Ed Urzi

“For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God” (Romans 2:28-29 ESV).

Our text from Romans 2:28-29 helps explain the following directive from Paul the Apostle to the members of the church that met in the ancient city of Corinth…

“Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called” (1 Corinthians 7:18-20).

Paul’s counsel enables us to refocus our attention on the things that really count. For instance, the act of mandating an external requirement for salvation (like circumcision, for instance), is much like the proverbial “slippery slope” when it comes to spiritual matters. Despite our best efforts to merit God’s favor through those efforts, there is always the possibility that we may leave something undone. Such is the nature of salvation by works. In addition to being ineffective, that approach also serves to glorify the person who performs those works as well.

From this perspective, things have remained relatively consistent since Paul first wrote the Epistle to the Romans. For example, many modern-day spiritual traditions teach (or imply) that we can find salvation by following various rules, such as…

• Praying at specified intervals.
• Refraining from eating certain types of food.
• Pursuing various forms of meditation.
• Participating in different types of rituals or ceremonies.

In Paul the Apostle’s era, this approach took several other forms. For instance, some rejected Christ in favor of the Mosaic Law. Others taught that faith in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice was insufficient for salvation, and that circumcision was a mandate as well. Then there were those who promoted various forms of mysticism, stoicism, hedonism, or Gnosticism as the path to salvation. In fact, Paul wrote an entire epistle to address some of those errors. We know that epistle today as the Biblical book of Galatians.

Those who subscribe to these views may feel that Jesus’ atoning death on the cross was ineffective or lacking in some way. But if this were true, then it means that Jesus made a grave error when He said from the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30).

“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Romans 2:28-29).

Although God conferred the ritual of circumcision upon Abraham, the great Old Testament patriarch, that ceremonial observance did not make him righteous in God’s sight. Instead, it was faith that made Abraham right with God. As mentioned earlier, Genesis 15:6 affirms that truth with the following declaration: “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” So, it was Abraham’s faith that led to “right standing” (or righteousness) with God. That faith was evident long before God instructed him to be circumcised.

Unfortunately, a significant transformation had taken place by the dawn of the first century. By that time, the prevailing view among Israel’s spiritual leadership saw the act of circumcision as a practice that guaranteed divine favor. That belief held that a man was considered righteous before God if he could show an ancestral connection to Abraham along with the external mark of circumcision. However, John the Baptist took issue with that mindset in a rebuke that bears repeating…

“Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones’” (Matthew 3:9 NLT).

From a 21st-century perspective, this tells us that the act of being born into a particular family (even a “religious” one), or taking part in a ceremony, ritual, or observance does not make one right with God. One Biblical paraphrase of Romans 2:29 explains God’s true objective in a straightforward manner: “…For God is not looking for those who cut their bodies in actual body circumcision, but he is looking for those with changed hearts and minds” (Romans 2:29 TLB).

True circumcision -the kind that God approves- has no relation to an external set of rules. Instead, true circumcision represents a new attitude toward God through a relationship with Him in Christ. In the words of one commentary…

“Paul points out that being circumcised changes the entire orientation of salvation away from God’s grace to one’s own actions. One who is circumcised in an attempt to gain God’s acceptance is obligated to keep the whole law, which history has abundantly demonstrated no one can do (Rom. 3:10–18).” ₍₁₎

(1) Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (p. 1526). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;” (Romans 2:28).

One commentator has developed a helpful analogy to explain the relationship between external religious observances (like circumcision or baptism), and what those observances are designed to represent…

“Circumcision and baptism do about the same thing that a label on a can does. If the outer label doesn’t match with what is on the inside, something is wrong! If there are carrots inside the can, you can put a label that says ‘Peas’ but it doesn’t change what is inside the can. Being born again changes what is inside the can, and then you can put the appropriate label on the outside.” ₍₁₎

Another source offers the following application…

“Christians might be tempted to think that they are in good standing with God because they’ve been baptized or go to church and participate in the Lord’s Supper. But genuine faith ought to be the reality underneath all these things. We must have a personal trust in Christ and in Christ alone, never looking to these things as though merely participating in external rites were enough. It is Christ who is everything.” ₍₂₎

With this in mind, we should note that Jesus directed some of His harshest criticisms toward those whose “spirituality” was merely “outward in the flesh“…

“Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:27-28 NET).

