Colossians 2:16-17
While some people insist on making the essence of Christianity the keeping of rules and regulations, the New Testament clearly teaches the essence of Christianity is relationship with Jesus Christ. Colossians 2:16-23 is a strongly worded warning against substituting legalism (the keeping of rules and regulations to win God’s approval) for genuine personal relationship with Jesus.
Colossians 2:16-17 - “Therefore, let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day--things that are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ."
- “let no one act as your judge” – This does not mean that we should not care what others think of us. But it does mean that we should not be slaves to the consciences of other people. The idea here is we should not give up our freedom in Christ for a set of man-made rules and regulations. Don’t let the rules of others determine how you relate to Christ. Don’t let anyone judge your standing before God based on only outward religious ritual.
The last part of verse 16 describes two outward religious practices that some people substitute for relationship with God…
- “…let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink…” - What a person ate and drank was a big issue in the 1st century church. Some, who came from Jewish backgrounds, insisted that it was necessary, even for Christians, to maintain the dietary laws of the OT. Those laws (cf. Lev. 11) were given to mark Israel as a unique nation set aside for God and probably also for reasons of hygiene. Jesus, in Mark 7:14-19, clearly set aside those laws for His followers. It took a vision from God for Peter to understand that it was not necessary for followers of Christ to obey the OT dietary laws. (cf. Acts 10:9-16) Others, who came from Gentile backgrounds, struggled with the fact that much of the meat sold in the market places came from the pagan temples where it had been used in sacrificing to the idols. Some Christians felt that eating such meat was sacrilegious. Paul has wonderful discussion of this issue in Romans 14.
- “…let no one act as your judge … in respect to a festival or new moon or Sabbath day…”
- “festival” – Refers to annual celebrations such as Passover, Pentecost, the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Lights.
- “new moon” – Refers to monthly celebrations. Sme people made special sacrifices at the beginning of each new moon.
- ”Sabbath day” – Refers to weekly celebrations. Jewish people went to great (and sometimes absurd) length to observe the Sabbath day. It is not that followers of Christ should not observe a special day of worship, but we should not be absurd about it.
Verse 17 gives the reason for the warning of verse 16. “…things which are a mere shadow to come; but the substance belongs to Christ…” A shadow has no reality; it is the reality that makes the shadow. Religion that focuses only on outward religious acts misses the reality, it is a shadow religion. Outward ritual is a poor substitution for inward relationship with Christ.
For more detailed notes on Colossians go to http://www.larryreynolds.org-a.googlepages.com/home)
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