Galatians 2:16 (Galatians 5:1-6)
In Galatians 2:16 we have a statement declaring that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Yeshua the Messiah. There are some Hebrew Roots teachers who make a giant leap and try to teach that the "works of the law" are not the written law of Moses, but only the traditions of the elders. I do not think that a systematic reading of the book of Galatians allows for such an interpretation.
When you follow through with Paul's words in this epistle you come across texts like Galatians 3:10-13 which clearly refer to the written law, and the curses for disobedience to the law (Leviticus 18:5; Deuteronomy 27:26).
Paul is dealing with a particular system of belief in his time, whereby certain Jews believed that Gentiles could not be saved unless they first submitted to a particular set of laws. The problem here is not with any of these laws, but with the mindset of thinking that adhering to a few outward laws is what brings about forgiveness of sin or justification.
There exists one mindset that is “of the works of the law,” and another mindset that is “of faith.” The first seeks to make oneself righteous by a few exteriors. The second acknowledges one’s sin and seeks for covenant faithfulness.
In the first century, there were Jews who adhered to some laws while neglecting the weightier matters in the law. Such people appeared to be holy, yet it was a facade, because they believed that a list of outward particulars made them righteous, all the while forgetting things like justice, faith, and mercy.
Paul fights this belief as Gentiles were coming to faith in Messiah. An uncircumcised Gentile was forgiven in the same way a circumcised Jew was forgiven: by grace through faith. This did not mean a Gentile could go on living a life of licentiousness, but it did mean they could be forgiven and have equal standing with a believing Jew before they ever obeyed certain aspects of the law.
We should also never forget that all of us are sinners, meaning we all still sin. None of us are perfect in the law. To be of a mindset of merit and earning before the Almighty is futile. Oftentimes people do not like to admit that they sin, but it is a reality. There is always something at the end of every day that you should ask forgiveness for.
In Galatians 5:2, Paul is not telling his readers that any man who gets circumcised cannot be attached to the Messiah. If that is the case there are many men who for medical reasons have gotten circumcised. Did this procedure alienate them from ever coming to Yeshua? Of course not. Even Paul took Timothy and circumcised him before going to preach the Gospel to the Judahites (Acts 16:3). Was Paul forever condemning Timothy?
Paul was talking to those people who thought they were forgiven of their sin just because they had been physically circumcised (Galatians 5:4).* This is why he tells such people that they are a debtor to do the entire law (Galatians 5:3). If you think that your obedience is what justifies you in Yahweh's sight, you are obligated to perform every letter and stroke of the law to perfection, because Yahweh not only said to be circumcised, He gave every other commandment in the law as well.
It is in this vein of thought that Paul writes that neither circumcision or un-circumcision accomplishes anything. People take Paul's words in Galatians 5:2 and 6 and run wild without carefully considering the context. Circumcision does benefit. It is a covenant in the flesh of Abraham's descendants (Genesis 17:1-14), it allows a person to keep the Passover fully (Exodus 12:43-49), and Paul says that it benefits you if you are a law-keeper (Romans 2:25).
Paul is teaching that the view of those in Galatia concerning justification by the law of circumcision accomplishes nothing. There will be many Judahites who are circumcised in their flesh but will die in their sins, because of the heart of stone that exists inside of them. The fact that their parents cut the fore-skin off of their flesh when they were eight days old doesn't mean anything when it comes to whether or not they will be justified in the sight of the holy Mighty One.
Let me add here that the bigger picture in Galatia was salvation by ethnicity. The issue hinged on circumcision, because that was the mark of a Jewish male from nearly the time of birth. The reason some Jews were pushing circumcision is because this was the way they believed a Gentile could proselytize to their faith and change their identity from second class to first class. Galatians 3:28 is the hub of the book, showing that one’s ethnicity, gender, or social status does not matter when coming to Messiah. Everyone is equal in him.
