John Calvin Commentary Colossians 3:1

"If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God." — Colossians 3:1 (ASV)

To those fruitless exercises which the false apostles urged, as if perfection consisted in them, he opposes those true exercises in which it is fitting for Christians to engage; and this has no slight bearing upon the matter at hand, for when we see what God would have us do, we then easily despise human inventions.

When we also perceive that what God recommends to us is much more lofty and excellent than what men inculcate, our eagerness of mind to follow God increases, so that we disregard men. Paul here exhorts the Colossians to meditate on the heavenly life. And what about his opponents?

They wished to retain their childish rudiments. This doctrine, therefore, causes the ceremonies to be held in less esteem. Thus, it is clear that Paul, in this passage, exhorts in such a manner as to confirm the foregoing doctrine, for in describing solid piety and holiness of life, his aim is for those vain shows of human traditions to vanish.

At the same time, he anticipates an objection with which the false apostles might assail him. What then? "Would you rather have men be idle than devote themselves to such exercises, whatever kind they may be?" When, therefore, he instructs Christians to engage in far superior exercises, he removes any grounds for this calumny. Furthermore, he casts significant odium upon them because they hinder the proper course of the godly with worthless diversions.

If you are risen with Christ. Ascension follows resurrection; hence, if we are members of Christ, we must ascend into heaven, because He, on being raised from the dead, was received up into heaven (Mark 16:19), so that He might draw us up with Him. Now, we seek those things which are above when, in our minds, we are truly sojourners in this world and are not bound to it.

The word translated think upon expresses rather diligence and intensity of aim: "Let your whole meditation be on this: to this apply your intellect—to this your mind." But if we ought to think of nothing but what is heavenly, because Christ is in heaven, how much less fitting would it be to seek Christ on earth. Let us therefore remember that that is a true and holy thinking about Christ which immediately bears us up into heaven, so that we may adore Him there, and that our minds may dwell with Him.

Regarding the right hand of God, it is not confined to heaven but fills the whole world. Paul has mentioned it here to intimate that Christ encompasses us by His power, so that we may not think that distance of place is a cause of separation between us and Him, and that, at the same time, His majesty may inspire us to revere Him completely.