Is Paul telling us that Torah observance is done away with because of Christ’s death and resurrection?
16 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: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17
Dispensational preachers are teaching this view. John MacArthur is a good example of this type of preacher:
Don’t let anybody hold you to a Sabbath. And that’s referring to the weekly Sabbath, because the other festival Sabbaths are covered under the term “festival and new moon.” Don’t let anybody hold you to the Sabbath. It was part of the system that included the temple, the priesthood, the sacrifices. It’s gone. It was only the shadow, not the substance [ …] Paul is saying, you no longer need the shadow, you have the substance.
John MacArthur, “Understanding the Sabbath.” Grace to You. www.gty.org
Though this is the view of a vast majority of today’s churches, what was Paul’s witness when he wrote this letter?
- Throughout the New Testament, we see that Paul regularly attended and participated in the synagogue services on the Sabbath 16:13; 17:2 18:4)
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Acts 13:14. 44
13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
Acts 16:13
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Acts 17:2
- Luke records that Paul’s “custom” was to worship on the Sabbath (Acts 17:2) – why was it his custom if Sabbath was done away with.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Acts 18:4
- We see Paul expressing a desire to be in Jerusalem for the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost)
16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
Acts 20:16
Shavuot was one of the three pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Pentecost, and Sukkot) that the Hebrews were instructed to attend in the place where “the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name” (Initially, the Tabernacle, then later, Solomon’s Temple).
14 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. 15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) 16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. 17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.
Exodus 23:14-17
5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee: 6 But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.
10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks [Pentecost – seven weeks after Passover] unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: 11 And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.
13 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: 14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. 15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.
Deuteronomy 16:5-6, 10-11, 13-15
Why is Paul diligently trying to get to Jerusalem in time for Pentecost, if Christ did away with the Law with his death and resurrection?
Paul admonishes the Colossians to walk as Christ did and beware of the “traditions of men”, which are not according to Christ:
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him [see also, 1John 2:6] 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:6-8
The Pharisees (the sect that Paul had been a prominent member of) and the Sadducees taught the ‘oral law’ (Talmud) which was based on the Torah, but it had many additions and other changes that were not from Yahweh.
2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32)
Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32
This Talmudic tradition became an evil substitute for salvation through faith and focused on Talmudic works.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head [Christ], from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in 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 commandments and doctrines of men?
Colossians 2:18-22
- That description does not apply to the Sabbath, festivals, and dietary laws. Those things were not human teachings; they were commanded by Yahweh.
- But we know that Christ affirmed every iota and dot of the Torah as having enduring authority in the lives of his followers (Matthew 5:18).
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 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 5:17-19
“Fulfilled” – pleroo / play-ro’-o [G4137] to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.:–accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.
Strong’s Greek Concordance; James Strong
Christ came to “fully preach” the Law, as opposed to the Talmud, which was separating believers from faith. Those that teach against the Law, “shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven”.
He also proclaimed, “till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law” – heaven and earth have not passed, so the Law still applies or Christ was wrong (if so, was he wrong about anything, else?)
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Colossians 2:8
Man’s philosophy and traditions are deceitful – those of Yahweh, as practiced by Yeshua are not.
You scoff at our philosophy as though living by it were irrational, but it teaches us self-control, so that we master all pleasures and desires, and it also trains us in courage, so that we endure any suffering willingly.
4Maccabees 5:22-23, RSV
The Colossian Heresy: The doctrine influencing the Colossian believers could be considered a type of philosophy, but according to Paul it is “empty deceit.” It doesn’t actually deliver what it promises.
- Paul says it is ‘of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh’ (Colossians 2:23).
- Another problem with this false teaching is that it is “according to human tradition and from Paul’s perspective, mere human teachings are useless in overcoming the power of sin (Colossians 2:22-23).
- It appears that the false teachers at Colossae were enamored with cosmic authorities, supernatural powers over nature, and angels (Colossians 2:8, 15, 18, 20). They exalted and feared these spiritual entities, believing them to have control over the universe and their destinies. These superstitions were also combined with religious practices, including biblical holy days.
- In practice, this false philosophy strictly regulated foods, drinks, and festivals (2:16) and involved ascetic rituals and worship of angels (2:18-23). By adhering to the practices and regulations of these false teachers, people believed they could attain wisdom and be protected from the evil spirits that troubled them.
