"Let no man therefore judge you..." See we can eat Pork and break Sabbath!!! Not so fast...
It's commonly taught that Paul told the assembly at Colosse not to let anyone judge them for eating pork and breaking the Sabbath and Holy day commandments. Is that teaching True or False?
PAUL


We've heard a lot about fact checking in recent years. I don't particular care for the fact checking organizations of the world, however, I do like the idea of fact checking, assuming of course that the fact checkers source of "Truth" is reliable. We have a sure source of Truth in Yahshua the Messiah. The foundation of Paul's faith was this same source and although we don't know the exact circumstances that prompted Paul's writings, we do know that they were letters written to different groups of believers in order to address specific circumstances. We also know that the believers at Colosse had heard and believed the Word of Truth which is the Gospel that Christ Preached. Look at what Paul say's as part of his opening in the letter.
Col 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Paul is referencing specific teachings in the Gospel of Yahshua wherein He spoke of the things that we should be hoping for.
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in Elohim, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Paul then goes on to speak of the Gospel that brings forth Fruit in believers in the very next verse.
Col 1:6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, SINCE THE DAY YOU HEARD IT, and knew the grace of Elohim in truth:
Paul is also referencing Yahshua's doctrine here where He taught us how to abide in Him.
Joh 15:4 ABIDE IN ME, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Notice the direct correlation between abiding in Christ and His words (The Gospel) abiding in the believer.
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Paul is pointing to the Gospel that Messiah was anointed to preach. I say this because doctrines of men teach that Paul taught some other gospel. This is done in order to draw men and women away from Christ and place them under their own doctrines. Paul continues...
Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of Elohim, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Col 2:3 In whom are HID all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Paul say's that hidden, in Christ, are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. This is also a reference to the Doctrine of Messiah wherein, He, multiple times compares the Kingdom to Hidden Treasure. We should look at studying Yahshua's teachings as a treasure hunt of Truth. Why does Paul say what he said in verse 3? He say's so in verse 4.
Col 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
Paul tells these believers that in Christ are HID all treasures of wisdom and knowledge for the specific reason that these believers not be "beguiled"(Deceived) with enticing words. Paul is writing this letter in order to help keep the believers at Colosse in the Truth, which is the Doctrine of Messiah. Paul then goes on to speak about the authorities that were in power, that Messiah made a show of openly, while on earth.
Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
We see Yahshua make an open show of these authorities in Mark Ch. 7, Matt Ch. 13 and 23 as well as in other places. These were false authorities that rejected Christ and His doctrine. Notice this comment below just before Yahshua begins to speak against these false teachers.
Mat 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees SIT IN MOSES SEAT:
Mat 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
The Jew's had at that time, in every synagogue, a seat called the seat of Moses. The rulers of the synagogues would sit in this seat every Sabbath and read out of the Law. Below is a photo of an actual seat of Moses that was unearthed.


Yahshua was telling the multitude and His disciples to observe and do everything that these rulers would say to do when they were reading out of the Law while seated in the seat of Moses, but warned them not to follow them because they said and did not. In essence this is another example of Messiah commanding the Law of Moses to be obeyed.
It is only after pointing out that Yahshua triumphed over these authorities and powers that Paul say's the following (Notice Paul's use of the word "Therefore").
Col 2:16 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:
The Pharisees were judging people according their man made doctrines such as not picking certain things up on the Sabbath, washing hands before eating, certain ways to wash pots and cups, etc... These man made commandments are alive and well today in modern Judaism.
Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of Elohim, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and MANY other such like things ye do.
The common teaching on Col 2:16 is that Paul was telling these believers to not let any man judge them for not keeping the commandments pertaining to clean and unclean and the Holy Days, however, when looked at in context the opposite is actually true. Paul was telling these believers to no let any one judge them in how to keep these commandments specifically the Pharisees and Saducees. Look at the verse that follows.
Col 2:17 Which ARE a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Notice that Paul say's that these things ARE a shadow. I have noticed that often times when this verse is quoted by people they insert the word "were" in place of the present tense, however, it say's "are". Why is it in the Present tense if these commandments are done away with? Also, look at the rest of this verse. The word "is" is in italics because it is not in the actual Greek text. This was inserted because the translators were trying to make it fit into their doctrine but it makes no sense when rendered with the word "is". "But the body is of Christ"? Remove the word is, which is not there in the Greek and what do the verses actually say? Let's see...
"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 of Christ."
Paul is saying to not let any man judge you in food or drink or of the Sabbath or the Holy Days but the body of Christ. Removing the "is" brings it back into context. Only the body of Christ should be judging us on these matters, that is assuming it is the true Body of Christ having Christ as its head which ministers nourishment to the rest of the body according to the below verse.
Col 2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands HAVING NOURISHMENT MINISTERED, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of Elohim
Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Touch not, taste not, handle not... these ordinances that Paul is talking about are the commandments and doctrines of men! There is no way around it. He is not telling people to eat pork and not keep the Days that Yahweh set apart as Holy in His Law. Let's look at another verse from another of Paul's letters.
1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ OUR PASSOVER is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 THEREFORE LET US KEEP THE FEAST, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Paul is commanding the believers at Corinth to keep the feast of Passover and of unleavened bread as commanded in the Law. Sadly many have been deceived into roasting a pig and having a Sun rise service on Easter, which is a day set to honor a demonic deity in stead of keeping the Passover in honor of the one that offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice.