◄ Galatians 6:13 ►
For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
Study Bible
For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves,

This phrase highlights the hypocrisy of those advocating for circumcision as a requirement for salvation. In the context of Galatians, Paul addresses the Judaizers, who insisted that Gentile converts must adhere to Jewish law, including circumcision. Historically, the Jewish law, or Torah, was given to the Israelites as a covenant with God, but it was impossible to keep perfectly. Paul points out that even those who are circumcised, symbolizing their commitment to the law, fail to uphold it entirely. This echoes Jesus' criticism of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:3, where He condemns them for not practicing what they preach. The inability to keep the law underscores the need for grace and faith in Christ, as Paul argues throughout Galatians.

Rom 2:17-24 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law…
Mat 23:3-4 So practice and observe everything they tell you.…
Act 15:10 Now then, why do you test God by placing…

yet they want you to be circumcised

The Judaizers' insistence on circumcision for Gentile believers was not merely a cultural or traditional preference but a theological imposition. Circumcision was a sign of the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 17:10-14), but in the New Covenant, Paul teaches that faith in Christ, not adherence to the law, is what justifies a person (Galatians 2:16). The pressure to conform to this ritual reflects a broader struggle in the early church between Jewish and Gentile believers, as seen in Acts 15 during the Jerusalem Council. This insistence on circumcision was a way to maintain control and assert superiority, rather than a genuine concern for spiritual well-being.

Act 15:1-5 Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching…
Gal 2:3-5 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled…
Php 3:2-3 Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil…

that they may boast in your flesh.

The phrase "boast in your flesh" indicates a superficial and prideful motivation behind the Judaizers' demands. Their focus was on outward appearances and human achievements rather than inward transformation and spiritual truth. This boasting is contrasted with Paul's teaching in Galatians 6:14, where he declares that his only boast is in the cross of Christ. The emphasis on "flesh" also connects to Paul's broader theme in Galatians of contrasting the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-23). The Judaizers' desire to boast in the flesh of others reveals their misunderstanding of the gospel, which calls for a new creation in Christ (Galatians 6:15), not adherence to external rituals.

2Co 11:18 Since many are boasting according to the flesh,…
Php 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship…
2Co 10:17 Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter to the Galatians, addressing issues of legalism and the true essence of the Gospel.

2. The Galatian Churches
The recipients of the letter, who were being influenced by Judaizers to adopt Jewish customs, including circumcision, as necessary for salvation.

3. Judaizers
A group within the early church advocating for the necessity of following Jewish law, including circumcision, for Gentile converts.

4. Circumcision
A physical act and Jewish custom that was being wrongly emphasized as necessary for salvation by the Judaizers.

5. The Cross of Christ
Central to Paul's message, representing the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice for salvation, apart from the law.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Legalism
Legalism can distort the Gospel by adding human requirements to God's grace. Believers must guard against any teaching that suggests salvation is earned by works.

The True Mark of Faith
True faith is marked by a transformed heart and life, not merely external rituals. Believers should focus on spiritual growth and maturity in Christ.

Boasting in the Cross
Our only boast should be in the cross of Christ, which is the source of our salvation and identity. This perspective keeps us humble and reliant on God's grace.

The Role of the Law
The law serves to point us to our need for Christ, not as a means of salvation. Understanding its purpose helps us appreciate the fullness of grace.

Community and Accountability
Believers are called to support and hold each other accountable in living out the Gospel, fostering a community centered on truth and love.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Galatians 6:13 challenge the notion of outward religious practices as a means of earning God's favor?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our faith is rooted in the cross of Christ rather than in legalistic practices?

3. How does understanding the purpose of the law enhance our appreciation for the grace offered through Jesus?

4. What are some modern-day equivalents of the Judaizers' emphasis on circumcision, and how can we address them in our faith communities?

5. How can we foster a community that encourages spiritual growth and accountability without falling into legalism?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Romans 2:25-29
Paul discusses the true meaning of circumcision, emphasizing the importance of inward transformation over outward rituals.