Nevertheless, we should pause to make an important distinction in our consideration of these passages. That distinction lies in our definition of hypocrisy. For instance, a “hypocrite” is not someone who commits an isolated sin while he or she is caught in a moment of weakness. Nor is a hypocrite someone who faces various struggles in his or her commitment to live a faithful, sincere, and God-honoring life. Instead, a hypocrite is someone who is knowingly different from what he or she claims to be.

Thus, we can employ the analogy offered by our first commentator to close our study of this verse: we should prayerfully seek God’s empowerment to “change the internal contents” of our lives to ensure that our external labels accurately reflect what we say is inside the can.

(1) Guzik, D. (2025, February 11). Enduring Word Bible Commentary Romans Chapter 2. Enduring Word. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/romans-2/

(2) Sproul, R. C. (2024). The Power Of The Gospel: A Year in Romans. [p.56]

“And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?” (Romans 2:27).

Our text from Romans 2:27 echoes the underlying message beneath one of Jesus’ parables…

“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.

Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, ‘The first.’

Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him'” (Matthew 21:28-32).

It’s unlikely that Jesus could have chosen a more offensive comparison for the religious elitists of His day in referencing these tax collectors and harlots. The tax collectors charged exorbitant fees and often lived luxurious lifestyles that were financed by the rates they imposed upon the local populations. People viewed them, along with prostitutes (or harlots), as some of the very lowest members of society.

So why would Jesus make such a comparison? The answer lies in the fact that these tax collectors and prostitutes acted on God’s Word through John the Baptist (see Matthew 3:1-6). Much like the first son in Jesus’ parable, their internal change of mind led to an external change of behavior. However, these religious leaders were much like the second son in Jesus’ parable. They said one thing through their external appearance, but failed to act on what they seemed to represent.

Luke 7:29-30 explains their attitude like this…

“And all who heard John preach– even the most wicked of them– agreed that God’s requirements were right, and they were baptized by him. All, that is, except the Pharisees and teachers of Moses’ Law. They rejected God’s plan for them and refused John’s baptism” (TLB).

In this respect, these tax collectors and harlots were something like the physically uncircumcised individuals referenced in Romans 2:27. They fulfilled the law, so to speak, while those who had the written code and circumcision transgressed the law through their hypocrisy.

“Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?” (Romans 2:26).

Here in Romans 2:26, Paul the Apostle builds upon the previous verse with an important declaration: the absence of a ceremonial religious observance does not prohibit us from approaching God in faith. In the Old Testament period, that meant fulfilling the “righteous requirements of the law.”

As we’ve already seen, no fallible human being (of any background) can fully satisfy the obligations of the Old Testament law. However, this passage reinforces the fact that we cannot rely on a religious ritual, a ceremonial observance, or national identity to find acceptance with God. For instance, Jesus once addressed this idea in response to a question…

“Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent'” (John 6:28-29).

Notice how Jesus’ questioners framed their inquiry in terms of an external work (“What shall we do…”). However, Jesus shifted their focus from an external requirement to an internal requirement, namely, belief in the One whom God has sent. Lest we think this concept is exclusive to the New Testament, the following Old Testament passages underscore the need for an internal mindset that is characterized by genuine love and reverence for God…

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? … Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 16).

“’Behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘that I will punish all who are circumcised with the uncircumcised— Egypt, Judah, Edom, the people of Ammon, Moab, and all who are in the farthest corners, who dwell in the wilderness. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart’” (Jeremiah 9:25–26).

The external act of circumcision was designed to reflect an inner spiritual reality, or a “circumcision of the heart,” to amend a phrase from the Old Testament passages quoted above. Thus, God rejects those who adopt an external appearance of spirituality without the underlying qualities of faith and belief.

“For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision” (Romans 2:25).

All nations feature roadways that limit the maximum speed of the motor vehicles that travel those roads. However, every nation also features its share of motor vehicle drivers who routinely ignore those limits. If law enforcement apprehends any of those speeding drivers, their knowledge of the posted speed limit offers no value in itself. In fact, their knowledge of the speed limit only serves to increase their guilt, for they knew the law, but failed to keep it.

In a similar manner, there is little value in possessing God’s Word if one fails to read it and act upon it. Much like Paul the Apostle’s argument here in Romans 2:25, it was a great advantage for the people of Israel to have access to God’s Law. But that advantage was invalidated if they failed to act upon it. In fact, their guilt was compounded by the fact that they possessed God’s Law but failed to keep it.

