Circumcision of the heart is a spiritual concept that comes from the Bible. It refers to having a heart that is fully devoted to God by removing sinful desires and pursuing righteousness. The physical act of circumcision was an external sign of being set apart for God under the Old Covenant, but the New Testament emphasizes the importance of inward, spiritual renewal rather than only external religious rituals.
Circumcision in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, all male Israelites were commanded to be circumcised as a sign of their covenant with God:
“This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.” (Genesis 17:10-11 ESV)
Circumcision marked them as God’s chosen people and was performed on the eighth day after birth. It was not just for hygienic reasons but as an external symbol of being set apart for God. Uncircumcised men were said to have “broken God’s covenant” (Genesis 17:14 ESV). Foreigners and slaves had to be circumcised before participating in the Passover meal (Exodus 12:48 ESV).
However, the prophets later emphasized that true circumcision was not just physical – it represented a spiritual reality. God wanted wholehearted devotion, not just external rituals. The prophet Jeremiah said:
“Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.” (Jeremiah 4:4 ESV)
Physical circumcision did not automatically make the Israelites righteous before God. They needed changed hearts to follow God’s laws.
Circumcision of the Heart in the New Testament
The New Testament picks up this spiritual symbolism of circumcision. Becoming a Christian requires an inward change, not just following religious rituals. The apostle Paul, speaking to new Gentile believers, emphasized that faith in Christ mattered more than physical circumcision:
“For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” (Galatians 6:15 ESV)
Paul explained that true Jews were circumcised “inwardly” with a spiritual operation performed by the Holy Spirit, not just physical surgery:
“For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter.” (Romans 2:28-29 ESV)
This inner spiritual reality was more important than obeying the letter of the Old Testament law about physical circumcision. Through faith in Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles could experience regeneration and cleansing from sin.
Paul also encouraged Christians to metaphorically “circumcise your hearts” by renouncing sinful desires and seeking holiness:
“In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ.” (Colossians 2:11 ESV)
“For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” (Philippians 3:3 ESV)
So circumcision of the heart represents the spiritual cleansing and renewal only God can perform in someone’s life when they put their faith in Jesus Christ. It results in a dramatic change in desires, motivations, and behavior.
Why Circumcision of the Heart Matters
A circumcised heart is critical because it touches life’s deepest levels. Physical circumcision only removed surface flesh, but God’s circumcision transforms the inner person.
The prophet Jeremiah said the stubborn, sinful heart was beyond superficial change and needed God’s radical intervention:
“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart.” (Jeremiah 17:1 ESV)
The power of sin etched in our hearts can only be erased through God’s supernatural work.
Circumcision of the heart deals with sinful desires and resisting temptation. Jesus taught that evil actions come from within, from the uncontrolled heart:
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matthew 15:19 ESV)
The outward behavior change God wants isn’t possible without an inner heart change first. Willpower and sincere effort cannot conquer sinful tendencies without God transforming the heart’s fundamental orientation.
A circumcised heart also affects emotions like anger, bitterness, anxiety, and impatience. These often subtle sins disrupt relationships and our communion with God. Only the Holy Spirit can gently shift our emotional patterns to be more loving and faithful.
Our thoughts and beliefs require heart circumcision too. False ideas about God lead to misguided lives. Wrong assumptions fuel unhealthy emotions. God wants to cut away these untruths and shape our minds according to His word and wisdom.
Circumcision of the heart reaches down to our motivations and secret agendas. Why we do things matters as much as what we do. God wants integrity between outward actions and inward drives. Internal purity leads to sincere, ethical living.
Ultimately, the deepest level of circumcision is spiritual. Our souls long for wholeness and connection with God. We crave meaning and hope beyond the mundane. Recognizing these thirsts and realigning around God’s eternal promises leads to supernatural fulfillment.
So circumcision of the heart is comprehensive and radical change from the inside out. God doesn’t just want better behaviors and rituals. He wants to revolutionize every part of us according to His loving purposes. Only through Christ can our hearts be truly circumcised and made whole. The change will be painful but wonderful in the end.