Philippians 3:2-3
Paul warns against those who put confidence in the flesh, highlighting the spiritual nature of true worship.

Colossians 2:11-12
Paul explains the spiritual circumcision that believers undergo in Christ, contrasting it with physical circumcision.

Acts 15:1-11
The Jerusalem Council addresses the issue of Gentile believers and the law, affirming salvation by grace through faith.
Sermons
Glorying in the CrossR.M. Edgar Galatians 6:11-18
Parting WordsR. Finlayson Galatians 6:11-18
People
Galatians, Paul
Places
Galatia
Topics
Boast, Bodies, Circumcised, Circumcision, Desire, Flesh, Glory, Law, Obey, Order, Really, Receive, Themselves, Undergo, Wish, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Galatians 6:13

     5956   strength, human

Galatians 6:12-13

     7336   circumcision, spiritual
     8766   heresies

Galatians 6:13-14

     8825   self-righteousness, and gospel

Library
September 19. "In Due Season we Shall Reap if we Faint Not" (Gal. vi. 9).
"In due season we shall reap if we faint not" (Gal. vi. 9). If the least of us could only anticipate the eternal issues that will probably spring from the humblest services of faith, we should only count our sacrifices and labors unspeakable heritages of honor and opportunity, and would cease to speak of trials and sacrifices for God. The smallest grain of faith is a deathless and incorruptible germ, which will yet plant the heavens and cover the earth with harvests of imperishable glory. Lift up …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

October 20. "Let us not be Weary in Well-Doing" (Gal. vi. 9).
"Let us not be weary in well-doing" (Gal. vi. 9). If Paul could only know the consolation and hope that he has ministered to the countless generations who have marched along the pathway from the cross to the Kingdom above, he would be willing to go through a thousand lives and a thousand deaths such as he endured for the blessing that has followed since his noble head rolled in the dust by the Ostian gate of Rome. And if the least of us could only anticipate the eternal issues that will probably …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Doing Good to All
'As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all. . . .'--GAL. vi. 10. 'As we have therefore'--that points a finger backwards to what has gone before. The Apostle has been exhorting to unwearied well-doing, on the ground of the certain coming of the harvest season. Now, there is a double link of connection between the preceding words and our text; for 'do good' looks back to 'well-doing,' and the word rendered 'opportunity' is the same as that rendered 'season.' So, then, two thoughts …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Owner's Brand
I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.'--GAL. vi. 17. The reference in these words is probably to the cruel custom of branding slaves as we do cattle, with initials or signs, to show their ownership. It is true that in old times criminals, and certain classes of Temple servants, and sometimes soldiers, were also so marked, but it is most in accordance with the Apostle's way of thinking that he here has reference to the first class, and would represent himself as the slave of Jesus Christ, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Burden-Bearing
'Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. . . . 5. For every man shall bear his own burden.'--GAL. vi. 25. The injunction in the former of these verses appears, at first sight, to be inconsistent with the statement in the latter. But Paul has a way of setting side by side two superficially contradictory clauses, in order that attention may be awakened, and that we may make an effort to apprehend the point of reconciliation between them. So, for instance, you remember he puts …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Glory of the Cross
"God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."--GAL. VI. 14. There are at least two reasons, unconnected with Holy Week, why the subject of the Cross of Christ should occupy our attention. 1. The first reason is, that the Cross is commonly recognised as the weak point in our Christianity. It is the object of constant attack on the part of its assailants: and believers are content too often to accept it "on faith," which means that they despair of giving a rational …
J. H. Beibitz—Gloria Crucis

21ST DAY. A Due Reaping.
"He is Faithful that Promised." "In due season we shall reap, if we faint not."--GAL. vi. 9. A Due Reaping. Believer! all the glory of thy salvation belongs to Jesus,--none to thyself; every jewel in thine eternal crown is His,--purchased by His blood, and polished by His Spirit. The confession of time will be the ascription of all eternity: "By the grace of God I am what I am!" But though "all be of grace," thy God calls thee to personal strenuousness in the work of thy high calling;--to "labour," …
John Ross Macduff—The Faithful Promiser

