Emphasis Preaching Journal

Compared to the immolation demanded by some pagan religions, circumcision was a cheaper price to pay for an assurance of security. There was much here to lose. In verse twenty-nine it seems the Christians would further lower the entrance fee. More probably, the words reflect a compromise in the ongoing struggle to free the church from legalism. There are always those around who want to enforce on us their own definitions of what it means to be a Christian.