Formality is, perhaps, the most besetting sin of the human mind. It is against this error, the besetting error of humanity, and preeminently the besetting error of the Jewish mind that Paul directs the words before us. And it is very noticeable, that he does not condescend to argue the matter.
External observances are of no avail to justify the sinner.
He will become a religious man, and surely that will save him. His whole course of life is now changed. Before, it may be, he neglected the outward ordinances of religion. But now his whole usages are reversed, his whole course is changed. He looks back now to his baptism with a soothing complacency, and sits down to eat the children's bread at the Table of the Lord.