Chapter 3, Verse 5 “…circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;”
Make no mistake about it. Paul fully understands the Jewish mindset. He is a Jew of Jews. He grasps completely the value of circumcision among his Jewish friends and brethren. Paul had also placed confidence in the covenant of circumcision and his place in the Jewish genealogy of families. He was a descendant of Abraham and also a part of the tribes of Judah. Paul told the Corinthians that whatever other Hebrews could say, he could boast right along with them. He was as much an Israelite as any of them. (2 Cor. 11:21ff)
What about Paul’s stance on the law? He was a Pharisee. Hard to think of Paul that way but before his conversion he identified with that group. He demanded a strict interpretation of the law and he was well trained in its teachings. The Pharisees were known not only for their orthodox interpretation of the law but for their added interpretations and traditions.
Task for Today: Like Paul, we must not be bound by what we were or what we believed in the past. All that matters is what we learn as truth today. As the scriptures unveil God’s will to us, we must alter our understanding and belief and accept God’s teachings. The book of Acts gives example after example of those who heard the good news from Peter and other teachers and changed to accept the new news from God.
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