Implications for Believers
For believers, Christ's fulfillment of the Sabbath means that the observance of a specific day is no longer a legalistic requirement but a spiritual reality. The Apostle Paul addresses this in
Colossians 2:16-17 , "
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a festival, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ." The Sabbath, as a shadow, finds its substance in Christ, who provides eternal rest.
So let’s bring more context into Col 2:16-17. There are more than one sabbath in the Scripture. Paul was told to spread the gospel, not change God's commandments written by God Himself, that God promised He would not alter. Psa 89:34 Mat 5:18 If we look at the context closely its obvious Paul is not contradicting Jesus who is God on His holy Sabbath- God's own Testimony, that is in heaven Exo 15:5 Rev 11:19 where His word is settled Psa 119:89. God blessed, man cannot take away God's blessing or sanctification. Almost all Scripture on the Sabbath has a thus saith the Lord- God blessed, man cannot reverse Num 23:20 and Paul's writings came with a significant warning 2 Peter 3:16 so we must be very careful with his writings and compare it to other Scriptures, such a Jesus own testimony saying His Sabbath would not end at the Cross but His faithful would be keeping 40 years after Mat 24:20 and also for eternity Isa 66:23
Col 2:14 Blotting out the
handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
So these are things that are against man. Is the Sabbath that is holy, sanctified and blessed by God against man?
Lets look at what Jesus said:
Mat 2:28 The Sabbath
was made for man
The Sabbath was made
for man, what God makes for man is not against us. The Sabbath is blessed and sanctified by God, its not the definition of contrary and against.
Context doesn't fit. Basically with this understanding it is saying God was against man from Creation and made the Sabbath to be contrary and against right from the beginning. This is a very sad teaching and one not coming from God. God made Creation according to His perfect will and plan when the Sabbath started Exo 20:11 Gen 2:1-3 made for man Mark 2:27
So looking at the immediate context shows clearly Paul is not speaking of the Sabbath commandment. Nor does Paul have the authority to change God's written and spoken Testimony
Exo 31:18 the words of the covenant
Exo 34:28 that God promised He would not alter
Psa 89:34 they went from written on tables of stone to written on tablets of the heart
2 Cor 3:3 Heb 8:10 because God keeps His promises.
Right here is enough to know Paul is not referring to the Sabbath commandment, but lets keep going.
This is what Paul is quoting the law he is referring to is from
Deu 31:24 And it came to pass, when
Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
Deu 31:25 That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,
Deu 31:26 Take
this book of the law, and
put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may
be there for a witness against thee.
The laws that were beside the ark of the Covenant handwritten by Moses, there as a witness
against, the context of
Col 2:14
But lets look at this verse closer
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge
you in meat, or
in drink, or in respect of
an holyday, or of
the new moon, or of
the sabbath days:
The Greek word for sabbath here is plural not singular. So its not speaking of "The" Sabbath day "The holy day of the Lord" as already seen in the context.
Paul is quoting Ezekiel all of the sacrifices and offerings.
Eze 45:17 And it shall be the prince's part to give
burnt offerings, and
meat offerings, and
drink offerings, in the feasts, and
in the new moons, and
in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel:
he shall prepare the sin offering, and
the meat offering, and the
burnt offering, and the
peace offerings,
to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.
What was predicted would end when Jesus came?
Dan 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."
So this is not about any of the Ten Commandments but about the food and drink offerings, feast days that some were also annual sabbath(s) that were handwritten by Moses placed besides the ark of the covenant that came after the fall of man. The Sabbath started at Creation before sin
Exo 20:11 so can't be a "shadow" of anything as it is part of God's perfect plan before sin took over and a need for a plan of salvation.
Why if you look at the next verse it clearly shows what it is referring to which works in perfect harmony with the context
Col 2:17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Heb 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things,
can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
Heb 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
Heb 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. (contrary and against)
Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Heb 10:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "
SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU DID NOT DESIRE, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME.
Heb 10:6 IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES FOR SIN YOU HAD NO PLEASURE.
Heb 10:7 THEN I SAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME—IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME—TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.' "
Heb 10:8 Previously saying,
"SACRIFICE AND OFFERING, BURNT OFFERINGS, AND OFFERINGS FOR SIN YOU DID NOT DESIRE, NOR HAD PLEASURE IN THEM" (which are offered according to the law),
Heb 10:9 then He said, "BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD."
He takes away the first that He may establish the second.
Exo 12:17 43 So the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: This is the
ordinance of the Passover:
1Co 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed
Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
There is so much more evidence I could provide like comparing what Jesus said which in using
Col 2:14-16 against the Sabbath commandment contradicts His teachings. Hopefully this will be looked at in prayer as I know this is a popular teaching, but the context does not fit the Sabbath commandment written by the finger of God that is part of God's holy and eternal law
Mat 5:18-19 Isa 66:23
