Romans 2:26, Circumcision of the Heart

Romans 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?… 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

God commanded that every male child be circumcised on the eighth day of birth as a sign that the child is part of God’s covenant family. The outward sign of circumcision is no guarantee of inward faith that the child will grow up to live a life of righteousness before God and men. True faith is visibly seen by good works and spiritual fruit. It is a religion of the heart, a pure heart of piety toward God and men. The bible character Ruth was such an example. She was a Moabitess who left her homeland to follow Israel’s God by following her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Israel. God’s commendation of Ruth’s faith came through Boaz’s words in Ruth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. God counted her an Israelite in heart although she was outwardly a gentile.

Ruth made the long journey from Moab to Israel taking care of the elderly Naomi. And when they reached Israel, Ruth diligently gleaned in the field during harvest time to bring food home. She honoured her mother-in-law by caring for her needs (Exodus 20:12). God honoured her piety. Ruth found in Boaz a kinsman-redeemer who was willing to marry her by sacrifically buying back the land belonging to the Elimelech family and willingly continue the lineage of her late husband Mahlon.

Out of the marriage of Ruth and Boaz came the child Obed who was the grandfather of King David, the progenitor of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although she was considered “an outsider” in Israel, she kept God’s law in a time when the people of God broke God’s law. She stood as a shiny testimony of piety as one who kept “the righteousness of the law” and how God honoured her faith to bring forth godly posterity in the next 3 generation. Although she was an outsider in Israel, her life of faith surpassed many in Israel during her lifetime.

May God help us this day to bear forth a good testimony of faith and piety to the honour and glory of His blessed Name. Amen.