COLOSSIANS 2:16 AND THE SABBATH!!

COLOSSIANS 2:16

Every time a question about the Sabbath or holy days is asked, those who argue against the feasts rush to Colossians 2:16 as their reason of not keeping the Sabbath. What did Paul mean in writing;

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths.”

Let us examine this verse correctly and in unbiased way, keeping in mind that;

a)       No prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation- 2 Peter 1:20-21.

b)       One verse must be understood and must be in line with other verses of the Bible- Isaiah 28:10.

In order to understand verse 16, we must understand what Paul was talking about, as verse 16 does not start and end in itself. Thus we must read the whole of chapter 2.

In Colossians Chapter 2, the following verses are of importance to us;

Colossians 2:4- “Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.”

Colossians 2:8- “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Colossians 2:16-“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths”

Colossians 2:18- “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshy mind”

Colossians 2:20- “Therefore if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations”

After  reading the above verses then we can be in a good position to know what Pail was talking about in verse 16.As now  we know that Paul was speaking about the following;

a)       Traditions of men.

b)       Worship of angels.

c)       Principles of the world.

Paul was not against the commandments of God, Sabbath included but against the above. Obeying the commandments of God and keeping His feasts IS NOT THE TRADITIONS OF MEN.

Colossians 2 and the Sabbath/Feast Days.

Let’s examine Sabbath/Feast Days in regard to Colossians 2;

a)       Sabbath/Feast Days is not tradition of men nor vain words.

b)       Sabbath/Feast Days is not principles of the world.

c)       Sabbath/feast days is not teachings of men but of God.

Another Perspective of Colossians 2:16.

Let’s take another perspective; “……let no one judge you in food or in drink……” our friends who use this verse to tear down the Sabbath/feasts, usually ignore this part of the verse. Is Paul authorizing us to be drunkards, gluttonies? Does it give us freeway to eat every thing that we come across? Definitely every believer’s answer will be NO. Why? Because the Bible in some other place says contrary, then Does Paul give us a freeway not to keep the Sabbath/feasts? Definitely the answer MUST be NO!! Why? Because the Bible at some other place says contrary!!! Why do we feel so comfortably to support the idea that Sabbath/feasts were done away with?

THUS COLOSSIANS 2:16, DOES NOT GIVE US AUTHORITY TO BREAK THE COMMANDMENTS.