, the action metaphorically worked and reminded a man every day of that
promise.
The
removal of the flesh from ourselves is also what happens when we give ourselves
to Christ. The “flesh” nature draws us
to sin and death, but Christ (in the flesh) died for the sins of our flesh and
put that flesh nature to death. When we accept
Christ’s death for our own death, then we are raised to a new life, governed by
the Spirit.
Jeremiah’s
call to the people to remove one’s own flesh is the same call Jesus and Paul
emphasized over and over again.
“Watch
and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh
is weak.” Matthew 26:41
For
if you live according to the flesh,
you will die; but if by the Spirit
you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13
For
the flesh desires what is
contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each
other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:17
We
choose whether we will follow the flesh or the spirit. Remove yourself from the flesh and choose the
Spirit.