Cadman -- a New Day for Missions
S. Parkes Cadman is one of the many immigrant clergymen who have attained to fame in American pulpits. He was born in Shropshire, England, December 18, 1864, and graduated from Richmond College, London University, in 1889. Coming to this country about 1895 he was appointed pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Metropolitan Tabernacle, New York. From this post he was called to Central Congregational Church, Brooklyn, with but one exception the largest Congregational Church in the United States. He has …
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume 10

On Mysteries --God Gives them Here in Reality.
It will be objected that, by this way, mysteries will not be made known. It is just the contrary; they are given to the soul in reality. Jesus Christ, to whom it is abandoned, and whom it follows as the Way, whom it hears as the Truth, and who animates it as the Life, impressing Himself upon it, imparts to it His own condition. To bear the conditions of Christ is something far greater than merely to consider those conditions. Paul bore the conditions of Christ on his body. "I bear in my body," …
Jeanne Marie Bouvières—A Short Method Of Prayer And Spiritual Torrents

Translator's Introductory Notice.
In the remarkable work known as his Retractations, Augustin makes a brief statement on the subject of this treatise on the Harmony of the Evangelists. The sixteenth chapter of the second book of that memorable review of his literary career, contains corrections of certain points on which he believed that he had not been sufficiently accurate in these discussions. In the same passage he informs us that this treatise was undertaken during the years in which he was occupied with his great work on the …
Saint Augustine—our lord's sermon on the mount

All that is Born of the Flesh must be Born of the Spirit.
In the former chapter we have shown, from Scripture and from reason, that our Church teaches only the plain truth, when she confesses that: "After Adam's fall, all men, begotten after the common course of nature, are born with sin." As a sinful being the new-born infant is not in the Way of Salvation. By its natural birth, from sinful parents, it is not in the kingdom of God, but in the realm and under the dominion of sin, death and the devil. If left to itself--to the undisturbed development of …
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

And to Holy David Indeed it Might More Justly be Said...
22. And to holy David indeed it might more justly be said, that he ought not to have been angry; no, not with one however ungrateful and rendering evil for good; yet if, as man, anger did steal over him, he ought not to have let it so prevail, that he should swear to do a thing which either by giving way to his rage he should do, or by breaking his oath leave undone. But to the other, set as he was amid the libidinous frenzy of the Sodomites, who would dare to say, "Although thy guests in thine own …
St. Augustine—Against Lying

On Account Then of These Either Occupations of the Servants of God...
17. On account then of these either occupations of the servants of God, or bodily infirmities, which cannot be altogether wanting, not only doth the Apostle permit the needs of saints to be supplied by good believers, but also most wholesomely exhorteth. For, setting apart that power, which he saith himself had not used, which yet that the faithful must serve unto, he enjoins, saying, "Let him that is catechised in the word, communicate unto him that doth catechise him, in all good things:" [2531] …
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks.

The Hindrances to Mourning
What shall we do to get our heart into this mourning frame? Do two things. Take heed of those things which will stop these channels of mourning; put yourselves upon the use of all means that will help forward holy mourning. Take heed of those things which will stop the current of tears. There are nine hindrances of mourning. 1 The love of sin. The love of sin is like a stone in the pipe which hinders the current of water. The love of sin makes sin taste sweet and this sweetness in sin bewitches the …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Introductory.
As introductory to the following dissertation, I shall explain and define certain terms that frequently occur in it, especially canon, apocryphal, ecclesiastical, and the like. A right apprehension of these will make the observations advanced respecting the canon and its formation plainer. The words have not been taken in the same sense by all, a fact that obscures their sense. They have been employed more or less vaguely by different writers. Varying ideas have been attached to them. The Greek …
Samuel Davidson—The Canon of the Bible

