Lesson 4905

 (Lesson 4905) (07-06-25) Colossians 2:16-23 

   “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. 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, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 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, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” 

 

   In today’s lesson, Paul warned the Colossians not to let anyone judge them by their nonadherence to the old law with such things as food, drink, special days, moon phases, Sabbaths, or physical rituals which are arbitrary to faith. He cautioned them against false humility and the worship of angels, stressing that such practices were based on human pride and visions rather than holding to the righteousness of Christ, the true head of the Church. Through the bond to Christ through the Holy Spirit, the whole body is nourished and united. Since believers had died with Christ to the basic principles of the world, Paul asked why they still submitted to human regulations like "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle." Those rules, though appearing wise among the self-imposed religions of mankind, have no real power to control fleshly desires such as does the Holy Spirit of God, through faith. ~