“Galatians 6:11-13”

Thursday, August 02, 2018

“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.”

---End of Scripture verses---

As Paul drew his epistle to the Galatians to a close, he placed his “autograph” upon it to authenticate that the letter had actually come from him. He had likely been dictating to an “amanuensis” up until this point in which he took the writing instrument and wrote in “large letters”. It is uncertain as to why he wrote with larger letters than his assistant did, but maybe it was for emphasis as he summarized and closed this very important piece of inspired Scripture.

Paul gets to the motivation behind the people who had been “troubling” (5:12) the brethren about circumcision. They were only trying to “compel” the Gentile Christians to be circumcised in order to avoid being “persecuted” themselves (verse 12). They obviously thought that if they could wield their influence over their non-Jewish brothers in Christ, then Christianity as a whole would be more acceptable to the Jewish community at large.

But the Apostle Paul would have no part with compromising the truth just to avoid persecution for following Christ. He had written in Galatians 5:11: “But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.” Paul was not nearly as interested in pleasing people as he was in pleasing the Lord. The subject of Gentile circumcision was just one of those issues that tripped some people up. But these people needed to come to a better understanding and acceptance of the truth and change their views, because God would not change the truth just to appease them.

Some people place far more emphasis on “the flesh” (verses 12-13) then they do on the spirit. When we get too focused on outward appearances it skews our perspective, and causes us to loose sight of the things that matter the most in life. As we close today, let’s consider the four following verses written by Paul that show us how God is more concerned about our inward condition and not our outer façade .

“Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.” (1 Corinthians 7:19)

“But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.” (Romans 2:27)

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:6)

“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” (Galatians 6:15)

Please read Galatians 6:14-16 for tomorrow.

Have a great day!

-Louie Taylor

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