
Colossians 2:16
Colossians 2:16 is frequently used by sincere Christians to argue that the seventh-day Sabbath is no longer binding. Many believe this verse allows freedom to keep any day—or none at all. But this interpretation often results from reading the verse in isolation, without understanding the full context or the biblical background. Let’s examine what Paul is actually saying.
“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)
🔄 Start with Context: What Came Before “Therefore”?
The key word “therefore” links this passage directly to what came before:
Colossians 2:14–15
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross...”
Paul is referring here to something specific: the system of ordinances—rules and rituals tied to the Mosaic law—which Christ removed because they were “against us.”
📚 What Were These “Ordinances”? Not the Ten Commandments
Some assume Paul is talking about the Ten Commandments. But that’s not accurate. The Ten Commandments:
Were written by God’s finger
Were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant
Are repeatedly described as perfect, holy, and just (Romans 7:12)
By contrast, the “handwriting of ordinances” refers to the ceremonial laws (sacrifices, rituals, food and drink offerings, special feast days), written by Moses, not God.
🕍 A “Witness Against Thee”? What Does That Mean?
“Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark... that it may be there for a witness against thee.”
(Deuteronomy 31:26)
The book of the law—which included ceremonial ordinances—was placed beside the Ark, not inside it. It was called a “witness against” Israel. Why?
Because it:
Recorded the terms of the covenant Israel agreed to
Outlined the blessings and curses
Stood as legal evidence if they broke God's covenant
It wasn’t just a list of sins—it was the standard that showed them when they sinned. That’s why Paul says this system was “against us”—not because it was evil, but because it condemned sinners and exposed failure.
The Ten Commandments, in contrast, were never said to be against us. They reflect God’s eternal character and moral will.
✍️ What Does “Sabbath Days” Mean in Colossians 2:16?
The term “sabbath days” in this context refers to the ceremonial sabbaths—yearly feast days like the Day of Atonement, Feast of Trumpets, and others, which are also called “sabbaths” in Leviticus 23. These days were:
Based on the sacrificial system
Required meat and drink offerings
Part of the “shadows” pointing forward to Christ
Paul isn’t speaking about the weekly seventh-day Sabbath instituted at Creation (Genesis 2:2–3), which is part of the moral law in the Ten Commandments.
📖 Confirming with Ezekiel 45:17
“...burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths...”
(Ezekiel 45:17)
This is nearly identical language to Colossians 2:16. It's clear Paul is addressing sacrificial and ceremonial observances tied to the Mosaic system, not the weekly Sabbath, which existed before sin, before Israel, and has never been called a shadow.
❌ “Shadow of Things to Come” Does Not Apply to Creation Sabbath
Colossians 2:17 says:
“Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
Can the seventh-day Sabbath of creation week be a shadow of anything?
No—because it was given before sin entered the world. Shadows (or types) exist because of sin. The Creation Sabbath is a permanent gift, not a placeholder pointing to Christ. It was made for man (Mark 2:27), not against him.
✅ Conclusion: The Sabbath Still Stands
Paul is not abolishing the seventh-day Sabbath in Colossians 2. He is:
Referring to the ceremonial sabbaths that involved offerings and rituals
Explaining that these were fulfilled in Christ
Teaching that no one should judge others for no longer observing these rituals
The seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment, blessed and sanctified at creation, is not a shadow. It is a perpetual sign of God’s rest and relationship with His people (Exodus 20:8–11; Isaiah 66:22–23).
🔎 A Final Thought: Truth Still Requires Teaching
Even Spirit-filled, born-again Christians do not instantly understand everything God desires. The Spirit leads us, yes—but through the Word.
“When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.”
(John 16:13)
Many sincere believers have misunderstood Colossians 2:16 due to centuries of tradition. But the Holy Spirit leads us step by step into truth, often using His written Word to correct our assumptions and deepen our understanding.
Let the Word—and not tradition—shape your view. The Sabbath is not a shadow to be discarded, but a gift to be embraced.