Many Christians read Colossians 2:14–17 and assume that Paul taught the abolition of the seventh day Sabbath. But a careful study of the passage shows that Paul was not speaking about the weekly Sabbath of the Ten Commandments. Instead, he was addressing the ceremonial sabbath feast days listed in Leviticus 23.
These yearly feast days were part of the temporary Mosaic system that pointed forward to the coming Messiah. When Christ died on the cross, the ceremonial system came to an end. The moral law, including the seventh day Sabbath, continues to stand. Understanding the difference between these two laws removes confusion and shows the harmony of Scripture.
The difference between the moral law and the ceremonial law
The Bible clearly distinguishes between God’s moral law and the temporary ceremonial law. This distinction is essential when interpreting Colossians 2.
The moral law of God
The moral law is the Ten Commandments. It is universal, eternal, and based on God’s character. It was written by God Himself on tables of stone and placed inside the ark of the covenant. Exodus 20:8 says “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Psalm 111:7–8 says God’s commandments “stand fast forever and ever.” Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 that He did not come “to destroy the Law or the Prophets.” The seventh day Sabbath is part of this permanent law.
The ceremonial law of Moses
The Mosaic law included sacrifices, rituals, festivals, meat and drink offerings, and yearly sabbath feast days. It was written by Moses in a book and placed outside the ark. These ceremonies pointed forward to the Messiah and ended when Christ fulfilled them on the cross. Galatians 3:19 says the ceremonial law “was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come.” This law was temporary and symbolic.
Understanding these two laws makes it clear that the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments is different from the yearly sabbath feasts of the ceremonial system.
What was nailed to the cross in Colossians 2:14?
Paul wrote that Christ was “blotting out the handwriting of requirements that was against us” (Colossians 2:14). Several key clues show that this refers to the ceremonial law.
The phrase “handwriting of requirements” refers to the law written by Moses, not the Ten Commandments written by God. Moses wrote the ceremonial law in a book. It included animal sacrifices, offerings, purification rituals, and the yearly feast days also called sabbaths. These requirements pointed forward to Christ’s sacrifice. When Jesus died, the entire ceremonial system met its fulfillment. The temple veil was torn in two, signaling the end of the sacrificial service.
The moral law was not against us. Paul described it as “holy and just and good” in Romans 7:12. The ceremonial law, however, became burdensome and was removed at the cross. Therefore, what Christ nailed to the cross was not the Ten Commandments but the temporary shadows pointing to Him.
What are the sabbaths in Colossians 2:16?
Paul continued by saying “Let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths” (Colossians 2:16). These are the same categories listed repeatedly in the Old Testament to describe the ceremonial feast system. For example, 2 Chronicles 31:3 describes “the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the set feasts.” These are the yearly festivals required by the Mosaic law. They included Passover, Pentecost, Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Each feast was called a sabbath but was not the weekly Sabbath of the fourth commandment.
Leviticus 23 lists all these feast days and calls them sabbaths. But at the end of the chapter, God makes a clear distinction. Leviticus 23:37–38 says the yearly sabbaths were “besides the Sabbaths of the Lord.” The “Sabbaths of the Lord” refer to the seventh day Sabbath that existed since creation. Paul was addressing the ceremonial feast sabbaths, not the weekly Sabbath.
Shadows versus substance
Paul explained why these yearly sabbaths cannot be the weekly Sabbath. He wrote in Colossians 2:17 that they “are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” A shadow points to something else. The yearly feasts were shadows. Passover pointed to Christ the Lamb. The Day of Atonement pointed to Christ’s high priestly work. The Feast of Tabernacles pointed to the final gathering of God’s people. All of these were symbolic.
But the seventh day Sabbath is not a shadow. It points backward to creation. It is a memorial of what God has already done. Genesis 2:3 says God blessed and sanctified the seventh day at creation. Exodus 20:11 says the Sabbath reminds us that God made heaven and earth. The Sabbath is not a prophecy, not a ritual, and not a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice. It is a memorial of creation. Therefore, it cannot be included among the shadows.
The weekly Sabbath existed before sin and before Moses
The first Sabbath was given in Eden before sin entered the world. Genesis 2:2–3 says God rested on the seventh day and sanctified it. There were no Jews, no ceremonial laws, and no rituals at that time. The Sabbath was part of God’s design for all humanity. Jesus confirmed this in Mark 2:27 when He said “The Sabbath was made for man,” not for Israel alone. Because it was created before sin, the Sabbath cannot be part of the ceremonial system introduced because of sin.
Jesus and the apostles honored the Sabbath
If Colossians 2 abolished the weekly Sabbath, Jesus and the apostles would not have kept it. But Scripture shows they honored it faithfully. Luke 4:16 says Jesus kept the Sabbath. His disciples also kept it after the resurrection. Acts 13:14, 42, 44 and Acts 17:2 show Paul preaching every Sabbath in the synagogues (Acts 13:14, 42-44, Acts 15:21; Acts 16:13; Acts 17:2; Acts 18:4). These were not ceremonial feasts. They were weekly Sabbaths observed by Spirit-led Christians long after the cross. This confirms that Paul did not teach the Sabbath was abolished.
Why Paul wrote Colossians 2
The believers in Colossae were being pressured by false teachers who insisted Christians must keep the Jewish ceremonial observances. These teachers emphasized food offerings, drink offerings, and the yearly feast days. Paul corrected this by saying Christ fulfilled these requirements. Christians were not to be judged for refusing to keep the ceremonial feasts. But Paul never suggested the moral law was abolished. In fact, Romans 3:31 says “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”
The Sabbath remains part of God’s eternal law
The fourth commandment stands with the other nine as a permanent part of God’s law. Isaiah 58:13–14 shows God blessing those who honor the Sabbath. In the new earth, the Sabbath will still be kept. Isaiah 66:22–23 says “from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me.” The weekly Sabbath is eternal. Christ did not abolish it. Instead, He restored its true purpose.
Conclusion
Colossians 2:14–17 does not abolish the seventh day Sabbath. It refers only to the yearly sabbath feast days of the ceremonial Mosaic law described in Leviticus 23. These feast days were shadows that pointed forward to Christ and ended at the cross. The seventh day Sabbath, however, is part of God’s eternal moral law. It was established at creation, written by God’s own finger, kept by Jesus and the apostles, and will be honored in the new earth. Far from being abolished, the Sabbath remains a gift from the Creator to His people for rest, worship, and spiritual blessing.
For more on the Sabbath, check (Lessons 91-102) of our Bible Lessons.
Comments
Be the first to comment on this article — share your thoughts above and start the discussion.