Galatians 6:13 – “Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.”

Extended Explanation

Paul is exposing the hypocrisy of the false teachers in Galatia. These people were pushing circumcision as a requirement for salvation, yet Paul points out that they themselves did not fully obey the law.

His message is clear:

1. The law is impossible to keep perfectly. The false teachers acted as if circumcision made someone righteous, but the truth is that no one could fully obey God’s law (James 2:10).
2. They were motivated by pride, not truth. These teachers wanted to boast about how many converts they could get to follow Jewish customs. They weren’t interested in real spiritual transformation—just in looking successful.
3. Religious rituals alone don’t change the heart. Circumcision was an outward act, but salvation is about an inner change through faith in Christ.

Paul’s point is that external religious acts cannot save anyone—only Jesus can.

Historical Context

The early Christian church struggled with the question of whether Gentile believers had to follow Jewish laws, including circumcision. Some Jewish Christians (especially the group known as the Judaizers) insisted that Gentiles must obey the Law of Moses to be truly saved.

Paul strongly opposed this. He had already argued in Galatians 2:16 that people are justified by faith in Jesus, not by works of the law.

In this verse, Paul is exposing the double standard of these false teachers:

• They were pushing circumcision, yet they themselves didn’t fully obey God’s law.
• Their goal was not to bring people closer to God but to win converts and boost their own reputation.

Paul wanted the Galatians to see that true righteousness comes from Christ, not from religious rituals.

Theological Implications

This verse teaches several key truths:

• Legalism is hypocritical. Those who try to impose religious rules on others often fail to keep them themselves.
• External rituals don’t produce true righteousness. God is concerned with the heart, not just outward actions.
• Spiritual pride is dangerous. The false teachers cared more about looking successful than about leading people to God.
• Faith in Christ is the only way to be right with God. No amount of religious rule-keeping can replace faith in Jesus.

This verse warns against man-made religion that focuses on outward appearance rather than true faith in Christ.

Literary Analysis

Paul’s tone in this verse is confrontational—he is exposing the false motives of the Judaizers.

• “Not even those who are circumcised keep the law” – This is a direct accusation. Paul is reminding the Galatians that even the strictest religious people fail to obey God’s law perfectly.
• “Yet they want you to be circumcised” – Paul is pointing out their double standard—they demand obedience from others but don’t fully obey themselves.
• “That they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh” – This reveals their true motivation: pride. They weren’t concerned with genuine faith, only with increasing their numbers.

Paul is showing that legalism leads to arrogance, not true holiness.

Biblical Cross-References

• Matthew 23:2-4 – “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” (Jesus condemned religious leaders for hypocrisy.)
• James 2:10 – “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” (No one can keep God’s law perfectly.)
• Romans 2:28-29 – “A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.” (True faith is about the heart, not outward rituals.)
• Philippians 3:2-3 – “Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.” (Paul warns against trusting in outward religious acts.)

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

Even though circumcision is not a major issue in the church today, the principle behind this verse still applies. Many people are tempted to focus on external religious acts instead of true faith in Christ.

For today’s Christian, this verse is a warning against:

• Legalism – The idea that following rules and traditions can make us righteous before God.
• Spiritual pride – Thinking that outward religious actions (church attendance, Bible knowledge, good deeds) make us better than others.
• Hypocrisy – Teaching one thing but living another way.

Instead, Christians should focus on true faith in Jesus, a changed heart, and genuine love for God and others.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is not based on human effort. He does not demand religious rituals—He desires a real relationship with His people.

• God cares about the heart, not outward appearances. He loves us because of who He is, not because of what we do (1 Samuel 16:7).
• God’s love is not earned. Unlike the false teachers who tried to add requirements to salvation, God freely offers grace through Jesus Christ.
• God does not play favorites. He does not base His love on rituals or traditions but on faith in Christ.

This verse reminds us that God is not impressed by religious performance—He wants sincere faith.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus directly confronted the kind of hypocrisy Paul describes in this verse.

• Matthew 23:27 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” (Jesus condemned those who focused on outward religion while ignoring their hearts.)
• Mark 7:6-7 – “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” (Jesus warned against man-made religious traditions.)
• John 6:29 – “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (Salvation is about faith in Jesus, not religious rituals.)
• Romans 3:28 – “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” (Paul emphasizes that salvation comes through faith alone.)

Jesus fulfilled the law so that we do not have to rely on rituals for righteousness. Instead, we are saved by trusting in His finished work on the cross.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to rely on outward religious acts instead of true faith?
2. Have you ever seen spiritual pride or hypocrisy in yourself or others? How should Christians guard against it?
3. What does it mean to have true righteousness in Christ, rather than relying on works?
4. How can you help others understand that salvation is by faith alone, not by religious rules?
5. How does Jesus’ teaching on the heart over outward appearance challenge the way you live your faith?

This verse is a strong reminder that Christianity is about faith in Jesus, not religious performance. Paul calls us to reject legalism, refuse to seek human approval, and rest in the righteousness that comes from Christ alone.