(1) For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; (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 God, and of the Father, and of Christ; (3) In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
The opening of this Chapter gives a very lovely representation of Paul's mind. He had never seen the Church of the Colossi ans. But what of that? They were Christ's flock, and Paul loved them for it. Reader! is it not so to us with Christ himself? You and I have never seen Christ in the flesh. But can we not say with one of old concerning him, whom having not seen we love; in whom, though now we see him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory, 1 Peter 1:8
Observe how gloriously the mystery of the Holy Three in One, spoken of, and known, and enjoyed, when the souls of God's people are knit together in love. And observe, how blessedly CHRIST in his fulness is described: In whom are hid all the treasures (page 17) of wisdom and knowledge. Then, Reader! if it be so, (as that it most assuredly is), it is of no use to seek either for wisdom or knowledge elsewhere. But for the encouragement of all that seek after Christ, be their circumstances ever so poor or wretched, they are sure to find. Yea, Jesus, under his well-known character of Wisdom, is represented as not waiting to be sought for, but himself coming to invite every wretchedly, ignorant sinner, whom God the Spirit hath caused to see his want and misery, to come and buy wisdom of him, without money, and without price, Isaiah 55:1. And those treasures being said to be hidden, doth not mean hidden by way of concealment, but by way of safety and security. They are, indeed, hidden from the wise and prudent; that is, the wise in their own eyes, and the prudent in their own conceit; but they are revealed unto babes. For so Jesus thanked his Father, Matthew 11:25. And if the Reader will turn to the book of the Proverbs, he will find Christ, as Wisdom, crying aloud, and calling upon his people to come and find a fulness of wisdom and knowledge. I love them (saith he) that love me, and them that seek me early shall find me, I will cause them that love me to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasures, see Proverbs 8:1 throughout.