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; Col 2:14
Paul says that the “handwriting” of “ordinances” that were “against us” were that which CHRIST JESUS was “blotting out” and “nailing it to his cross”.
Let us take a closer look at these specific words and terms.
“Handwriting” [English]: “cheirographon” [Tr Greek], “χειρόγραφον” [Greek] meaning: “1) a handwriting, what one has written by his own hand. 2) a note of hand or writing in which one acknowledges that money has either been deposited with him or lent to him by another, to be returned at the appointed time” [SC]
“Ordinances” [English]: “dogma” [Tr Greek], “δόγμα” [Greek] meaning: “1) doctrine, decree, ordinance a) of public decrees b) of the Roman Senate c) of rulers 2) the rules and requirements of the law of Moses; carrying a suggestion of severity and of threatened judgment 3) of certain decrees of the apostles relative to right living”[SC]
Look at another text, Paul uses the same phraseology:
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; (Eph 2:15)
Paul specifically says the "law of commandments [contained] IN ordinances", which is not the TEN COMMANDMENTS, which are "spiritual" [Rom 7:14].
Paul is speaking specifically of "ordinances".
Let us now consider another place more than likely written by Paul:
Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. Heb 9:1
[Which stood] only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed [on them] until the time of reformation. Heb 9:10
Since Paul knew the scriptures, for he was a Roman freeborn citizen [Acts 22:28], once Saul born of Tarsus, in Cilicia, raised at the feet of Gamaliel [Acts 5:34, 9:11], born a Jew, circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel [Phil 3:5], an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin [Rom 11:1] and raised as a Pharisee [Acts 26:5], though now filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, and writing the Epistle to the Colossae, and was using the terminology found in the Old Testament, let us also look there and see where Paul is drawing this language from:
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. Dt 31:26
"... I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. Dt 31:28
"...Moses wrote all the words of the LORD,..." Ex 24:4
And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi ..." Dt 31:9
"...Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, Dt 31:24
And they removed the burnt offerings, ... to offer unto the LORD, as [it is] written in the book of Moses. And so [did they] with the oxen. 2 Chron 35:12
Who wrote the “ordinances”?
It was Moses.
By what were they written?
His own hand, his "handwriting".
Where were they written?
In a Book (paper/parchment/scroll).
What did they contain?
Things related to "meats and drinks" [offerings/sacrifice], "diverse washings" [of sacrifice], "carnal ordinances" [relating to the "worldly sanctuary"], all of which were given apart from and after the Ten Commandments, which are specifically separated and identified as "Ten".
Where where they then placed?
"In the side" of the ARK, not "inside".
What were they witnesses as?
They were witnesses "against" them.
Were they given directly to the people by GOD's own voice?
No, they were given through Moses.
Let us now look at the TEN COMMANDMENTS:
"... two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. Ex 31:18
And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them [was written] according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. Dt 9:10
"And he took and put the testimony into the ark..." Ex 40:20
Who wrote the TEN COMMANDMENTS?
GOD
By what were they written?
FINGER of GOD
Where were they written?
Upon Two Stone Tables.
Where were they then placed?
IN the ARK.
Were they spoken through Moses or were they spoken by GOD to the whole nation?
They were spoken by GOD directly and audibly to all the peoples.
How many Commandments on the two tables of stone?
TEN COMMANDMENTS.
How many ordinances in the book?
Many more than ten.
The TEN COMMANDMENTS reveal sin.
The ordinances were given in type to reveal the SAVIOUR who was to come because of sin.
Are there clear distinctions between the two things according to scripture?
Absolutely:
First:
"And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, ..." Dt 4:12
And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, [even] ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. Dt 4:13
Then:
"And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments,..." Dt 4:14
Listen to the "Carnal Ordinances":
Which [was] a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Heb 9:9
"as pertaining to the conscience"
Yet Listen to the Moral, Spiritual Law, the Very Ten Commandments:
What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Rom 7:7
What then is Paul addressing in 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]: Col 2:16
He is addressing only those things which were considered under the "carnal ordinances", dealing with sacrifices, etc:
"meat and drink" offerings [daily]
"respect of an holy [heorte; feast] day" [seasonal]
"of the new moon" [monthly]
"of the sabbath [days]" [Yearly; plural sabbaths, which are the singular Yearly Seasonal ceremonial sabbaths, which also included the special 7th year and 50th Year ceremonial sabbaths; these are found given in Lev 23:4-44; 25]
Notice that the "seasonal" were completely distinct and separate from the 7th Day Sabbath [weekly] of the Lord thy God [Lev 23:3, 38], all the extra seasonal cermeonial sabbaths were given after and "besides the sabbaths of the Lord".
The 4th Commandment points out Creation and duty to God [morality, spiritual, before the sin of mankind], nowhere in the 4th Commandment is there anything to do with sacrifices, and then later were the ceremonial sabbaths which pointed to Christ Jesus and His ministry [temporary, given after sin of mankind, a shadow, associated with sacrifices].
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