Circumcision of the Heart

It is so easy to read over things in the Tanakh. I help lead two classes at my local church, and we were going through Exodus and Leviticus when I noticed something peculiar. I had always thought growing up that “circumcision of the heart” was one of those things that Jesus changed when he ushered in the “church dispensation of grace.”  Sadly, this is not an uncommon belief in the church today. The church often reads Paul as though he is redefining what it means to be a believer in G-d and creating a “new religion.” However, we will see that “heart circumcision” was nothing new, and it is a very important part of Judaism today.

What does the Bible Say

In Romans 2:29, Paul writes,

“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 G-d.”

It would be easy for those not familiar with Jewish thought or those who are not looking for this concept in the Tanakh to think that this is something new. 

If you were brought up, as I was, you probably were told that “Old Testament salvation is works and New Testament salvation is faith. G-d is full of wrath and judgment in the Old Testament, and Jesus Christ gives us grace and mercy by stepping in the way of G-d’s wrath.” Add in statements like “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:18)” and “we are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:15);” maybe discuss Covenant Theology or Dispensationalism, and you have the solid basis for believing that HaShem changed His covenant from an external to an internal sign. 

So imagine my shock having grown up in that environment and reading this in Leviticus:

Leviticus 26:40-45 “40 “‘If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against me; and also that because they walked contrary to me, 41 I also walked contrary to them, and brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled, and they then accept the punishment of their iniquity, 42 then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham; and I will remember the land. 43 The land also will be left by them, and will enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them; and they will accept the punishment of their iniquity because they rejected my ordinances, and their soul abhorred my statutes. 44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly and to break my covenant with them; for I am HaShem their G-d. 45 But I will for their sake remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their G-d. I am HaShem.’”

Wait a second!!! G-d said that the children of Israel were to “humble their uncircumcised hearts” in repentance. All the way back in the third book of the Bible were words that directly tied to what Paul was writing. 

As I dug into this (with the help of Seamus McGowan) I was led to another verse in the 5th book of the Torah:

Deuteronomy 10:16 “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.”

In Leviticus, an uncircumcised heart is equated with pride and rebellion. In Deuteronomy, it is equated with stubbornness. HaShem seems to be teaching us that internal circumcision is equal to repentance and humility, or having a willingness to submit to Him, seek Him, and obey. 

In fact, the verses preceding the command to “circumcise your heart” speak of loving and obeying G-d.

“12 Now, Israel, what does HaShem your G-d require of you, but to fear HaShem your G-d, to walk in all his ways, to love him, and to serve HaShem your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 to keep HaShem’s commandments and statutes, which I command you today for your good? 14 Behold, to HaShem your G-d belongs heaven, the heaven of heavens, and the earth, with all that is therein. 15 Only HaShem had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their offspring after them, even you above all peoples, as it is today.”

Yeshua taught that “if we loved him, we would keep his commandments (John 14:15).” Paul expounds that circumcision of the heart is required for this. Yet, neither of these is a new concept as Moses often equates loving G-d and keeping his commandments (Ex 20:6, Deut 5:10, 7:9, 11:22, 19:9 & Joshua 22:5), and in Deuteronomy specifically, he ties it to heart circumcision.

In the New Testament the Apostle John actually tells us that we love G-d's children when we love G-d and keep his commandments and we do not think they are a burden.

2 By this we know that we love the children of G-d, when we love G-d and keep his commandments. 3 For this is loving G-d, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:2-3

Further, Solomon seems to understand that obedience must not just be an act of physical compliance but must also start in the mind and heart.

My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace. Proverbs 3:1-2

While Solomon is not speaking of the Torah in this instance, one can clearly see how the ancient Hebrew mind equates obedience in action and dedication of heart.

What do the Rabbis Say

Lest we think “well this is something Paul pulled from the Scriptures but the Jews completely missed it,” let’s examine a Rabbinic passage specifically about circumcision of the heart.

Sukkah 52a:7-12

§ Rabbi Avira, and some say Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, taught: The evil inclination has seven names. The Holy One, Blessed be He, called it evil, as it is stated: 

“For the inclination of a man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21). 

