The Perspective of Moral law and Circumcision - Essay Example

The Perspective of Moral law and Circumcision One of the people who had the strongest reverence for law would be the Gentiles and the Jews. Though these two have different cultural and religious traditions and beliefs, they have a high regard for moral law especially when it comes to the teachings of God. To clearly understand how each see moral law in the biblical times, it is helpful to cite some realities uniquely about the Gentiles and at the same time the Jews. Jews, according to the Bible are those people who believed that they are the chosen people of God, as they were the descendants of Israel.

They are ones who do not consider Jesus as God instead believes that a Messiah will be the one to unite everyone towards the kingdom of God. Gentiles on the other hand are those people who are not seen as a descendant of Israel and at the same time people who do not see themselves as one, which often takes their right to worship God. However, they still do worship God based on His teachings told to them through different people chosen by God such as Moses.Now, after clearly setting enough light on what Gentiles and Jews were, it is now easier to know the difference between how each perceived moral law.

The latter are those who obeyed the law based on their traditions rather than what God truly meant in His teachings. On the other hand, Gentiles are those who followed Jesus because they put importance in living under no other law but Christ’s (New International Version (NIV Bible) - Version Information - BibleGateway.com. (n.d.)). Thus, when it comes to the topic on circumcision in the olden days, each of them would have different purposes and attitude towards doing so. For the Jews, circumcision, which was one of the clearly stated teachings in the Old Testament was just an act they had to do to be able to avoid persecution from the people.

Another reason why they do not really believe in circumcision being a holy and biblical act is because of the fact that even those that are circumcised sin. However, for Gentiles, circumcision is a whole different thing. Even when Gentiles are seen as those who do not have the law and not being the chosen people of God, they do things that are required by the law of God not only obeying by word but at the same time has the law written in their hearts (New International Version (NIV Bible) - Version Information - BibleGateway.com. (n.d.)).

Thus, for them, circumcision is an act done to please God by not only getting circumcised but at the same time by observing the other laws and not just pick out the laws that might seem to be convenient for one’s circumstances. This just means that they focus not precisely on the law itself but on the law giver. Putting God to mind, would He not be more delighted in those people who are not yet circumcised and yet obeys His laws compared to those who are and yet are lawbreakers? This just shows that the Gentile’s attitude towards obedience puts superiority on Faith and Love while Jews are those who follow the law based on what they think the law is or based on their own interpretation.

References:New International Version (NIV Bible) - Version Information - BibleGateway.com. (n.d.). BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 100 versions and 50 languages.. Retrieved November 21, 2011, from http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/