Col 2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Messiah.
For years we have argued in modern day Christianity that Paul is teaching us to no longer observe the Sabbath, the dietary laws or other parts of the Torah. There are several verses we use to make our case but this one certainly stands out.
On the surface and definitely from the perspective of one who may not be doing these things, it would seem Paul is saying such. But what if we find out that Paul indeed was obedient STILL to all of the law? What if we find out that he never taught anyone to break the law, that the law is still the means by which we are sanctified and set apart? What if we find out that everything that Yeshua did, we are to do.........not because it saves us..........but because it is our Father's eternal commands? What if...........we realize that we've misunderstood the writings of Paul?
Would it change our hearts on the matter? Would anyone care?
This was eye opening for me. Paul's letter to the Colossians still makes sense from the perspective of one who is actually doing the things he listed and doesn't want to get discouraged by those who are lawless around him. I use the term "lawless" because the bible uses it but to most of us, this is offensive.....we scream "legalism". Please read the article "Do we work for it?"
Maybe I should use the term "sin"? Isn't the breaking of any of YHVH's commands "lawlessness" or "sin"? "For sin is the transgression of the law" 1John 3:4" Don't we all want to know what our Father considers "sin" so that we may repent?
So, here's the real meat of the matter on what Paul was teaching everyone to do. It is interesting to note that in the first century, Paul's letters were passed around and many groups believed Paul to be teaching exactly as we are teaching today.....that parts of the eternal law (Torah) of YHVH are no longer to be obeyed. In Acts 21-24, you will find his trial. Here is his defense in scripture
1Cor 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Messiah.
Acts 21:24 "Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law."
Acts 24: 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.
Acts 24: 14 I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way
Acts 24: 15 I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have
drum roll...............................
The verdict....
Acts 23:9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man
Wait a minute.......produce the letters as evidence......show the courtroom that Paul wrote Colossians 2:16........show the crowd that Paul is the author of the letter to the Galations.....and Romans.......use his own words against him as evidence for the prosecution. Arrest him! He is a false prophet and not sent from YHVH if he changes what is written. The law says "Kill him" (deut 13)
THEY COULDN'T. Why? Because they understood what Paul was saying in his letters and it was compounded with how he was living and teaching the new churches to live. There was no evidence to support their charges. Paul never taught anyone, Jew, gentile, Israel, etc, to break any of YHWH's commands. The law that is "nailed to the cross" is the law of man, tradition, ordinances that man created, not the Torah from heaven.
Does that blow you away like it did me? What are we missing in our translation of scripture? What have our churches done? Why are we assuming Paul is teaching against the Torah but the very ones who desired to kill Paul for doing that same thing, could not prove their case?