Heart Circumcision

"Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings." (Jeremiah 4: 4 KJV)

What is circumcision of the heart? How does one "take away" the "foreskins" of the "heart"? In physical circumcision, excess skin is removed from the male body part. In spiritual circumcision, something is cut away or surgically removed from the heart. What is it?

"To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it." (Jeremiah 6: 10 KJV)

"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." (Acts 7: 51 KJV)

Uncircumcision of heart includes the "ear."

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23: 7 KJV)

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4: 23 KJV)

The "heart" is the source of man's thoughts, feelings, and desires. It is where he "hears" mentally, where he receives thoughts and ideas, and where he understands, and where cognition occurs. It is where he inwardly listens and pays attention. It is the place where decisions and choices are made, and where plans and intentions are formulated. It is the place of wisdom and fear, the place of both condemnation (guilt) and salvation, of both sin and righteousness.

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ." (Colossians 2: 10, 11 KJV)

This "putting off," mentioned by Paul, is no doubt the same thing Jeremiah spoke of as a "cutting away." Paul says the "body (foreskin) of the sins of the flesh" are removed. It involves what is called spiritual circumcision of the heart, by both prophet and apostle.

This surgical operation done by Christ and the Father through the Holy Spirit, is a radical procedure and has lasting results. The organ of sin that is "cut away" in this heart and ear circumcision can never be put back. Spiritual deafness is cured. Heart disease, hardness, coldness, and deadness of heart, is remedied. The disposition to and craving for sin is removed.

"For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." (Romans 2: 25-29 KJV)

"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3: 3 KJV)

Father, circumcise our hearts and ears!