The Beautiful Hague
When we came to the Hague, though we had heard much of it, we were not disappointed. It is, indeed, beautiful beyond expression. Many of the houses are exceedingly grand and are finely intermixed with water and wood; yet are not too close, but so as to be sufficiently ventilated by the air. Being invited to tea by Madam de Vassenaar (one of the first quality in the Hague), I waited upon her in the afternoon. She received us with that easy openness and affability which is almost peculiar to Christians …
John Wesley—The Journal of John Wesley

"Hear the Word of the Lord, Ye Rulers of Sodom, Give Ear unto the Law of Our God, Ye People of Gomorrah,"
Isaiah i. 10, 11, &c.--"Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom, give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah," &c. It is strange to think what mercy is mixed with the most wrath like strokes and threatenings. There is no prophet whose office and commission is only for judgment, nay, to speak the truth, it is mercy that premises threatenings. The entering of the law, both in the commands and curses, is to make sin abound, that grace may superabound, so that both rods and threatenings …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Of Mysteries
Of Mysteries It may be objected, that, by this method, we shall have no mysteries imprinted on our minds: but it is quite the reverse; for it is the peculiar means of imparting them to the soul. Jesus Christ, to whom we are abandoned, and whom "we follow as the way, whom we hear as the truth, and who animates us as the life" (John xiv. 6) in imprinting Himself on the soul, impresses the characters of His different states; and to bear all the states of Jesus Christ is far more sublime, than merely …
Madame Guyon—A Short and Easy Method of Prayer

Growth in Grace.
Text--But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.--2 Pet. iii. 18. I MUST conclude this Course of Lectures by giving converts instructions on the subject of growth in grace. I shall pursue the following method: I. What is grace, as the term is here used? II. What the injunction "to grow in grace" does not mean. III. What it does mean. IV. Conditions of growth in grace. V. What is not proof of growth in grace. VI. What is proof of growth in grace. VII How to grow in …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

Princely Service.
NUMB. VII. We learned from Numbers vi, GOD'S requirements of those who desire to take the privileged position of separation to Himself. We found also in the conclusion of the same chapter the overflow of GOD'S love in the rich and comprehensive blessing which so appropriately follows, and forms the connecting link between Nazarite separation and the princely service set forth in Chap. vii,--one of the longest in the Bible, and one full of repetition. We now propose to consider more fully why this …
James Hudson Taylor—Separation and Service

Concerted Prayer
"A tourist, in climbing an Alpine summit, finds himself tied by a strong rope to his trusty guide, and to three of his fellow-tourists. As they skirt a perilous precipice he cannot pray, Lord, hold up my goings in a safe path, that my footsteps slip not, but as to my guide and companions, they must look out for themselves.' The only proper prayer in such a case is, Lord, hold up our goings in a safe path; for if one slips all of us may perish.'"--H. Clay Trumbull The pious Quesnel says that "God …
Edward M. Bounds—The Essentials of Prayer

Excursus on the Use of the Word "Canon. "
(Bright: Notes on the Canons, pp. 2 and 3.) Kanon, as an ecclesiastical term, has a very interesting history. See Westcott's account of it, On the New Testament Canon, p. 498 ff. The original sense, "a straight rod" or "line," determines all its religious applications, which begin with St. Paul's use of it for a prescribed sphere of apostolic work (2 Cor. x. 13, 15), or a regulative principle of Christian life (Gal. vi. 16). It represents the element of definiteness in Christianity and in the …
Philip Schaff—The Seven Ecumenical Councils

How the Married and the Single are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 28.) Differently to be admonished are those who are bound in wedlock and those who are free from the ties of wedlock. For those who are bound in wedlock are to be admonished that, while they take thought for each other's good, they study, both of them, so to please their consorts as not to displease their Maker; that they so conduct the things that are of this world as still not to omit desiring the things that are of God; that they so rejoice in present good as still, with earnest …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Forms Versus Character
'Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.'--1 COR. vii. 19. 'For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love.'--GAL. v. 6. 'For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.'--GAL. vi. 16 (R.V.). The great controversy which embittered so much of Paul's life, and marred so much of his activity, turned upon the question whether a heathen man could come …
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

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