How Would They Know?

“Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.” (Eze 44:9 AV)

Apparently, there was a time when those who were not qualified entered into the sanctuary of God to perform the duties assigned solely to the Levite.  Of note, though, is the requirement here.  The circumcision of both the heart and the flesh cannot be readily seen.  Both are hidden by the outward.  Circumcision of the flesh is hidden by the garment.  Circumcision of the heart can be hidden by conversation (in the biblical sense).  So, the question arises, how does the Priesthood police its own?  How do they tell.  Circumcision of the flesh is easily discerned.  A physical exam would reveal the truth.  But what of the later?  What of the circumcision of the heart?  How is that discerned?

Let us be clear here.  The mandate is not for those who wish to come and offer sacrifice for their own sin.  This mandate, at least that of circumcision of the heart, is not a requirement to enter the temple.  The former would be.  But not of the heart.  What the LORD is saying here is there must be a standard for those who would serve in the temple.  It is upon this we wish to meditate.  God has given a high standard for those who wish to stand before the throne of God and minister on behalf of others.  This standard has to be discerned in some way.  There has to be an outward manifestation of an inward condition.  What might that be?

A thought persists in this passage.  Perhaps a question would better explain the concern.  If a Levite would be unwilling to be circumcised in the flesh, would it also follow that he would not be separated unto the law?  Perhaps.  Regardless, there has got to be some indication that the servant of the LORD is not separated unto the law of God.  What my fear is for myself and others is that perhaps our minimum standards have slipped.  There is no one who is perfectly blameless.  However, that doesn’t mean the servant of God cannot strive to be.  It is up to those of us called to serve that we do just that.  Not just circumcised in the flesh (conforming to the law) but circumcised in the heart wherein the LORD Jesus Christ is the love of our lives.