Objection

“Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath. Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ.” (Amplified Bible)

The Bible couldn’t be clearer that the Sabbath is a type of something else and Heb 4 explains that type in detail.”

Answer

“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 2:16-17 KJV

I can certainly see how that if you look at these verses alone, without looking into the actual context of the passage, you would be led to believe that this is proof that the seventh day Sabbath is no longer binding to the Christian or that it is a “type of something else.”

However, the context clearly shows that ‘sabbath days’ (plural) does not refer to or include the seventh day Sabbath. Rather, it is referring to days that ascetics would dedicate to God in hopes to gain greater enlightenment through the abstinence of worldly pleasures. In other words, Paul is addressing the philosophy of asceticism, which was a problem during this time at Colosse.

Asceticism is defined thusly:

1. the manner of life, practices, or principles of an ascetic.
2. the doctrine that a person can attain a high spiritual and moral state by practicing self-denial, self-mortification, and the like.
3. rigorous self-denial; extreme abstinence; austerity.

The following verses contain keywords which help us to see that Paul was not talking about the seventh day Sabbath which is included in the commandments of God, but was referring to traditions and commandments of men who followed the philosophy of asceticism

“And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.” – Colossians 2:4 KJV

“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 2:8 KJV

“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” – Colossians 2:18 KJV

“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.” – Colossians 2:20-23 KJV

The words that appear in bold above imply that Paul was addressing the philosophy of asceticism. Moreover, the strongest indication that Paul was not referring to the Commandments of God is found in verses 8 and 22 where he used the expressions “philosophy”, “tradition of men”, and “commandments and doctrines of men.” Hence Paul was addressing the issue of asceticism.

With that said, now that we can see that Paul is not referring to God’s commandments here, but to the philosophy of asceticism (tradition and commandments of men), it doesn’t make sense to say that ‘sabbath days’ is referring to or includes the seventh day Sabbath. Therefore verses 16-17 can’t be used to support the idea that the seventh day Sabbath is a type or shadow of what is to come; nor can this passage be joined to Hebrews 4 as it is not of the same context. In other words, Hebrews 4 is not dealing with asceticism, but with rebellion against God’s commandments.

Note: Anyone can personally choose to dedicate something to God and would not be wrong for doing so providing that they do not violate His moral law in the process; but if the practice is not required of God then that person does not have the right to judge others by it. However, if what they choose to dedicate to God takes the place of something that God does require, then that is rebellion against God, and therefore applies to what Yeshua had said here:

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” – Matthew 15:8-9 KJV

If people neglect to keep God’s commands in order to uphold their own traditions then that is rebellion against God because it constitutes disobedience to what He has actually commanded.  For more information read Cain Worship

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