Submitted by: Bro. Paul Wells
Related Scriptures: Exodus 18:1-20:23(26) & Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5(6)-6(7)
What is a true Disciple of Yeshua? One inwardly or outwardly? When Paul wrote this section, he was speaking to the Jewish community in Rome. He was giving them a mirror to view them and to examine what makes a true Jew. This mirror is not your ordinary mirror that allows you to view the outside of the body, this mirror is like a Holy Spirit inspired x-ray machine that allows you to see the true intent of our heart and exterior actions are working the same. This examination should be given to us daily, by questioning are we living up to Yeshua’s teaching and standards.
These examinations first views the external or outwardly walk of discipleship, this mirror shows how you are viewed as a instructor of the Bible, as a person to give an encouraging word and pray for the lost and blind, and as a person who can recite the proper Bible verse for any reason and time for those who need it. Now the examination switches to the internal and the heart. It shows that this heart is full of theft, adultery and idol worship. This is an uncircumcised heart, also filled with spiritual pride and hypocrisy.
Paul makes two statements in verses 18 and 19 that determines the results in this examination of this uncircumcised heart is one who “give your approval of what is right and if you persuaded yourself…” when we do this we’re trying to win favor with people in how the world views us from an outwardly view to prove how righteous we are but yet when the world see us doing something totally opposite than our walk as a Disciple of Yeshua, what we show is that we are hypocrites. This result of hypocrisy is why Paul quotes Ezekiel and Isaiah, that our L-rd’s name is being blasphemed among the non-believers. Yeshua gives a great example of how we should examine ourselves. Yeshua tells us in Luke 6.42, His sermon on the mount “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the splinter from your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye; then you will see clearly, so that you can remove the splinter from your brother’s eye!”
The real Disciple of Yeshua is one inwardly and which brings out true praise outwardly. Yeshua says “how blessed is the pure of heart for they will see G-d. We are to be the salt for the Land and light for the world so they may see the good things you do and praise Our Father in heaven. It all starts with a circumcise heart. So we may teach and follows His way. There nothing we can do of our own that will circumcise the heart, its only through the repentances and salvation through Our L-rd Yeshua that can bring about a change in the heart.
This is the value of being a follower of Yeshua and true worker of the Kingdom.