Shabbethai and Jozabad, leaders of the Levites, were in charge of the external work for the temple of God;

Just as ritual circumcision cuts away the foreskin as an external symbol of dedicated covenant commitment, you must genuinely dedicate yourselves to the Lord and get rid of everything that hinders your commitment to me, people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. If you do not, my anger will blaze up like a flaming fire against you that no one will be able to extinguish. That will happen because of the evil you have done."

Do not judge according to external appearance, but judge with proper judgment."

Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

They served only for matters of food and drink and various washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new order came.

Let your beauty not be external -- the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes --