Subject: Col. 2:16 and Sabbath Keeping |
Bible Note: The singular and plural forms of Sabbath may be used interchangeably, but the Sabbath that is in Col 2:16 is the Sabbath feasts (leviticus 23:37-38), I will explain this further. Paul is sort of defending them because while the people were continuing to keep these ordinances which were a "shadow" of the true lamb of God he says to them "let no man therefore judge you" while you keep these ceremonial laws. 2 questions automatically arise: 1) Why is this not the Sabbath of the 10 commandments? 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." Nothing in the 10 commandments were "contrary" to paul and the church to whom he was writing, nor was it "against" those early Christians to refrain from adultry, theft, lying, etc. On the other hand, this moral law (decalogue) was a tremendous protection to them and favored every interest in their lives. Also these are in past tense "WAS against us...WAS contrary to us", whereas in Romans 7:7, Paul quotes the 10th commandment in the decalogue and wrote "the law IS holy...the law IS spiritual" (Rom 7:12,14) 2) Are we to continue observing feasts/festivals as did this church long after Christs death? Read further, Col 2:16-17 "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, which are a shadow of things to come, but the body of Christ." The word "therefore" is stating: based on what has just been said, we must come to this conclusion. These are the ordinances that were blotted out, therefore let no man judge you. |