律法与割礼是犹太人的记号，这两者使犹太人与外邦人分别开来。犹太人是自视甚高的民族，他们自认有上帝律法，知道上帝的旨意，是外邦人的亮光，有责任教导世上其它的国家认识上帝。但保罗却引用旧约先知以赛亚的话说：「上帝的名在外邦人中因你们受了亵渎」。

犹太人又奉行割礼，以此显示自己与外邦人有所分别，是被上帝所拣选的人，是上帝立约的对象，永远不会落入地狱的刑罚里面。但保罗却说，真正的割礼不是外表的，而是心里的割礼。

为何保罗自己身为犹太人，要反过来批判自己人呢？当他遇见耶稣，被上帝光照之后，他发现自己所做的一切，不但没有被肯定，向他显现的耶稣还对他说：「你为什么迫害我？」（使徒行传9:1-31）

保罗本身是严守律法的法利赛人，他很清楚没有人能守全上帝的律法。但遇见耶稣后他才醒悟到，他过去的法利赛人生涯，完全是活在虚妄里面。明明自己做不到律法的要求，却装得好像自己做得到似的，又强迫别人要做到。

不过，无法守全律法不是问题，因为本来就没有人做得到。最大的问题是──即使做不到，却因着喜欢受人的称赞，而继续过着伪君子的生活。

我们到底该受谁的称赞呢？喜欢受人的称赞，我们就会变得伪善。唯有坦诚自己的有限，让圣灵在我们心里行割礼，使我们成为一个新造的人，我们才有可能得到上帝的称赞。

简体圣经 | https://www.bible.com/bible/140/ROM.2.RCUVSS

繁體聖經 | https://www.bible.com/bible/139/ROM.2.RCUV

Law and circumcision are the symbols of the Jews, which set them apart from the Gentiles. The Jews considered themselves a superior nation, as they believed they had God's law and knew His will. They saw themselves as a light to the nations and had the responsibility to teach other nations to know God. However, Paul quoted the prophet Isaiah from the Old Testament, saying, ‘The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.'

The Jews also practised circumcision as a way to distinguish themselves from the Gentiles, as they believed they were the chosen people of God and were the recipients of God's covenant, and would never fall into the punishment of hell. But Paul said that true circumcision is not external, but internal, in the heart.

Why did Paul, as a Jew himself, turn around and criticize his own people? When he met Jesus and was illuminated by the great light of God, he realized that everything he had done was not recognised by God. Jesus also asked him, 'Why are you persecuting me?' (Acts 9:1-31)

Paul himself was a strict follower of the law as a Pharisee, and he was very aware that no one could keep all of God's laws. But after meeting Jesus, he realized that his past life as a Pharisee was completely lived in vanity. He clearly could not fulfil the requirements of the law himself, yet he pretended as if he could and even forced others to do so."

However, the problem is not that we cannot keep all the laws, because no one can. The biggest problem is that even though we cannot do it, we continue to live a hypocritical life because we love to receive flattering praise from others.

Who should we seek praise from? If we love to receive praise from people, we will easily prone to become hypocrites. Only by being honest about our limitations and allowing the Holy Spirit to circumcise our hearts can we become new creations and have the possibility of receiving God's praise.

Reading the Bible | https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.2.ESV