I am not a Jew. Yet I have believed that Jesus is the Messiah and have been actively living within that belief for so long that this passage is relevant to me (28).
I do not rely on the law for establishing and maintaining an eternal relationship with God because I know and accept my weaknesses, failures, and sins. Stated another way, I want to do what is best and avoid what is not, yet no matter how much I do so I have accepted the scriptural truth that as long as I am in the flesh part of me cannot get it absolutely right all the time.
Do I somewhere in me still rely on anything other than God’s grace and mercy in my relationship with Jesus, an eternal home with him in Paradise, and being forever in his loves ecstasy? You see, herein lies a weakness of mine; self-righteousness and pride (23). This is one way I cannot get it right all the time.
I want God to praise me (29). I want to hear the, “Well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things. Come share your master’s happiness.” (Matt. 25:21) Yet, in truth all I really can say is, “I am an unworthy servant. I have only done my duty.” (Luke 17:10) If my heart has even a hint of self-righteous pride, then I need grace all the more. I need circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit (28).