Colossians 2: 16-23 Explained

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Question: Please explain Col 2: 16-23

Therefore let no man judge you in meat, in drink, in respect of holydays, or new moon, or Sabbath days, 17) These are a shadow of the things that were to come; but the body is of Christ. 18) Let no man beguile you (deceived you or cause you to give up) of your reward in voluntary humility, and worship of Angels (Idol worship), intruding into things which had not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshy mind (Pride), 19) And not holding the head from which all the body by joins and band have nourishment ministered, and knit together increase of God. 20) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the Rudiment of the world, are ye subject to ordinances.

21) Touch not, taste not, handle not: 22) which all are to perish with the using) after the commandment and doctrine of men. 23) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in honors of the satisfying of the flesh.

The Answer:

The first part of this passage was speaking of the ceremonial law; Jehovah instructed his children to faithfully keep these ceremonies, if they were to participate and receive the benefit of the promised redemption, which Jesus came and provided. These festivals were meant to keep Jehovah's children focused upon him, and all of his goodness towards them; for it is Jehovah's desire, to bless and prosper his faithful children for they were to represent Jehovah to the heathen nations among whom they live.

It is important to note, that they were required to observe all of these festivals, every new moon, they were to reflect on Jehovah's goodness towards them; apart from the new moons there were other Sabbaths they (Jehovah's people) were to observe. Which can be found in the books written by Moses, beginning with the book of Exodus? However, there are two major differences with the ceremonial Sabbaths and the Seventh day Sabbath.

1. The Seventh Day Sabbath was instituted as a part of creation, it was blessed and sanctify by Jehovah Gen 2: 3; in other words, Jehovah put a blessing on Sabbath and he set it aside for holy use. You know the saying who/what God bless no man curse. Well he has blessed the Seventh day Sabbath and no one can put a curse on it. Did you consider that mans in his perfect state or should I say man in his sinless state; kept the Sabbath, they were required solely to devote one day in every seven to the worship and adoration of Jehovah; bear in mind that every morning and every evening Jehovah met with the sinless couple Adam and eve. Why did Jehovah requested or command man to keep the Sabbath? for if I don’t praise him the rocks are going to cry out his praise. We must know Jehovah is going to be praise regardless; but what is more important, we were made to praise him. Not for praising him (Jehovah) sake; he is worthy of our praise. Over and over, Jehovah has proven to you and to me by the things that he has done for us that he is worthy of our praise.

2. The ceremonial law which includes the observance of the other Sabbaths, new moons etc. were instituted after man sinned and Jehovah and his Son Jesus Christ had instituted the plan of salvation. These ceremonies were to point to the promise Messiah: Jesus Christ the sinless son of Jehovah, who was to come to earth and die a sacrificial death as the innocent lamb; died at the hands of the guilty Luke 24: 7, For the Son of man must be delivered into the hand of sinful man and be crucified and the third day rise again. When Jesus Christ Give up the ghost whilst on the cross the vale in the temple was rent in twin Matthew 27: 51, thus exposing the most holy place in the temple. This was significant for two reasons:

a. It showed the deity of Jesus Christ as the Son of Jehovah the only true, living and the Creator God

b. It marked the termination of the sacrificial system. For the real offering Jesus Christ; Jehovah’s promised sacrifice came and fulfilled his promise. Jesus' obedience onto death nullified the need to offer sacrifice and the Death of Christ signaled the fulfillment of Jehovah's promise.

Matthew 7: 1-3 Says; Judge not, that ye be not judge 2) for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judge: and with what measure ye meet, it shall be measured to you again. 3) And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eyes, but considereth not the beam that is in thy own eye.

Jesus knew, because of sin, man will be prone to be hypocrite, casting judgment on other not knowing the condition of the heart of those they judge, while they themselves (the unqualified judges) are no better off than those who they Judge and in some cases their condition (spiritual and otherwise) are worst.

Many people enjoy holding up their work as a partition, separating themselves from other, Ephesians 2: 8-9 says; “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Hence the reason we are admonished not to Judge.

Salvation is to serious a matter for me to be focused upon you or anything else and you me or anything else. The giving, acceptance and the recieving of salvation is no game, no laughing matter but serious business. For the reward of salvation is something no one in their right minds can afford to miss out on. Hence the reason Philippians 2: 12 said “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Each of us has only one responsibility and that is to ourselves, which is; to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling that is how serious a matter this is. We should be afraid of losing out on the gift of Jehovah and tremble when we come into his presence.

My beloved, I pray that the love and the Grace of Jehovah our God and His Son Jesus Christ our God; never leaves us but abide with us all today and for eternity.