Circumcision, Head Coverings, Passover, & Obedience
Exo 12:48 states that “If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.”
There are those in our walk who will take this verse and demand that those men who participate in a Passover Seder first be circumcised. How does this align with the full counsel of scripture, in particular the admonition of 1Cor 7:19 which states “For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision but keeping the commandments of God”?
This misunderstanding revolves around the term “eat of it”.
Eat is akal in Hebrew and in addition to eat, can mean burn up or consume. Specifically, what is referenced here is eating the lambs that were sacrificed at the Temple when the Temple stood. Essentially, there is a difference between eating the Passover and celebrating the Passover. Although “eating the Passover” was part of the Passover celebration, a person can celebrate the Passover Holyday without eating the Passover and strictly speaking, nobody can “eat the Passover” because as noted, this term refers to eating the lambs that were sacrificed at the Temple. Even if we eat lamb to celebrate the Passover we are not “eating the Passover” in the sense that the Bible refers to it. We are simply commemorating a historical event by eating a meal in celebration of the Passover season, not eating a sacrifice which was forbidden to uncircumcised gentiles. *
The question must be asked however, of what value then is circumcision? Should we observe this ordinance in our walk today? What is the merit of such action? We are introduced to circumcision in Genesis 17: 9-13 “And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.” Abraham was instructed to circumcise his household and teach his generations after him to do the same for every male child on the eighth day.
From a physical standpoint, on the eighth day of a young man’s life, when circumcision is performed, the vitamin K level in the male body is the highest it will be for his entire life. ** Vitamin K aids in blood clotting. Thus, we see our Great Elohim makes provision for that which He requires. Additionally, the removal of foreskin creates a healthier environment, removing excess folds, thereby less opportunity for germs and possible infection to propagate. Finally, circumcision makes a man more sensitive in that area.
There are spiritual connotations to these physical signs. Cleanliness is a core component in the maintenance of one’s health. This is true both physically and, in our faith, walk. David speaks of having clean hands which portends a clean heart. (Psalm 24). It is also valuable to point out the obvious, men are less sensitive creatures than their counterparts. We must become sensitive, considerate, and vulnerable to the things of God. All of this is wrapped up in the symbology of the circumcision.
If you come into this walk however and are not circumcised, we do not demand or require such action. Like Paul (Rabbi Shaul) who did not force Titus to be circumcised (Gal 2), we too leave this decision to each man who sojourns with us. It is a private discernment between you and the Father. We are aware of two men who came into this walk uncircumcised and chose circumcision as they felt it was laid upon them. If the Spirit leads you accordingly, you must respond to Him. We would then encourage you to do so, seeking the best medical attention you can to have this procedure completed. For those who bear sons, we advise you to follow the commandment and have him circumcised on the eighth day. We do have access to a Moyle (a Jewish Rabbi) who will perform this Right on your and your son’s behalf.
· Circumcision is a sign that you will raise your child in TORAH.
· It is a sign that he is under covenant and every time he looks at himself, he will be reminded of the covenant he has been entered into and will hopefully someday personally embrace this covenant himself.
Circumcision is a sign that as men under covenant we need to be circumspect in how we use our body’s, and in particular this appendage, for the Kingdom. Note, the son of promise, Isaac was not conceived until after Abraham was circumcised. Abraham’s entire household underwent circumcision upon YHWH’s instruction. Everyone was aware of this interesting command as the men would have been incapacitated while healing. This is not something that was nor can be easily done in secret. Upon healing, Sarah conceived Isaac, the son of promise. Hence, a revelation of why circumcision to his household and a declaration that Abraham’s seed are people of promise.
As with many of our observance’s, things we are commanded to observe in the physical have spiritual implications and often are shadow pictures of greater, spiritual concepts. In this case circumcision of the heart. Deut 10:16 says “circumcise your heart and stiffen your neck no longer”. As uncomfortable as it is, a rebellious man who is or becomes circumcised is no closer to the Almighty than a degenerate reprobate. Such men would be as noted in Titus1:10, “insubordinate, empty talkers, and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party”.
Essentially, physical circumcision is easy, a one and done. However, circumcision of the heart is not, it requires a constant cutting away of the fleshy self to maintain proper orientation to God and relationship with man. This is not only a requirement for men but is incumbent upon women as well. Each of us must enter the covenant of circumcision through our daily walk. This has always been YHWH’s heart, a people focused on Him in right relationship with Him and each other. He prefers obedience over sacrifice! This is Torah!
This is the strong point Paul was making in Galatians. Judaizes who felt that new converts needed to be circumcised to be accepted into the faith were convincing the Galatians that they must undergo circumcision. Other than that, the book of Galatians is not the Magna Carta of Christian liberty, giving us freedom to do whatever we want, as some will try to make the case. Instead, Paul was dealing with this specific issue in this letter. Our justification does not rest in circumcision as Paul explicitly states in 5:2-4, summed up as follows, “if you receive circumcision, Messiah will be of no benefit to you…you who are seeking to be justified by the law, you have fallen from grace.” Paul goes on and emphatically states (Gal 5:6) For in Messiah Y’shua neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
And what is love?
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant. or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” This is how we know you are circumcised of the heart!
We must proceed with a circumcised attitude in all areas of our life. It is not symbolism over substance, above all, it is a sign between the Almighty and His people.
This topic of circumcision as it applies to men has as its counterpart head coverings for women. 1Cor 11:3-12 reads, “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Messiah, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Messiah is Elohim. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.
For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of Elohim, but woman is the glory of man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the YHWH woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
In the ritual prescribed for a husband taken by a spirit of jealousy, believing his wife to be unfaithful to him, in Numbers 5, the KJV states the priest will uncover the woman’s head as she stands before the Almighty. Some interpret this to mean that women were required to wear head coverings in ancient Israel. Taking these verses together, there are those in our walk, as well as in other denominations, who require woman to cover their heads.
Again, symbolism over substance if done simply to appease. However, if a woman is led by the Ruach to cover her head as a sign of her husband’s headship, then we do not question that in which the Spirit has led. We only ask for consistency. That this action is not taken impulsively and be on again, off again as some women do, for this is not how the Spirit operates.
Taken literally, it appears that women are to cover their heads and men, are to uncover theirs. This goes back to the sensitivity issue referenced earlier, men must become sensitive, considerate, and vulnerable to the things of God, whereas woman typically are very emotive and tender creatures and need help in being less sensitive. Our Elohim is a God of grace, but He is also a God of justice and together, these two counterparts mete out His plan of redemption and restoration for His Kingdom. This is the beauty we see and the mystery we encounter in the husband wife relationship. It is the same with Messiah and His bride.
This is the symbolism of Passover. The grace of freedom meted out through the justification of the death of the innocent Lamb. And we, because of the Lamb of God are free to leave Egypt, in fact we must leave Egypt and enter, rather take the Promised Land He has spread before us. We can only do that through obedience to Him and His word. This is the symbology of circumcision and head coverings, an outward sign of a circumcised heart!
In conclusion, and to be 100% clear on these matters here at Lev Y’shua:
We do not require circumcision or head coverings for one to be part of this congregation.
We do however require a circumcised heart which manifests itself in love!
We encourage you, if you have a male child to have him circumcised on the eighth day.
We encourage you to recognize the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life, and if He directs you to circumcise as an uncircumcised male, or cover your head as a woman, then you must do so.
For in the end, we recognize that circumcision is not outward and physical, and neither is covering one’s head. But these are matters of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. Accordingly, your praise is not from man but from God. (Rom 2:28-29 paraphrased).
Chag sameach!