At the end of the first century, during the time of Trajan (A.D. 98-117), a Christian leader named Elchasai combined aspects of Jewish nomism (circumcision and law observance) with astrological beliefs; magical practices; and pagan cult traditions. The resultant syncretistic teaching emphasized the hostility of the stars (viewed as angels) and the need to regulate one’s life according to the calendar (especially the Sabbath and the courses of the moon) […] Colossae was certainly not afflicted by the teaching of Elchasai, but “the philosophy” bore many similarities. At the minimum, the example of Elchasai points to emerging forms of localized syncretistic Christianity at an early stage. The Elchasaite teaching also demonstrates how a magical/astrological interpretation of sabbaths could surface in early Christianity.
Clinton E. Arnold, The Colossian Syncretism: The Interface between Christianity and Folk Belief at Colossae (Grand Rapids, Ml: Baker Books, 1996), pp. 217-218
A big problem with this mystical false teaching is that it ultimately resulted in minimizing the Messiah’s exalted position as the head from whom the body derives its life (Colossians 2:18-19).
The preeminence of the Messiah:
- Paul teaches that the Messiah is the real embodiment of wisdom and knowledge (Co1ossians 2:2-3).
- Messiah is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). That is, God’s full character is embodied in Messiah (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:3).
- Messiah is “the firstborn of all creation” {Colossians 1:15), which is an Old Testament title expressing royal status and authority (Psalm 89:27).
- It was by, through, and for Messiah that “all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” (Colossians 1:16). Importantly, the invisible creations in heaven would include angelic beings. Paul’s point is that Messiah, the one by whom, through whom, and for whom all things were created, has authority and power over all created things in heaven and on earth.
- Messiah is “before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1 :17). That is, Messiah has priority in terms of time and rank, and he is the sustainer of the universe (cf. Hebrews 1:3). Paul hopes to encourage the Colossian believers not to try to find coherence in the universe by turning to angels. Messiah is the one who holds all things together.
- Messiah is also “the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18; 2:10, 18-19). That is, he is the lord over the church as well as its source of life: ” … the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God” (Colossians 2:19).
- Messiah is “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1 :18). The Messiah’s resurrection has inaugurated the kingdom – his resurrection being the “firstfruits,” assuring us of the full harvest to come at the end of the age (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23). In the meantime, the Messiah exercises his rule through his body, the church.
- The Messiah is one in whom “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Colossians 1:19; 2:9).
For Israel the keeping of these holy days was evidence of obedience to God’s law and a sign of her election among the nations. At Colossae, however, the sacred days were to be kept for the sake of the “elemental spirits of the universe,” those astral powers who directed the course of the stars and relegated the order of the calendar. So Paul is not condemning the use of sacred days or seasons as such; it is the wrong motive involved when the observance of these days is bound up with the recognition of the elemental spirits.
Peter T. O’Brien, Word Biblical Commentary: Colossians, Philemon (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1982), p. 139
In conclusion:
- A contextual understanding of these verses implies that Paul does not regard things like the Sabbath and festivals as unimportant. He condemns only an improper observance of these laws in connection with mystical false teachings that downplay Messiah and his work.
- Once again, the problem was with human precepts and teachings, not God’s commandments themselves (Colossians 2:8, 22).
- But when we observe these parts of the Torah appropriately, with a focus on the Messiah and his work of redemption, there’s no problem.
- Verse 16 declares the opposite of what is taught, today. He was telling the Colossians not to let people falsely judge them for keeping the ordinances of the Torah (without the mystical rituals the leaders were adding).
16 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: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17
If Christ did away with Torah, they would not be a “shadow of things to come”, because Christ already came. They were still to look forward to the things that are to come (after the Millineal Kingdom, when the present heaven and earth pass away). Recognizing the substance that these “shadows” point to ought to make us value them that much more!
Torah will still be kept in the Millineal Kingdom. Does it make sense that the Law would be kept for 4000 years, done away with for 2000 years, and then reinstituted again for 1000? Especially when Yahweh and Yeshua both affirmed the Law is forever?
Just Do It and find a preacher who is not changing the Law to fit their values. The Law was given to change us!
