We CAN Be Judged By Not Keeping Dietary Laws, Sabbaths

Q. Colossians 2.16-17 pretty much tells us that we are not to be judged according to the Law and dietary restrictions and Sabbath days does it not? And what does it mean in Col 2.14 where it says the law was nailed to the cross?

A. No, that is not what it is saying. We have seen in recent weeks that the Torah has not been done away with and was taught and obeyed by the Messiah, and the first century believers followed Messiah, so they kept the Torah. Paul said he kept the Torah, or Law, in 1 Cor. 11.1-2, Acts 24.14, Acts 28.17,Acts 21.18-24. These verses explicitly say that Paul, who wrote Colossians, obeyed and kept the Torah. So, your question has an invalid premise to begin with because it assumes the verse is saying believers are not to be judged by the Torah, which is not true. We are going to be judged by the Torah and James 2.12 says so. Now, let’s look at the verse the way Paul intended it to be understood. He taught the Colossians to follow the L-rd and keep the commandments. These believers were being judged by others for keeping the Torah, much like today. He was encouraging them to continue following the dietary laws (Lev 11), Holy Days (Lev 23), New Moons (Num 28) and the Sabbaths (Lev 23) because they were of G-d and they are pictures (shadow) of the Messiah and the Kingdom to come. This verse tells you what the first century believers believed and followed.

Now, Paul said that the mystery of lawlessness ( anomos=torah-lessness) was already at work in the first century (2 Thes 2.7, Acts 21.18-21)) and that was the belief that the Torah didn’t have to be obeyed anymore. That teaching was eventually embraced by Apostate Christianity and is the premise behind the theology of the “church” today. Colossians 2.16-17 is telling believers to continue following the dietary laws and festivals because they teach the Messiah, and to ignore anyone who judges you for obeying them. This is just the opposite of what most Christian teachers will tell you, and now you know why.

Let’s deal with the second part of your question. Col 2.14 is dealing with several issues. It does not say that the Law was nailed to the cross. The phrase “handwriting of ordinances” is the term “cheirographon dogma” in Greek and means the “documented opinions of men” or “dogma” as the theologians like to call it. It is the written opinions of men on what is true or not and can mean the charges against us. By logic, this cannot be talking about the Torah, because we know that the Torah is truth.

So, the issue is not the commandments but sin. The written charges against us by the opinions of men have no power over us in Yeshua. This is not talking about the legal ground for a proper accusation against us, which is the Torah. Satan is the prosecutor (that’s what Satan means) who brings the “cheirographon dogma” (charges) against us and the charges are true if his basis is the Torah. We are guilty and have sinned (Rom 3.23).

But Yeshua, our Kinsman Redeemer, has triumphed over the prosecutor (Satan) and has answered the charges as our defense attorney. But, this verse is mainly talking about all the man-made doctrines and oral traditions passed down by the rabbi’s, popes and preachers down through ages.

They have been nailed to the cross. So, v14-15 is saying that the doctrines of men and the charges against us brought about by the accuser have no power over a believer in Yeshua, so keep the festivals and new moons because they teach us about the Messiah, and don’t worry when others judge you for your obedience because their judgment means nothing. The written commands of G-d have greater weight than the “cheirographon dogma” (written ordinances) of men.