Paul the apostle knew the
Colossian church members were being persuaded to follow
false-teachings of the Gnostics and the Judizers who were heretical
groups that existed in their time. He refuted the teaching of the
Gnostics by showing the deity of Jesus Christ, and he countered the
Judaizers by showing the “shadow of things to come” for
which the law was originally intended. In chapter two and verse
twenty-two, Paul continued to show the temporary nature of rules
which included touching not, tasting not and handling not. We read:
Which all are to perish
with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
The
verse begins, “Which
all are to perish with the using;)” To
demonstrate the temporary nature of the rules concerning touching
not, tasting not and handling not, Paul wrote, “Which
all are to”
which includes “every, the sum total, and completely the whole”
was to “perish”
or “corrupt, destruct or decay” “with
the using”
which means “as they are used or consumed”. Notice the
parenthesis that is after the word “using”.
This is the closure of a parenthetical phrase began by Paul in verse
twenty-one which was “(Touch
not; taste not; handle not;”,
and we should keep this in mind as we proceed with the verse.
The
verse continues, “after
the commandments and doctrines of men?” This
phrase employed by Paul is a continuation of verse twenty where we
read, “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,”,
and to continue Paul's original thought should be added to the end of
it such as: “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the
rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you
subject to ordinances, after the commandments and doctrines of men?”
These “commandments”
or “precepts” and “doctrines”
which are “teachings and instructions” were “of men”
or simply by human beings. These were not the laws of God, but rather
the teachings, precepts and instructions from men. Paul challenged
the Colossian church members with being “dead in Christ
from the rudiments of the world”,
and since the old things such as works and deeds for righteousness
were passed away, there was nothing to be added to their salvation.
As
we ponder this challenging verse from Paul, it will do us well to
consider Paul's question as though it was directed toward us
personally. If, or since, we are “dead with Christ from
the rudiments of the world”
are there ordinances, traditions, or rules which originate from men
and not from God which we hold dearly in our lives? It is easy to sit
back and make judgment against the Colossians who were influenced by
these false-teachings, but do we have ways in our lives that we
follow without compromise which are “perishing with the
using”? Let us take the time
to evaluate our “perishing”
things and weigh them against the eternal, non-perishing ways of God,
and may we devote ourselves to continuing in that which is
everlasting.
Next
time Paul will write about “will worship and humility”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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