And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, who through letter and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?
Truth to Learn
We will not be judge by how well we keep the Law. In fact, we who are saved by faith will judge those who try to keep the Law.
Behind the Words
The words translated “physically” are ek physeōs, which literally mean “by nature.” The point is that a man is born uncircumcised. The Jewish man is also born uncircumcised but becomes circumcised by an act of mankind.
“Fulfills” is translated from the Greek word teleō, which means “to complete or to accomplish.” To complete the Law would require fulfilling every single requirement of it.
Meaning Explained
Today’s verse may appear to be saying the same thing as yesterday’s verse, but it is actually carrying it a little bit further. Here’s what a literal translation of this verse says:
And the uncircumcision by nature, completing the law, shall judge you who with letter and circumcision (are) a transgressor of law?
Since it is marked as a question we need to modify it a bit to make sense in English. Thus:
And the uncircumcision, which is by nature fulfilling the law, shall it not judge you who with the letter (of the Law) and circumcision (in the flesh) are a transgressor of the Law?”
We Gentiles, who satisfy the righteousness of the Law through faith, will one day judge those who, though they are circumcised, try to obtain righteousness by obeying a set of rules. Paul is telling us that we who fulfill the Law by faith will judge the Jews who try to keep the Law. And, there is another passage in the New Testament that talks about us (the saved ones) judging. We will judge the world and the angels:
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? (1Corinthians 6:2, 3)
We can never be justified in God’s sight by obeying all the commandments because no one can obey them all. The point Paul is building up to (which he will get to in the next chapter) is this:
As it is written: There is none righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who is seeking after God. (Romans 3:10-11)
The Christians in Rome, like their counterparts in Galatia, thought that salvation was obtained by being circumcised and keeping the Law. Paul says that isn’t so.
Application
Are you still trying to be “good enough” for God? If so, it is a futile effort. The only way to satisfy God is by faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. And the only way to live a satisfying Christian life is by staying humbled before God. We can’t do either by works; we must do both by faith.
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved