Archive for category Misunderstood passages

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; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 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 is of Christ. – Colossians 2:14-17

Many use this text to try and prove that the moral law was nailed to the cross.

Some Christians sincerely believe that the whole law, including the Sabbath, came to an end with Jesus’ death.

Is there danger in this belief? “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19

Which of these two are you?Note: Just because you are called “the least in the kingdom of heaven” doesn’t mean you will be in heaven!

When in doubt we should ask, “what did Jesus do?”

Please pray for guidance from God to understand this study.

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:12-15

Should we do away with the Old Testament? “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Jesus quoted from the Old Testament often: “And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.” Deuteronomy 8:3

These people that believe the whole law (including God’s 10 Commandments) were nailed to the cross always point to the widely misunderstood verses in Colossians 2 as evidence: “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; … 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” (verses 14, 16, 17).

Hebrews 9 speaks of the ‘shadows’ which were imposed only till the time of reformation – Till Christ came.

“Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.”Hebrews 9:10

Grouping the moral law and the ceremonial law together is not God’s intention. Getting rid of the moral law is a reckless and dangerous thing to do. The first four commandments define our responsibility to our Creator. The last six are the foundation of all human civil law. If the moral law were rescinded, there would be no safe place on earth for anyone.

Speaking of the moral law Paul says, “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified” (Romans 2:13). He also adds, “The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (7:12).

So what do the verses in Colossians mean? There are two primary laws taught in Scripture: the moral law of the Ten Commandments and the ceremonial law contained in ordinances. One was written by God’s finger on stone and the other by the hand of Moses on parchment.

Notice how Deuteronomy 4 distinguishes between the two:

Moral Law: “And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone” (Deuteronomy 4:13).

Ceremonial Law: “And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it” (Deuteronomy 4:14).

Colossians 2:14 tells us that the law that was nailed to the cross was the “handwriting of ordinances,” not the finger writing. And which law was that? “They will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses” (2 Chronicles 33:8, emphasis added).There is a clear distinction that the laws are separate!

The law nailed to the cross in Colossians 2 was written on paper and “against us.” (Plus, it is very difficult to nail stone tablets to anything.)

“Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee” (Deuteronomy 31:26, emphasis added).

The Ten Commandment law, written by the finger of God on tablets of stone, was inside the ark; the ceremonial law, written by the hand of Moses, was placed in a pocket on the side of the ark.

So we can see that Colossians 2 is speaking of the ceremonial laws and annual sabbaths (feasts) that were nailed to the cross. That’s why when Jesus died, the veil in the temple was torn (Matthew 27:51).

Annual sabbaths (feast days) are not the weekly Sabbath of the (4th Commandment)

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” Hebrews 10:1

Sadly, most of the Jewish nation was so engrossed in types and shadows that they failed to see the fulfillment of those Messianic symbols in Jesus. Even the Christian church had a hard time separating the shadow and the reality.

Some Jewish Christians required all the Gentile converts to observe all the Jewish ceremonies that pointed to the Messiah. Somehow they didn’t yet see the big picture-that the coming of the Messiah had done away with the need for those types and shadows. This is why the Apostle Paul exhorts the Colossian Christians to not allow anyone to judge them in respect of the sabbath days (annual feasts), “which are a shadow of things to come” (Colossians 2:17).

” He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:6

An inspired writer wrote:

Those who follow Christ will deny self, take up the cross, and walk in His footsteps. Following Christ means obedience to all His commandments. No soldier can be said to follow his commander unless he obeys orders. Christ is our model. To copy Jesus, full of love and tenderness and compassion, will require that we draw near to Him daily. O how God has been dishonored by His professed representatives (Letter 31a, 1894)!  {7BC 949.3}