Moses called it uncircumcised, as it is stated: 

“And circumcise the foreskin of your hearts” (Deuteronomy 10:16). 

David called it impure, as it is stated: 

“Create for me a pure heart, O G-d” (Psalms 51:12); 

by inference, there is an impure heart that is the evil inclination.

Solomon called it enemy, as it is stated: 

“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord will reward you” (Proverbs 25:21–22). 

Do not read it as: And the Lord will reward you; rather read it as: And the Lord will reconcile it to you. G-d will cause the evil inclination to love you and no longer seek to entice you to sin.

Isaiah called it a stumbling block, as it is stated: 

“And He will say: Cast you up, cast you up, clear the way, take up the stumbling block out of the way of My people” (Isaiah 57:14). 

Ezekiel called it stone, as it is stated: 

“And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). 

Joel called it hidden one, as it says: 

“But I will remove the northern one far off from you” (Joel 2:20). 

The Sages taught concerning the verse: “But I will remove the northern one [hatzefoni] far off from you,” that this is referring to the evil inclination. And why is the evil inclination referred to as tzefoni? It is due to the fact that it is always hidden [tzafun] in the heart of man.

The baraita continues interpreting the verse in the book of Joel. 

“And will drive it to a land barren and desolate” (Joel 2:20), 

where there are no people for the evil inclination to incite. And what damage does the evil inclination cause? 

“With its face toward the eastern sea” (Joel 2:20), 

as it set its eyes on the First Temple and destroyed it, and killed the Torah scholars that were in it; 

“and its end toward the western sea” (Joel 2:20), 

as it set its eyes on the Second Temple and destroyed it, and killed the Torah scholars that were in it; 

“its foulness may come up, and its ill odor may come up” (Joel 2:20), 

as it forsakes the nations of the world and incites the enemies of the Jewish people: In this context, the term the nations is a euphemism for the Jewish people. The evil inclination seeks to corrupt the Jews more than it does the members of any other nation. 

“Because it has done greatly” (Joel 2:20): 

Abaye said: And it provokes Torah scholars more than it provokes everyone else.

The Gemara illustrates that point. It is like this incident, as Abaye once heard a certain man say to a certain woman: Let us rise early and go on the road. Upon hearing this, Abaye said to himself: I will go and accompany them and prevent them from violating the prohibition that they certainly intend to violate. He went after them for a distance of three parasangs in a marsh among the reeds, while they walked on the road, and they did not engage in any wrongful activity. When they were taking leave of each other, he heard that they were saying: We traveled a long distance together, and the company was pleasant company.

Abaye said: In that situation, if instead of that man it had been one whom I hate, a euphemism for himself, he would not have been able to restrain himself from sinning. After becoming aware of so great a shortcoming he went and leaned against the doorpost, thinking and feeling regret. A certain Elder came and taught him: Anyone who is greater than another, his evil inclination is greater than his. Therefore, Abaye should not feel regret, as his realization is a consequence of his greatness.

Conclusion

It’s clear that the Rabbis have amazing thoughts on what it means to have a “circumcised heart.” The understanding of the evil vs good inclinations helps us to see an expanded picture of what Moshe and Paul were trying to teach. If we are to truly be followers of Messiah and servants of the Most High, we must rule over our evil inclination and "walk in the Spirit so that we do not fulfill the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16).

Throughout all of history, the concept of humbling yourself, repenting, turning to HaShem and submitting to His will has been more important than sacrificing. As Samuel said,

“Has HaShem as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying HaShem’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22

Or the Prophet Isaiah,

“Come now, and let’s reason together,” says HaShem “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land, but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword; for HaShem’s mouth has spoken it.” (Isaiah 1:18-20)

Oh, that followers of Yeshua and believers in the One True G-d would return to this concept of obeying the whole Bible, not for redemption, but because they love G-d who first loved them. (1 John 4:19). That we would all circumcise our hearts as Paul and Moshe commanded and submit to the will of the Father. That we would repent and turn out of love back to Torah and Messiah together, and not "continue in sin (breaking Torah) that grace may abound (Romans 6:1)."

(All Biblical text taken from the WEB)