Crossmovement,
here you go...enjoy.
~The Sabbath and Col. 2:16~
There is a widespread usage, (in Christianity today), of Col. 2:16 mention of the Sabbath as evidence that the seventh day Sabbath is no longer applicable as a command. Many believe that this mention somehow voids the one command which we are told to remember (Exo. 20:8-11), while strangely leaving the other nine commands intact.
In efforts to disprove such a theory, many Sabbath keepers have come up with a counter interpretation. In it they suggest that the Sabbath spoken of here is not the seventh day Sabbath at all, instead they insist that it is speaking of the ceremonial Sabbaths, (Lev. 23).
The truth of the matter is that neither such interpretation is correct, for both fall short in applying the context of this book and more specifically this chapter. That said, we will begin this study with a look at the context, then we will address the specifics of the passage in question.
The Context
Paul wrote his epistle to the church at Colossae for this purpose
Col. 1:9-11 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
We see that Paul sought to enlighten them, so they may apply this imparted knowledge to their Christian walk in the spiritual manner that is pleasing to the Lord.
Paul emphasizes the concept of Christs supremacy throughout this book. He uses it in a comparative nature when dealing with the Colossian heresy issues that were made known to him. These heresy issues are repetitively given the same general labeling throughout the 2nd chapter.
Col. 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Col. 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you
Col. 2:18 Let no man beguile you
Col. 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col. 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using; after the commandments and doctrines of men?
This gives us no doubt as to the common root of the heresy that Paul was dealing with, they were the worldly doctrines of men. He is contrasting the authority of Christ in all these matters, with that of mans. This alone dispels the idea that he was voiding the Sabbath command as issued by our Lord. Over and over we see Paul was denouncing mens doctrines about these issues and correctly informing us that such authority for doctrine is in Christ alone.
The Passage
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;
Many view this as indicating that the seventh day Sabbath was nailed to the cross and therefore no longer binding as a command. But, the passage in no way indicates such a thing. It tells us plainly that, the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, is what was nailed to the cross. Two verses later when it informs us, Let no man therefore judge you
of the sabbath, this is shown simply as the result of what is nailed to the cross. Nowhere does this passage actually indicate that the Lords Sabbath was nailed to it.
Let us examine that idea for a moment. What exactly was nailed to the cross? There was the placard that read; THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS, (Mat. 27:37, Mark 15:26, Luke 23:38, John 19:19). And, of course there was Jesus Himself which was nailed to the cross. There is no way one could construe that this sign that was placed on the cross, wiped away the ordinances that v.14 is speaking of. Therefore, this only leaves our Saviors body as having the ability for blotting out these ordinances.
As mentioned in the beginning of this study, many Sabbath keepers will tell you that these ordinances are referring to the ceremonial laws of Moses. They maintain that they have become contrary to us since they are fulfilled with Christs life, death, and resurrection. But, let us read again, which WAS contrary to us. It tells us that they WERE contrary to us, in the past tense! It does give such application a future tense, which would be after His death on the cross. Never were the ceremonial laws contrary to us either before of after the cross.
This actually also works strongly against the interpretation of those who think the seventh day Sabbath is no longer a necessary command after the cross. Because we know for a fact that the Sabbath was written by the Lord with His own finger and given on tables of stone and was not contrary to us at all. This passage is quite clear, whatever these ordinances WERE referring to, they were contrary before the cross, because after the cross the Lords body had the ability to wipe them away.
The fact that he says they were contrary speaks volumes as for who these ordinances belonged to. Never did Paul use this word, or any word that had the same definition, when speaking of any of Gods laws, whether they were ceremonial in nature or part of the ten commands. However, he did use such language when speaking of mens doctrines, (Rom. 16:17, Gal. 5:17, 1Thes. 2:25, 1***. 1:10). If one takes that into consideration along with the repetitive theme expressed in Col. 2, it becomes undeniable the ordinances being spoken of are mans worldly doctrines.
This is where it gets interesting, because one may now wonder; How did Christ, getting nailed to the cross, blot out these worldly doctrines of men?. One must remember the context of Colossians, which is the supremacy and authority of Christ in all things. Christ had claimed He was the son of God and that the Father had granted him authority. He also publicly exercised such authority when He forgave sinners. His authority was challenged by the religious leaders, and they crucified him for blasphemy, (claim of divine title and/or authority). But, in their doing so they unwittingly played a part to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ crucifixion, (Psa. 22:1-19, Isa. 53:1-12), and thus aided in the establishment of His identity and authority!! With His authority established, the worldly doctrines of men held no value and all that was left for any true believer to consider, was the word of God!
Col. 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
This verse re-iterates much of which was already explained. Over and over we see the spiritual leaders(principalities and powers), disarmed (spoiled, see Strongs#554), when they accused Christ of breaking their laws. Mind you, these were not Gods laws. Christ did not sin against the word of God, but he constantly sinned against their man made laws. Remember, this chapter is focusing on the contrast of mans laws and authority with that of Gods, notice in v.10 it says that Christ is the head of all principality and power.
One of their favorite charges against our Lord of the Sabbath, was that they accused Him of breaking the seventh day Sabbath. Again, if you notice the context of these accusations they are not found in the Bible, but were found in the ordinances of the religious leaders. Christ did not hide His Biblical and spiritual manner of keeping the Sabbath, but instead He defied them openly. When accused He quoted from the scriptures and triumphed over them, leaving them nothing to charge Him with.
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:
This final verse sums up perfectly what he was trying to say. Since Christs authority has been established, as the head of all principality and power. Put aside your worldly doctrines of men for he has wiped away their authority, and therefore your debts away, with His own death. Therefore let no man judge you by the elements of the world, because these things are such that God has established, and it is by His word alone that we will be judged.
