Colossians 2:16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Colossians 2:16-23

The apostle concludes the chapter with exhortations to proper duty, which he infers from the foregoing discourse. I. Here is a caution to take heed of judaizing teachers, or those who would impose upon Christians the yoke of the ceremonial law: Let no man therefore judge you in meat nor drink, etc., Col. 2:16. Much of the ceremonies of the law of Moses consisted in the distinction of meats and days. It appears by Rom. 14:1-23 that there were those who were for keeping up those distinctions:... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 2:8-23

2:8-23 Beware lest there will be anyone who will carry you off as his spoil, by insisting on the necessity of a so-called philosophy, which is, in fact, an empty delusion, a philosophy which has been handed down by human tradition, and which is concerned with the elements of this world, and not with Christ; for in him there dwells the fullness of the divine nature; and you have found this fullness in him who is the head of every power and authority. In him you have been circumcised with a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 2:16

Let no man therefore judge you ,.... Since they were complete in Christ, had everything in him, were circumcised in him; and particularly since the handwriting of the law was blotted out, and torn to pieces through the nails of the cross of Christ, the apostle's conclusion is, that they should be judged by no man; they should not regard or submit to any man's judgment, as to the observance of the ceremonial law: Christ is the prophet who was to be raised up like unto Moses, and who only, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:16

Let no man - judge you in meat, or in drink - The apostle speaks here in reference to some particulars of the hand-writing of ordinances, which had been taken away, viz., the distinction of meats and drinks, what was clean and what unclean, according to the law; and the necessity of observing certain holydays or festivals, such as the new moons and particular sabbaths, or those which should be observed with more than ordinary solemnity; all these had been taken out of the way and nailed to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 2:16

Verse 16 16.Let no one therefore judge you. What he had previously said of circumcision he now extends to the difference of meats and days. For circumcision was the first introduction to the observance of the law, other things (384) followed afterwards. To judge means here, to hold one to be guilty of a crime, or to impose a scruple of conscience, so that we are no longer free. He says, therefore, that it is not in the power of men to make us subject to the observance of rites which Christ has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:16

Do not let any one, therefore, be judging you in eating or in drinking . The new teachers dictated to the Colossians in these matters from the philosophical, ascetic point of view (see notes on "philosophy,'' "circumcision," verses 8, 11), condemning their previous liberty. (For the adverse sense of "judge," comp. Romans 14:4 , Romans 14:10 , Romans 14:13 .) The scruples of the "weak brethren" at Rome ( Romans 14:1-23 ) were partly of an ascetic character, but are not ascribed to any... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:16

The rights of liberty. At first sight the advice of St. Paul to the Colossians, not to let any one interfere with their private judgment in regard to meats, days, etc., may seem to conflict with the principle of generosity laid down in the First Epistle to the Corinthians: "If meat maketh my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh forvermore, that I make not my brother to stumble." But a closer examination of the two cases will show that they differ essentially. I. CONSIDERATION FOR... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:16-17

Condemnation of ritualistic observances and ascetic severities. The apostle draws a practical inference from the view he had just given of the work of Christ. "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day, or of a new moon, or of a sabbath day: which things are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's." I. THE PROHIBITION . It is twofold, respecting first the distinction of meats and drinks, and then the observance of times. 1... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:16-19

Christian independence. Remembering the evils in the Church at Colossal, namely, the ceremonialism, the asceticism, the appeal to angelic mediators, and at the same time recalling the theme of the paragraph preceding the verses now before us, the complete sufficiency of Christ as man's Mediator, nature's Lord and Consecrator, and the soul's Deliverer from bondage to ceremonies, we are prepared to notice the result of Christ's work for man and over man, as here suggested, and to consider... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Colossians 2:16-19

Two dangers to be avoided. We find here two notes of warning—"Let no man judge you;" "Let no man rob you." Two dangers need to be guarded against. I. THE INFLUENCE OF UNJUST JUDGMENTS . The apostle has here in view the practical error of Judaizing ritualists. They had received from Moses regulations respecting meats and drinks and feasts, which they endeavoured to enforce on Gentile converts as necessary to salvation ( Acts 15:1 ). If they did not always proceed to this... read more

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