If you haven't already read Colossians 2 - Part 1, you can go back and read that here.
So we just looked at verse 14 and discovered that the law was not nailed to the cross, instead it was the charge against us–our sin–that was written to be placed above our head on our own cross, but was taken by our Messiah and placed above his head on his cross. Truly amazing love!
But verse 16 says that we should not allow anyone to judge us for not keeping the laws about diet, feast days and Sabbaths, right? Well actually, no.
Let's take a look at some context here to find out why.
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2:20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
The laws were given by God, they are not based on human traditions, human commands and teachings, or the principles of this world. The Commandments were not made from the mind of Moses or the minds of men, they were from the mouth of God. And there is no Commandment that we are to treat our bodies harshly, in fact the opposite is true. There were commands that guided God's people how to take good care of their bodies.
So what is this hollow and deceptive philosophy that Paul is talking about? To find out, we need to know what was happening in Colosse at the time.
So we just looked at verse 14 and discovered that the law was not nailed to the cross, instead it was the charge against us–our sin–that was written to be placed above our head on our own cross, but was taken by our Messiah and placed above his head on his cross. Truly amazing love!
But verse 16 says that we should not allow anyone to judge us for not keeping the laws about diet, feast days and Sabbaths, right? Well actually, no.
Let's take a look at some context here to find out why.
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2:20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
The laws were given by God, they are not based on human traditions, human commands and teachings, or the principles of this world. The Commandments were not made from the mind of Moses or the minds of men, they were from the mouth of God. And there is no Commandment that we are to treat our bodies harshly, in fact the opposite is true. There were commands that guided God's people how to take good care of their bodies.
So what is this hollow and deceptive philosophy that Paul is talking about? To find out, we need to know what was happening in Colosse at the time.
More specifically, the heresy taking root in Colosse was a form of Gnosticism, which taught (among other things) that humans could transcend evil and the corruptions of the world through asceticism and their own strength of will. Gnostics believed that they could essentially ignore the world and follow their own desires and impulses. Paul wrote to the Colossian church to warn them away from error and reiterate the importance of the Christian ethic. -Biblegateway Blog
So there was a popular worldly philosophy that had a grip on the church in Colosse–a form of Gnosticism. A common Gnostic practice was their asceticism–self denial from worldly pleasures.
How does this tie into verse 16 and 17?
Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of things to come, but the reality is found in Christ.
It seems likely to me that if the Colossians had a form of Gnosticism among them, these Gnostics–who believed you had to deny yourself to be godly–would tell them that having feast days the Lord, enjoying food and drink, and spending the Sabbath each week relaxing and enjoying God, family and food, was too pleasure-focused and a distraction from spiritual enlightenment. I believe this is exactly what Paul was telling the Colossians not to get caught up in.
I would like to point out a very key word in verse 16—"regard". The Greek for this word that was translated "regard" is "meros"(Strongs G3313), which means: 1. a part due, assigned to one 2. one of the constituent parts of the whole.
That is why the Lexham English Bible translates the verse this way:
How does this tie into verse 16 and 17?
Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of things to come, but the reality is found in Christ.
It seems likely to me that if the Colossians had a form of Gnosticism among them, these Gnostics–who believed you had to deny yourself to be godly–would tell them that having feast days the Lord, enjoying food and drink, and spending the Sabbath each week relaxing and enjoying God, family and food, was too pleasure-focused and a distraction from spiritual enlightenment. I believe this is exactly what Paul was telling the Colossians not to get caught up in.
I would like to point out a very key word in verse 16—"regard". The Greek for this word that was translated "regard" is "meros"(Strongs G3313), which means: 1. a part due, assigned to one 2. one of the constituent parts of the whole.
That is why the Lexham English Bible translates the verse this way:
Therefore do not let anyone judge you with reference to eating or drinking or participation in a feast or a new moon or a Sabbath
So the verse is not saying, "don't let anyone judge you for not doing these things"(though certainly we should not use that as license to start judging others), but instead is saying, "don't let anyone judge you FOR DOING these things". And really it fits much better considering Paul also said, "Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." - 1 Corinthians 5:8
For me this view is helping the scriptures to fall into place with each other perfectly. I hope that you find the same to be true for you. Be blessed, and thanks for reading!
For me this view is helping the scriptures to fall into place with each other perfectly. I hope that you find the same to be true for you. Be blessed, and thanks for reading!