Commentaries:
Remember, the overall subject here is justification by faith. Circumcison is certainly permissible, as Acts 16 says that Paul circumcised Timothy, so he is not talking about the actual cutting away of the foreskin. Here, though, circumcision stands for keeping the ceremonial additions to the law for the purpose of receiving justification. Circumcision is a symbol that stands for the whole law. We know this because he writes, "He is a debtor to the whole law." It is obvious that the whole law is not physically binding upon us, as the ceremonies—the various washings, sacrifices, and offerings—do not have to be kept.
However, there is no shortcut to discerning which laws are binding and which are not. We would like things to be tied up in neat little boxes, but God has not chosen to do it that way. We must study—comparing scripture with scripture—especially the words and examples of Christ and His apostles. We must also meditate, seeking God's will.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Covenants, Grace and Law (Part 18)
Does Circumcision Oblige a Man to Keep the Whole Law (Galatians 5:3)?
To be properly understood this verse must be seen in its overall context. Paul is explaining to the Galatians how they have spiritually regressed by allowing certain brethren to convince them that they had to practice Judaism to be justified (Galatians 3:1-9). On the contrary, he argues, we are justified by faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ—that is, God wipes the record of our sins clean because of our belief in and commitment to Christ as our personal Savior (verses 11-14).
The question arises, then, what purpose is the law, specifically the Jewish law, often called the Old Covenant (verse 19)? His answer is that this law was a guide and a guard to restrain and preserve God's chosen people until Messiah came to reveal the gospel and the process of salvation (verses 23-25). That covenant, the tutor that brought us to Christ, is now passing away, no longer needed by God's begotten children, who have made a better covenant founded on better promises (Hebrews 8:7-13; see Galatians 4:21-31).
Christians, then, have no need to practice Old Covenant rituals, the chief of which was the sign of the covenant, circumcision. All Israelite males entered the Old Covenant by being circumcised on the eighth day of their lives (Genesis 17:9-14; Leviticus 12:1-3). This obligated them to keep the whole covenant—all the laws and rituals contained in it—for only by observing every detail of it could an Israelite hope to conform to it. Thus, if a Christian thinks he can be righteous before God by observing Old Covenant practices, he must go the whole nine yards: tassels on his garments, phylacteries, washings, etc.!
Paul says that there is no justification before God even if one should do all these things! Notice Galatians 5:6: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love [avails]." Only by faith in Christ Jesus is a person justified. We are saved by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once we are justified, however, God's spiritual law—codified principles of God's love (John 14:15; I John 5:2-3)—becomes our guide to acceptable Christian behavior (Romans 7:7, 12, 24-25; 13:8-10; I Corinthians 7:19; James 1:21-27; etc.).
Additional Reading:
Saved By Faith Alone?
Was God's Law Nailed to the Cross?
What Was the Law 'Added Because of Transgressions'?
Forms vs. Spirituality (Part 5)
Forms vs. Spirituality (Part 6)
The Covenants, Grace and Law (Part 4)
The Covenants, Grace and Law (Part 6)
Why We Must Put Out Leaven
Library resources that contain this verse:
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