We will close our brief look at this verse with some contemporary applications from this passage…

“Paul is arguing against a view commonly held among the Pharisees that because they were the physical descendants of Abraham, they were redeemed; they didn’t need repentance as displayed in the baptism of John. Some assumed that because they were circumcised, they were therefore saved. But that idea was negated by the prophets in the Old Testament who talked about the remnant who would be saved and the children of promise who would be saved, and that not all the descendants of Abraham would, in fact, be saved. Paul makes it abundantly clear that even among the Jews, circumcision did not guarantee redemption…

Of course, the same problem arises with respect to baptism. Some believe that baptism in itself saves; the same error that occurred in the Old Testament with respect to circumcision is often repeated by Christians today. New Testament baptism is the sign of the covenant of God’s promise, but the content of that promise rests on the exercise of faith, just as in the old covenant the content of the promise signified by circumcision rested on the exercise of faith.” ₍₁₎

“If you have been trusting in your baptism, If you have been trusting in your confirmation, If you have been trusting in your church membership, or your knowledge of the Bible or doctrine, or in your generous stewardship, If you have been trusting in your Christian upbringing, If you have been trusting in anything other than Jesus Christ and his death upon the cross in your place, throw whatever it is completely out of your mind. Abandon it. Stamp upon it. Grind it down. Dust off the place where it lay. Then turn to Jesus Christ alone, and trust him only” ₍₂₎

Image Attribution: Maximum 50” by djhsilver, CC BY 2.0

(1) Sproul, R. C. (2023). What Are the Sacraments? [p.51]

(2) Boice, J. M. (2005). Romans: Justification by Faith (Romans 1-4). Baker Books. [p.256]

“For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision” (Romans 2:25).

This reference to circumcision is rooted in the Biblical account of God’s directive to Abraham: “This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you” (Genesis 17:10-11).

That commandment references the penile skin covering known as a foreskin. The word “circumcise” literally means “to cut around,” and circumcision refers to the act of removing that external fold of skin. This practice is in keeping with the covenantal agreement God established with Abraham (then known as Abram) as detailed earlier in Genesis chapter twelve.

In that portion of Scripture, God spoke to Abram and said, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). So, this passage documents God’s intent to build a large population group through Abraham’s lineage. That genetic legacy explains why the sign of that covenant involved the reproductive organs. It also explains why Abraham and his male descendants received a physical indicator of God’s covenant, while their marital partners were not subject to any requirements.

Circumcision had value as a symbol of that covenant, for it served as a reminder to the people of Israel that they were separated unto God. However, the physical act of circumcision didn’t necessarily reflect the sincerity of one’s faith. The external ritual of circumcision was profitable if one kept the law, but it became a meaningless exercise for the faithless who broke it. In that instance, there was little to distinguish the circumcised person from the uncircumcised populations of the surrounding nations who cared little for God or His ways.

However, circumcision also had testimonial value as well. You see, the external rite of circumcision furnished evidence to prove that one was a member of the covenantal community of Israel. Therefore, no one among the circumcised could rightfully claim ignorance of the need to follow the good example set by Abraham, their spiritual and biological forefather. As we’ll see when we reach Romans chapter four, we can summarize that example in one brief, but powerful statement: “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3).

“For ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,’ as it is written” (Romans 2:24).

It may be said that everyone functions as a teacher in some way. Some teach us what to do, while others teach us what not to do.

Our text from Romans 2:24 serves as a case in point by highlighting the end result of spiritual hypocrisy. One version of this passage expresses this idea in a forthright manner: “You are so proud of knowing God’s laws, but you dishonor him by breaking them. No wonder the Scriptures say that the world speaks evil of God because of you” (Romans 2:23-24 TLB). It should go without saying that this is a path we should seek to avoid.

This quotation from Romans 2:24 is apparently rooted in God’s indictment of His people through the pen of the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel…

“I scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they had lived. But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought shame on my holy name. For the nations said, ‘These are the people of the Lord, but he couldn’t keep them safe in his own land!’ Then I was concerned for my holy name, on which my people brought shame among the nations” (Ezekiel 36:19-21).

Thus, it is important to consider how our choices and decisions will ultimately reflect upon our relationship with Christ. With this in mind, we should strive to live in a manner that does not offer any reasonable cause for criticism against Him.

