A Comparative Case of Condemnation
Romans 2:27
“Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.” -Romans 2:27
What then becomes of these two comparative cases if laid out before the courts of Heaven? The Gentile who actually keeps the Law will be a testimony against the Jew who is a transgressor of the Law, even though it is he who carries the sign of the covenant in his body.
This kind of comparative case is not Paul’s line of argument alone. This was the position of Jesus himself:
“The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” -Matthew 12:42
“The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” -Luke 11:32
Nota bene: Speaking of carrying the sign of the covenant in his body, it might be helpful here to clarify a common misconception. Circumcision was not a guarantee or promise of salvation, per se. It was the sign that sealed God’s promise that righteousness would be granted on the basis of one’s faith (Read Genesis 15 & 17).
The circumcision of Abraham’s foreskin as the sign drew attention to the promise of a seed (Genesis 17:1-8), and, in some sense, foreshadows the Deuteronomic covenant where God promises to remove the uncleanness of their flesh if the Israelites keep the covenant (Deuteronomy 30:6) and cut off from the people God those who break it (Deuteronomy 30:17-20). In short, it was a visible reminder to every head of household the promise of God: to bless faith in his promises and punish apostasy.
Don’t want Crumbs delivered every day?
Navigate to your.substack.com/account and toggle off Crumbs From Our Master’s Table. Instead of receiving Crumbs in your inbox daily, you will receive a collection of the week’s Crumbs each Sunday as part of your BOOKS AND LETTERS subscription.
