Lord’s Day, Vol. 13 No. 30
Circumcision and Consecration of Christ (Luke 2:21-35)
The Old Testament Law in Leviticus 12:1-8 delineated a forty-day purification for the mother after the birth of a son consisting of seven days before the circumcision of the child and thirty-three days after. There was this period of confinement that Mary, the mother of Jesus observed.
Leviticus 12:1-8 (KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. 3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. 5 But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days. 6And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: 7 Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. 8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
The Old Testament law required that every firstborn male, whether human or animal to be dedicated to the LORD. Firstborn animals were to be offered as a sacrifice. For the male child in Israel, the LORD would accept the Levities as His own tribe instead of the firstborn sons. However, a redemption price of five shekels was to be paid. Notice, there was no mention of our Lord’s redemption but wholly dedicated to the LORD.
Exodus 13:2 (KJV) Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, bothof man and of beast: it is mine. … 12 That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’S.
Luke 2:23 (KJV) (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
The dedications of sons was carried out in the Temple – Nehemiah 10:35-36 (KJV) And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD: 36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God: [Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary]
Our Lord’s circumcision was a public testimony to Israel, that according to the flesh, He was a Jew, made of a Jewish woman, and “made under the law.” (Gal. 4:4). Without it He would not have fulfilled the law’s requirement. Without it He could not have been recognized as the son of David and the seed of Abraham. [JC Ryle]
God calls this saving relationship an “everlasting covenant” – a covenant of salvation from generation to generation – Genesis 17:7 (KJV) And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
The LORD gave the sign and symbol to mark that covenant relationship. He said that Abraham was to be circumcised, and this circumcision was to be a sign of the covenant salvation – Genesis 17:11 (KJV) And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. [Infant Baptism – John P. Sartelle]
Circumcision was absolutely necessary before our Lord could be heard as a teacher in Israel. Without it He would have had no place in any lawful Jewish assembly, and no right to any Jewish ordinance. Without it He would have been regarded by all Jews as nothing better than an uncircumcised Gentile, and an apostate from the faith of the fathers. [JC Ryle]
Lenski observed well, “The act of circumcision made Jesus a member of the covenant people and thereby placed Him under the law (Gal. 4:4). It was legally performed on the eighth day (Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3). So Jesus was formally obligated to fulfil the divine law. No ordinary Jew could fulfil that obligation because he sinned often and thus required the sacrifices to remove his sins and to keep him in the covenant. But Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the law perfectly, not for Himself, but in order to redeem (buy free) us who are under the law and cannot fulfil it. The Lawgiver make Himself subject to that law as it is connected with the Abrahamic covenant. The circumcision is thus on a par with the baptism of Jesus.”
Baptism signifies the outward expression of the inward work of the Holy Spirit to regenerate a man, whose sins are borne by Christ on the cross effected through faith, and is risen with Him in the resurrection to receive the gift of eternal life.
Baptism signifies cleansing from sin and directly signifies our acceptance of the atonement of Christ accomplished on the cross.
Jesus being circumcised was not meant in the least as an acknowledgement that there was any tendency to corruption in His heart. It was not a confession of inclination to evil, and of need of grace to mortify the deeds of the body. All this should be borne in mind. [JC Ryle]
Circumcision like baptism indicates that the stains of sin have been removed, setting the person apart for a holy life – Acts 22:16 (KJV) And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
When Jesus began His ministry, He emphatically said in Matthew 5:17 (KJV) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Notice that Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the LORD. It was the faith of Mary and Joseph in action to fulfil the covenant and invoke all its promises.
Circumcision was the sign of salvation in the Old Testament just as baptism was the sign of salvation in the New Testament. God tells Abraham to apply this sign of salvation to infants born into His house. Abraham was a sinner saved by grace through faith. God made circumcision a sign of salvation. The sign of salvation was to be given to infants of believing parents, just as it was for Mary and Joseph who brought Jesus to be dedicated to the LORD (v22).
Today, we ask this to believing parents who bring their child for infant baptism:
Do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavour to set before him a good example, that you will pray with and for him, that you will teach him the doctrines of our holy faith, and that you will strive, by all the means of God’s appointment, to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?
Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee