"Physician, Heal Thyself"

^[17] Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; ^[18] if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; ^[19] if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, ^[20] an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth- ^[21] you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? ^[22] You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ^[23] You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? ^[24] As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." ^[25] Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. ^[26] If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? ^[27] The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. ^[28] A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. ^[29] No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.