Signs of Circumcision of the Heart
How can you tell if someone has an inwardly circumcised heart? Several biblical passages describe the “fruit” displayed by those truly devoted to God:
– They have repented of past sins and seek to live righteous lives in God’s power (Acts 3:19, Romans 6:13)
– They demonstrate the fruit of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
– They seek first God’s kingdom and are storing up eternal treasure rather than pursuing worldly pleasures (Matthew 6:33, Matthew 6:19-21)
– They regularly study God’s word to renew their thinking and become more like Christ (Romans 12:2, Psalm 119:11)
– They pray, worship, and have fellowship with other believers as spiritual disciplines (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Hebrews 10:25)
– They generously serve and care for others, especially those in need (Matthew 25:35-40, James 1:27)
– They tell others about salvation in Christ and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8)
– They are humble and honest about ongoing sin struggles in their lives (1 John 1:8-10, James 5:16)
While an inwardly circumcised heart manifests itself through outward actions, the external behaviors alone don’t guarantee someone’s heart is fully devoted to God. But a transformed heart will inevitably lead to a changed life bearing good spiritual fruit.
How To Get a Circumcised Heart
The Bible makes it clear that we cannot circumcise our own hearts. Just like the Israelites could not perform their own physical circumcision, neither can we renew our hearts through sheer determination. Paul says “circumcision is made without hands,” a divine work of the Holy Spirit (Colossians 2:11). God initiates it; we just need to respond.
First, we must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. When we turn from sin and believe in His death and resurrection to redeem us, we become God’s children and receive new spiritual life (John 1:12-13). The Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, guiding us into righteousness.
However, we have an ongoing role in the heart circumcision process. Salvation is just the beginning. We actively cooperate with God’s work in us through spiritual practices like Bible study, prayer, fasting, worship, fellowship and serving others. As we fill our minds with God’s truth and yield to His leadership, our thoughts and desires gradually transform.
Heart circumcision also happens as we confess sins and experience God’s loving discipline and correction. Though painful at times, submitting to God’s refinement melts away impurities and prepares us for greater intimacy with Him.
Lastly, we must believe God can radically change our hearts, no matter how firmly sin seems entrenched. Faith unleashes His supernatural power. When we feel discouraged, we can ask others to pray with us for fresh inner renewal. God promises to complete His circumcision work in our hearts as we walk with Him day by day (Philippians 1:6).
A Prayer for Circumcision of the Heart
Here is a sample prayer asking God for deeper heart circumcision based on biblical truth:
“Lord, I confess my heart is often far from You. Fleshly desires lure me away from your perfect will. Sinful thoughts take root without warning. Selfish motives corrupt my outward actions. I cannot make myself pure through willpower alone. I need your Holy Spirit’s radical, supernatural intervention to transform me from the inside out. Please circumcise my heart through the power of Christ. Cut away all that separates me from intimate relationship with You. Instill new desires to seek Your kingdom first and live righteously by Your strength. Renew my mind according to Your Word. Purify my emotions so they reflect Your peace and joy. Fill me afresh with Your love so I can freely love others. Create a clean heart within me, attentive to Your voice alone. Circumcise my inner being so all people see Jesus living through me for Your glory. Thank you that nothing is impossible for You. I surrender my heart to your cleansing work today.”
Conclusion
Circumcision of the heart is an important biblical concept that highlights the inward transformation God wants for every believer. External religious rituals alone cannot make someone righteous before God. We need the Holy Spirit to radically renew our thoughts, emotions, desires, motivations – our entire inner being. As we yield to God’s work, the “flesh” of sinful tendencies is stripped away so our hearts become fully devoted to Him. This lifelong process requires faith and active cooperation through spiritual disciplines. But the wonderful result is intimacy with Christ and the ability to powerfully demonstrate His kingdom and love to the world. God promises to finish the “spiritual surgery” He started in every submitted heart. We simply must say “yes” to His scalpel so every part of us aligns with His glorious purposes.