Albert Barnes Commentary Colossians 1:20

"and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, [I say], whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens." — Colossians 1:20 (ASV)

And having made peace. The marginal reading is making. The Greek will bear either. The meaning is that by His atonement He produces reconciliation between those who were alienated from each other. (See Barnes' note on Ephesians 2:14).

It does not mean here that He had actually effected peace by His death, but that He had laid the foundation for it; He had done that which would secure it.

Through the blood of his cross. By His blood shed on the cross. That blood, making atonement for sin, was the means of making reconciliation between God and man. On the meaning of the word blood, as used in this connection, see Barnes' note on Romans 3:25.

By him to reconcile all things to himself. On the meaning of the word reconcile, see Barnes' notes on Matthew 5:24, Romans 5:10, and 2 Corinthians 5:18.

When it is said that it pleased the Father by Christ to reconcile all things to Himself, the declaration must be understood with some limitation.

1. It relates only to those things which are in heaven and earth—for those only are specified. Nothing is said of the inhabitants of hell, whether fallen angels or the spirits of wicked men who are there.
2. It cannot mean that all things are actually reconciled, for that has never been true. Multitudes on earth have remained alienated from God and have lived and died His enemies.
3. Then it can only mean that He had executed a plan adapted to this; that if fairly and properly applied, the blood of the cross was fitted to secure entire reconciliation between heaven and earth. There was no enemy which it was not fitted to reconcile to God; there was no guilt, now producing alienation, which it could not wash away.

Whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. That is, to produce harmony between the things in heaven and in earth, so that all things shall be reconciled to Him, or so that there shall be harmony between heaven and earth. The meaning is not that "the things in heaven" were alienated from God, but that there was alienation in the universe which affected heaven, and the object was to produce again universal concord and love. Substantially the same sentiment is found in Ephesians 1:10. (See Barnes' note on Ephesians 1:10).

Much has been written on the meaning of this expression, and a great variety of opinions have been entertained regarding it. It is best, always, unless necessity requires a different interpretation, to take words in their usual meaning. If that rule is adopted here, "things in heaven" will refer to God and the angels, and perhaps may include the principles of the Divine government.

"Things on earth" will embrace men, and the various things on earth which are now at variance with God and with heaven. Between these, it is designed to produce harmony by the blood of the cross, or by the atonement. As in heaven nothing is wrong, and as it is not desirable that anything should be changed there, all the change that is to take place to produce reconciliation is to be on the part of men and the things of this world.

The only effect of the blood of the atonement on the "things" of heaven, in effecting the reconciliation, is to render it consistent for God to be at peace with sinners. The effect on earth is to dispose the sinner to be willing to be reconciled, to lead him to lay aside his enmity, to change his heart, and to effect a change in the views and principles prevailing on earth which are now at variance with God and His government. When this is done, there will be harmony between heaven and earth, and an alienated world will be brought into conformity with the laws and government of the Creator.