The overall teaching of the Bible is that the 10 Commandments as unit, including the 4th Commandment, still stand.  The context of Colossians 2:16 is Paul speaking of Jewish ceremonies.  Those ceremonies can rightly be called “sabbaths.”  Rightly understood, “sabbath” of Colossians 2:16 refers to the various ceremonies.  Paul also mandates that offerings be received in multiple churches specifically on the first day of the week in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, indicating he sees something significant about that day.  With all of that, I conclude that the Sabbath is also for New Testament believers and that Colossians 2:16-17 does not indicate otherwise.

The 4^th Commandment, the one that pertains to the Sabbath, is the most contested of the Ten Commandments.  In fact it’s the only commandment that is actually contested among Christians who hold to an orthodox view of Scripture.  A number argue that the requirement of Sabbath is not for today.  It was for the Old Testament Jews, but it’s not for New Testament Christians.  Among the strongest objections to the abiding authority of the 4^th Commandment is Colossians 2:16-17:

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

Some insist, from that text, that Paul is unilaterally declaring that Sabbath observance is now a matter of personal decision.  It doesn’t matter what you do on Sundays, but what does matter as that you allow no one to judge you for your personal Sunday choices.

I believe the 4^th Commandment still stands.  I will explain what I believe Paul means by “Sabbath” in Colossians 2:16 in a moment, but, first, let me make a few Scriptural observations about the Ten Commandments in general and the 4^th Commandment specifically.

• • Each of the Ten Commandments was authoritative before the Ten Commandments were given at Mt. Sinai in Exodus, including the 4^th Commandment (Exodus 16:27-29).
  • The Sabbath was instituted in Eden (Genesis 2:1-3), and the seven-day week remained standing beyond Eden (Genesis 7:10; Genesis 8:10-12; Genesis 29:27; Genesis 50:10).
  • Scripture presents the Ten Commandments as a distinct unit and body of law, unique from the rest of Old Testament law (Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 5:22).
  • Jesus held the Ten Commandments as binding and quoted them authoritatively (Matthew 15:3-4; Matthew 19:17-19).
  • Jesus taught that the Sabbath is for all men, not just for Jews (Mark 2:27), and the refence to “Sabbath,” “man,” and “made” in that text links it to creation.
  • The text of the 4^th Commandment teaches that the Sabbath is for all men (Exodus 20:10). However, the food laws and worship services were only for Jews (Deuteronomy 14:21; Nehemiah 13:1-3).
  • Paul quoted the Ten Commandments authoritatively (Romans 13:8-10; Ephesians 6:1-3).
  • Paul taught that the Law is righteous (Romans 2:13), that the Law teaches what sin is (Romans 7:7), and that the Law is good (Romans 7:12; Galatians 2:19).
  • James, in the context of quoting the 7^th and 6^th Commandments, said that the Law is an indivisible unit that stands or falls as a unit (James 2:10-11).
  • The Ten Commandments are a standard of righteousness (1 Timothy 1:8-9).
  • There is a convincing case to be made that “profane” in 1 Timothy 1:9 refers specifically to Sabbath violations.¹
  • A New Covenant promise is that the Law will be written on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10; Hebrews 10:16), and that Law, in the context of Jeremiah, is the Ten Commandments.

All those points need to be fresh on our minds as we consider the meaning of Sabbath in Colossians 2:16.  If we determine that Paul is doing away with the abiding authority of the 4^th Commandment, we need to explain all the preceding points which indicate that the 4^th Commandment remains in effect.  Either the Sabbath abides or it doesn’t.

My conviction of course is that the Sabbath abides.  There remains a Sabbath for the people of God, and the New Testament church is to set aside one day in seven for rest and worship.  But what is Colossians 2:16 talking about?

Read More