The verse which people usually use to defend this mis-guided idea is found in Colossians 2:14-17. This is one of the most misunderstood passages in the New Testament. The context of this verse reads: "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; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 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 2:14-17
People who read the Bible realize that there were TWO sets of Laws which are clearly noted in the Bible. Moses ceremonial law (beginning in Exodus 24:1-8 & continuing in the Books of Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy) & Gods Law (Exodus 20:3-17)!!
The "Sabbath days" referred to in this text are contained in several annual Jewish "feasts", contained in Moses ceremonial law. These 'feasts', Passover, Day of Atonement, Feast of the Tabernacles etc, with their various "meat offerings", "drink offerings", & "Sabbaths", are all outlined in Leviticus 23:4-44. There were many "Sabbaths" in the Jewish calendar, which were not the weekly "Sabbath". These were indeed 'nailed' to the cross.
Paul referred to those annual "sabbaths" as "shadows" because their ceremonies and sacrifices pointed forward to Jesus Christ and were abolished when He died on the cross. The Scripture plainly differentiates between the 'annual' & 'shadowy' sabbaths and the weekly "Sabbath of the Lord." The seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment is not a type or shadow, for instead of pointing forward to the death of Jesus, it points back to Creation Week.
Moses Law or the ceremonial law, is also explained in Hebrews 10:1-18 where it specifically teaches that it was the, annual feasts, animal sacrifices & burnt offerings as outlined in the books of Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy) & written by the hand of Moses at Mount Sinai (Leviticus 26:46), that was a "shadow", & not the Ten Commandments.
At the beginning of Colossians 2:14 Paul wrote, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us...nailing it to his cross (verse 14). The "ordinances by the hand of Moses" (2 Chronicles 33:8 ), that was "blotted out" and nailed to the cross, was the ceremonial law, & not the Ten Commandments, which was written with "the finger of God" (Exodus 31:18) & then placed inside the ark for eternity (Exodus 25:16 & 21, Exodus 40:3 & 20, Deuteronomy 10:2 & 5).
The Law of Moses, was supposed to be read to the people, with its various statutes, curses, judgments, and animal sacrifices:
"And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord...When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel...Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 31:9-12.
This Book of the law, was put in a pocket at the side of the ark; "And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee." Deuteronomy 31:24-26.
The Book of the Law also contained various curses and blessings;
"And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel..."Joshua 8:30-35.
There are no curses recorded in the Ten Commandments that God wrote, but the law which Moses wrote contained an abundance of such curses and judgments.
God also clearly separated the Ten Commandments, from the statutes & judgements which he gave to the people. They were designated as a separate and distinct "law". God makes this clear in such away, that no doubt can remain: "Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them" 2 kings 21:8.
Here we are assured that the statutes & judgements which Moses gave the people were called a "law". God speaks of the law "I have commanded" and also the "law...Moses commanded."
Daniel was inspired to make the same careful distinction when he prayed for the desolated sanctuary of his scattered nation. "Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him" Daniel 9:11
In Matthew 24 Jesus also spoke of the Ten Commandment Sabbath in His prophecy about the time of trouble which will come upon this earth he said; "But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day...."Matthew 24:20. So the true Ten Commandment Sabbath was verified by Jesus to be still in effect long after His death.
When Jesus died, the entire system of ceremonial sacrifices was "blotted out." and not the Law of God!
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