Here is the text again.
Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. Things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
According to the scriptures Colossians 2:16 is in context to the meat and the drink offerings, the new Moons and the sabbaths (plural) in the Feast days that were shadows of things to come *Colossians 2:17. It is
not a scripture reference saying Gods' 4th commandment of the 10 commandments is now abolished as Gods' 4th commandment is
not a "
shadow law" of anything because it points
backwards as a memorial of creation
not forward to things to come.
Your mixing up the ceremonial sabbaths (genitive neuter plural GNP) in the Feast days connected to the
annual Feasts and the old covenant laws for remission of sins with Gods' 4th commandment of the 10 commandments that is also outside of the annual feast days that give us the knowledge of what sin is when broken *Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7.
In Colossians 2:16, Paul is referring to Ezekiel 45:17 which are the sabbaths in the Feast days. The
plural for sabbaths here in Colossians 2:16 and Ezekiel 45:17 shows in both passages that
context is to the
meat and drink offerings,
new moons and the
sabbaths (plural) in the
Feast days. We of course are talking about all the sabbath under the old covenant linked into the Mosaic laws for remission of sin and animal sacrifices in the
annual feast days which are the
shadows of things to come pointing to Jesus. For example...
The Continual Burnt Offering (
daily)
Numbers 28:3-8 [3], And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering. [4], The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even [5], And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil. [6], It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. [7], And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering. [8], And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Sabbath offerings (
weekly)
Numbers 28:9-10 [9], And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:
[10], This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
New Moon offerings (
Monthly animal sacrifice)
Numbers 28:11-13 [11], And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;
[12], And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram; [13], And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savoir, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. [14], And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year. [15], And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
Passover/Unleavened Bread (Passover animal sacrifices)
Numbers 28:11-24 [11], And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;
[12], And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram; [13], And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savoir, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. [14], And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year. [15], And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. [16], And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD. [17], And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
[18], In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein: [19], But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish: [20], And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;
[21], A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
[22], And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.
[23], Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. [24], After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savoir unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.[25], And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.
Day of First Fruits (animal sacrifices)
Numbers 28:26-31 [26], Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: [27], But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year; [28], And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram, [29], A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs; [30], And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. [31], Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.
Feast of Trumpet (Prior to the Day of Atonement; animal sacrifices and High Priest)
Numbers 29:1-6
[1], And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.
[2], And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savoir unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish:
[3], And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram,
[4], And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
[5], And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:
[6], Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savoir, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur; animal sacrifices and High Priest)
Leviticus 16:5-10, 20-22 [5] From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. [6] “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. [7] Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. [8] He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat. 9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. [10] But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat ....[20] “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. [21] He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. [22] The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.
Numbers 29:7-11
[7], And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:
[8], But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto you without blemish:
[9], And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram,
[10], A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
[11], One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings.
Feast of Tabernacles (Feast of booths; animal sacrifice)
Numbers 29:12-40 [12], And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:[13], And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish: [14], And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams, [15], And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs: [16], And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. [17], And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: [18], And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: [19], And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings. [20], And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish; [21], And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: [22], And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. [23], And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: [24], Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: [25], And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. [26], And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:[27], And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: [28], And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. [29], And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: [30], And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: [31], And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. [32], And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: [33], And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: [34], And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. [35], On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein:[36], But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savoir unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish: [37], Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: [38], And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. [39], These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings. [40], And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.
..............
As shown above under the old covenant Mosiac laws for remission of sins and animal sacrifice were a very important part of not only daily but weekly (Sabbath), new moons, and the annual Feast days. These practices of course being "shadows of things to come" *
Colossians 2:17 and the body being of Christ. Therefore under the new covenant these laws have no application in the new earth as old covenant "shadow laws" did. That said why cant God make new appointed times based on new moons and Sabbaths for all to come and worship Him in the new earth (
Isaiah 66:22-23)?
According to the scriptures, beside the "seventh day Sabbath of God's 4th commandment which is simply every "seventh day" of the week meaning it is inside the annual Feast days and outside of the annual Feast days (because it is continually every "seventh day") there were sabbaths that where only annual ceremonial sabbaths that were connected directly to the Feast days that were not Gods' 4th commandment that could fall on any day of the week depending on the yearly cycle. These annual ceremonial shadow sabbaths connected to the Feast days included; (1) Feast of Unleavened Bread (first and last day) *
Leviticus 23:6-8 (2) Feast of Trumpets *
Leviticus 23:24-25 (3) Day of Atonement *
Leviticus 23:27-32 (4) Feast of Booths *
Leviticus 23:34-36 (5) Feast of First Fruits *
Leviticus 23:39 (6) Feast days of Holy convocation of
no work (sabbaton
Colossians 2:16 *
Leviticus 23:7-8; 21;24; 27; 35-36.
As shown from the scriptures above it is these "
ceremonial shadow sabbaths" connected to the
annual Feast days and the old covenant
laws for remission of sins that are "shadows of things to come"
not God's 4th commandment of God's 10 commandments that give us the knowledge of what sin is when broken (Romans 7:7).
Take care.