Matthew Henry Commentary Colossians 2
Matthew Henry Commentary
Colossians 2
Matthew Henry Commentary
Colossians 2
"For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, [even] Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk in him, rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." — Colossians 2:1-7 (ASV)
The soul prospers when we have clear knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. It prospers when we not only believe with the heart but are ready, when called, to make confession with the mouth. Knowledge and faith make a soul rich. The stronger our faith, and the warmer our love, the more will our comfort be.
The treasures of wisdom are hidden, not from us, but for us, in Christ. These were hidden from proud unbelievers but displayed in the person and redemption of Christ. See the danger of enticing words; how many are ruined by the false disguises and fair appearances of evil principles and wicked practices! Be aware and afraid of those who would entice you to any evil, for they aim to take you captive.
All Christians have, in profession at least, received Jesus Christ the Lord, consented to him, and taken him as their own. We cannot be built up in Christ, or grow in him, unless we are first rooted in him or founded upon him. Being established in the faith, we must abound in it, and improve in it more and more.
God justly withdraws this benefit from those who do not receive it with thanksgiving; and gratitude for his mercies is justly required by God.
"Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ: for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power: in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, [I say], did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses; having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out that way, nailing it to the cross; having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day: which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ`s." — Colossians 2:8-17 (ASV)
There is a philosophy that rightly exercises our reasonable faculties: a study of the works of God, which leads us to the knowledge of God and confirms our faith in him. But there is a philosophy that is vain and deceitful; while it pleases people's fancies, it hinders their faith. Such are curious speculations about things above us or of no concern to us.
Those who walk in the way of the world are turned from following Christ. We have in him the substance of all the shadows of the ceremonial law.
All its defects are compensated for in the gospel of Christ, by his complete sacrifice for sin and by the revelation of the will of God. To be complete is to be furnished with all things necessary for salvation. By this one word complete, it is shown that we have in Christ whatever is required. In him, not when we look to Christ as though he were distant from us, but we are in him when, by the power of the Spirit, we have faith worked in our hearts by the Spirit, and we are united to our Head.
The circumcision of the heart, the crucifixion of the flesh, the death and burial to sin and to the world, and the resurrection to newness of life—set forth in baptism and by faith worked in our hearts—prove that our sins are forgiven and that we are fully delivered from the curse of the law. Through Christ, we, who were dead in sins, are made alive. Christ's death was the death of our sins; Christ's resurrection is the making alive of our souls.
The law of ordinances, which was a yoke to the Jews and a partition-wall to the Gentiles, the Lord Jesus took out of the way. When the substance had come, the shadows fled. Since every mortal person is, through the hand-writing of the law, guilty of death, how very dreadful is the condition of the ungodly and unholy, who trample under foot that blood of the Son of God, by which alone this deadly hand-writing can be blotted out! Let no one be troubled about bigoted judgments related to foods or the Jewish solemnities.
The setting apart a portion of our time for the worship and service of God is a moral and unchangeable duty, but did not necessarily depend on the seventh day of the week, the Jewish Sabbath. The first day of the week, or the Lord's day, is the time kept holy by Christians, in remembrance of Christ's resurrection. All the Jewish rites were shadows of gospel blessings.
"Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increasing with the increase of God. If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances, Handle not, nor taste, nor touch (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; [but are] not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh." — Colossians 2:18-23 (ASV)
It looked like humility to appeal to angels, as if people were conscious of their unworthiness to speak directly to God. But it is not justifiable; it is taking that honor which is due to Christ alone, and giving it to a creature. There really was pride in this apparent humility. Those who worship angels reject Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man.
It is an insult to Christ, who is the Head of the church, to use any intercessors other than him. When people let go of their hold on Christ, they grasp at what will be of no use to them. The body of Christ is a growing body. And true believers cannot live in the ways of the world.
True wisdom is to adhere closely to the directives of the gospel, in complete subjection to Christ, who is the only Head of his church. Self-imposed sufferings and fastings might have an appearance of uncommon spirituality and willingness for suffering, but this did not bring any honor to God. All of this tended, in a wrong way, to satisfy the carnal mind by gratifying self-will, self-wisdom, self-righteousness, and contempt of others.
These things are such that they do not even carry the appearance of wisdom; or it is so faint an appearance that they do the soul no good and do not provide for the satisfying of the flesh. Whatever the Lord has left as a matter of indifference, let us regard it as such and leave others to the same freedom. Remembering the transitory nature of earthly things, let us seek to glorify God in their use.
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