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*Some people today treat baptism the way first century Jews treated circumcision. So long as they are baptized they are forgiven. Never mind anything else. While both circumcision and baptism are Covenant signs, neither procure or guarantee anyone’s salvation. Salvation happens from the inside out not the outside in. I could line up everyone in my city and baptize them, but that doesn’t mean they all have a repentant heart.
When you follow through with Paul's words in this epistle you come across texts like Galatians 3:10-13 which clearly refer to the written law, and the curses for disobedience to the law (Leviticus 18:5; Deuteronomy 27:26).
Paul is dealing with a particular system of belief in his time, whereby certain Jews believed that Gentiles could not be saved unless they first submitted to a particular set of laws. The problem here is not with any of these laws, but with the mindset of thinking that adhering to a few outward laws is what brings about forgiveness of sin or justification.
There exists one mindset that is “of the works of the law,” and another mindset that is “of faith.” The first seeks to make oneself righteous by a few exteriors. The second acknowledges one’s sin and seeks for covenant faithfulness.
In the first century, there were Jews who adhered to some laws while neglecting the weightier matters in the law. Such people appeared to be holy, yet it was a facade, because they believed that a list of outward particulars made them righteous, all the while forgetting things like justice, faith, and mercy.
Paul fights this belief as Gentiles were coming to faith in Messiah. An uncircumcised Gentile was forgiven in the same way a circumcised Jew was forgiven: by grace through faith. This did not mean a Gentile could go on living a life of licentiousness, but it did mean they could be forgiven and have equal standing with a believing Jew before they ever obeyed certain aspects of the law.
We should also never forget that all of us are sinners, meaning we all still sin. None of us are perfect in the law. To be of a mindset of merit and earning before the Almighty is futile. Oftentimes people do not like to admit that they sin, but it is a reality. There is always something at the end of every day that you should ask forgiveness for.
In Galatians 5:2, Paul is not telling his readers that any man who gets circumcised cannot be attached to the Messiah. If that is the case there are many men who for medical reasons have gotten circumcised. Did this procedure alienate them from ever coming to Yeshua? Of course not. Even Paul took Timothy and circumcised him before going to preach the Gospel to the Judahites (Acts 16:3). Was Paul forever condemning Timothy?
Paul was talking to those people who thought they were forgiven of their sin just because they had been physically circumcised (Galatians 5:4).* This is why he tells such people that they are a debtor to do the entire law (Galatians 5:3). If you think that your obedience is what justifies you in Yahweh's sight, you are obligated to perform every letter and stroke of the law to perfection, because Yahweh not only said to be circumcised, He gave every other commandment in the law as well.
It is in this vein of thought that Paul writes that neither circumcision or un-circumcision accomplishes anything. People take Paul's words in Galatians 5:2 and 6 and run wild without carefully considering the context. Circumcision does benefit. It is a covenant in the flesh of Abraham's descendants (Genesis 17:1-14), it allows a person to keep the Passover fully (Exodus 12:43-49), and Paul says that it benefits you if you are a law-keeper (Romans 2:25).
Paul is teaching that the view of those in Galatia concerning justification by the law of circumcision accomplishes nothing. There will be many Judahites who are circumcised in their flesh but will die in their sins, because of the heart of stone that exists inside of them. The fact that their parents cut the fore-skin off of their flesh when they were eight days old doesn't mean anything when it comes to whether or not they will be justified in the sight of the holy Mighty One.
Let me add here that the bigger picture in Galatia was salvation by ethnicity. The issue hinged on circumcision, because that was the mark of a Jewish male from nearly the time of birth. The reason some Jews were pushing circumcision is because this was the way they believed a Gentile could proselytize to their faith and change their identity from second class to first class. Galatians 3:28 is the hub of the book, showing that one’s ethnicity, gender, or social status does not matter when coming to Messiah. Everyone is equal in him.
————--
*Some people today treat baptism the way first century Jews treated circumcision. So long as they are baptized they are forgiven. Never mind anything else. While both circumcision and baptism are Covenant signs, neither procure or guarantee anyone’s salvation. Salvation happens from the inside out not the outside in. I could line up everyone in my city and baptize them, but that doesn’t mean they all have a repentant heart.