In addition, God-honoring conduct can help secure the right to be taken seriously whenever we engage in discussions pertaining to spiritual matters. As we’re reminded in the New Testament book of Colossians, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5 NIV, see also 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). The Apostle Paul offered similar guidance to the church at Philippi…

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27 NIV).

To borrow another Biblical illustration, the life of someone who claims to follow Christ is much like a piece of literature that is seen and read by everyone. Those who read the “text” of our lives will gain an accurate or inaccurate assessment of God, depending on our conduct. Therefore, we should prayerfully ensure that others learn the right things about God whenever they look to our example.

Image Attribution: Halfwitty, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, via Wikimedia Commons

“You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?” (Romans 2:23).

Even though the world has changed since Paul the Apostle authored this epistle to the Romans, there is one element that remains unchanged: people often form opinions regarding Jesus Christ based on the actions and behaviors of those who profess to represent Him. Therefore, our text from Romans 2:23 should prayerfully motivate us to ensure that our attitudes and behaviors align with the things we profess to believe.

For instance, there are some who may look upon the conduct of those within the church and find an excuse to criticize the God they claim to serve. Our study of the following verse in Romans 2:24 will explore that unfortunate reality at greater length. But in the meantime, it’s important to note a relevant truth: the secular world is often highly skilled in identifying “religious” individuals who are not what they seem.

Consider how Jesus emphasized the relationship between “knowing” and “doing,” in the following passage from John 14:21-24…

“‘Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.’ Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, ‘Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?’

Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me’” (NLT).

1 John 5:3 adds, “We show our love for God by obeying his commandments…” (CEV). Therefore, it should not surprise us if others highlight the apparent discrepancies that may exist in the financial practices, recreational pursuits, interpersonal relationships, entertainment preferences, social media activities, and spiritual convictions of those who claim to follow Christ.

Our modern-day world has developed an adage that contains an element of truth: “When people show you who they are, believe them.” ₍₁₎ On one hand, this saying encourages us to adopt a wise and realistic view of others that sees them as they are, and not how we wish them to be. Nevertheless, that adage does not go far enough, for it fails to acknowledge Jesus’ ability to transform the lives of those who seek Him in faith.

In light of this, we must amend that saying to acknowledge Jesus’ ability to build us into the people we are meant to be in every area of life: “When people show you who they are, believe them, and pray that Christ would transform them into the people they should be” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

(1) Attributed to American poet and author Maya Angelou

“You who say, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?” (Romans 2:22).

Exodus 20:14 presents us with the seventh of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (KJV). While this commandment refers to sexual involvement between two persons who are not married to one another, it is generally understood to prohibit any type of sexual relationship that exists outside the marital bond to one’s spouse. Jesus reiterated that standard for us in the Gospel of Mark…

“…at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate'” (Mark 10:6-9 NIV).

So, Jesus directed our attention to God’s initiative in establishing the institution of marriage. He also furnished the appropriate guidelines for marital relationships in referencing these passages from Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24. Those parameters involve a God-initiated, monogamous relationship between a genetic male and a genetic female who are joined in a Biblically sanctioned marriage as husband and wife.

Physical relationships that violate those Scriptural boundaries are broadly associated with the term “sexual immorality.” However, Jesus expanded that definition to include internal expressions of immorality as well…

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).

The double-standard exposed by this question concerning adultery from Romans 2:22 is clearly obvious. However, the following question posed by this verse is much less so: “You who detest idols, do you rob temples?” (CSB). One Biblical paraphrase renders this question in a form that is more accessible to contemporary audiences: “You say ‘Don’t pray to idols’ and then make money your god instead” (TLB).

Perhaps the best explanation for this obscure reference might be found in the commentary offered by the following author…

“Because [the Jewish people] were so intense regarding their obsession to forsake idol worship after the captivity, they had no guilt whatsoever regarding their practice of stealing idols from pagan temples. Since these idols were often made of gold, silver and precious jewels, they often sold them for large sums of money. They rationalized that since God hates idols, this practice was not really stealing. The capacity of a human being – especially a religious human being – to justify sinful behavior is almost infinite.” ₍₁₎

(1) Dick Woodward, Mini Bible College Booklet Twenty-Nine The Book Of Romans Verse By Verse (part one) [pp.23-24] https://mbc.icm.org/