Jeremiah 9:25,26 - I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh

9:25,26

In the early days of the church we know that circumcision was a big issue, it being the centrepiece of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, and of the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15. Back in Deuteronomy it speaks of being circumcised in the heart (Deut 10:16), and here God declares that the mere physical act of circumcision counted for nothing. It was always meant to symbolise something much deeper. In the same way one might say that the physical act of baptism is worthless unless it is accompanied by a heart of faith. See the list of nations in v26, Judah appears alongside Egypt, Edom, Ammon and Moab. God is concerned above all else with the condition of our hearts. This was a point that Jesus emphasised during His time on earth.