What is the meaning of John 7:22? But because Moses gave you circumcision • Jesus is speaking to leaders who pride themselves on following Moses. • He reminds them, “Moses gave you circumcision” (John 7:22), connecting to the law they claim to honor (John 7:19). • The rite is rooted in God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:10-14; Acts 7:8) yet was codified for Israel through Moses (Leviticus 12:3). • Jesus highlights their acceptance of a command that pre-dates Sinai, underscoring their selective obedience. you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath • The eighth-day requirement (Leviticus 12:3) sometimes falls on the Sabbath. • To keep the covenant, they suspend normal Sabbath rest and perform the surgery, considering it lawful (Luke 13:15-16 shows a similar reasoning). • By pointing this out, Jesus exposes their inconsistency: they permit a minor work to preserve physical wholeness, yet criticize Him for a healing that brings complete wholeness (John 5:8-10; 7:23). (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.) • Jesus clarifies the origin: circumcision began with the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob—long before Moses (Genesis 17:24-27; 21:4). • This reminder strips away their legalistic veneer and calls them back to the covenant’s heart: faith and obedience, not mere rule-keeping (Romans 4:11-12). • It also shows that Sabbath and circumcision both flow from God’s consistent purposes, and the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8) rightly interprets how they fit together. summary Jesus uses circumcision to demonstrate that the law itself allows a work on the Sabbath when it fulfills God’s covenant intention. If a small cut to maintain covenant sign is lawful, how much more is a miraculous act that restores life and points to the new covenant He brings. By tracing circumcision back to the patriarchs, He underlines the continuity of God’s plan and silences accusations against His Sabbath healings, revealing the deeper mercy and authority of the Messiah. |
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