The Jews used to be able to boast in the CEREMONIAL/PURIFICATION works…that is the works they used to boast in.
Foolish woman.
Their boast was in
the whole law.
Romans 2:17-25 KJV
(17) Behold, thou art called
a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
(18) And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of
the law;
(19) And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
(20) An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in
the law.
(21) Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man
should not steal, dost thou steal?
(22) Thou that sayest a man
should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that
abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
(23)
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through
breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
(24) For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
(25) For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep
the law: but if thou be a breaker of
the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Just as James says in James chapter 2 concerning "faith without works is dead".
He's talking about the whole law, not just ceremonial parts of it.
James 2:10-11 KJV
(10) For whosoever shall keep
the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of
all.
(11) For he that said,
Do not commit adultery, said also,
Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of
the law.