(16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: (17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (18) Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (19) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. (20) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not; (22) Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? (23) Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.
It should be observed by the Reader, for the right apprehension of what is here said on the subject of dispute about ordinances, that they related to the Jewish and Gentile Church. The Jews converted to the Gospel, brought with them many of their Jewish prejudices. And the Gentiles having no attachment to those things, were not unfrequently reproved, it should seem, by their brethren the Jews, for not observing them. Paul desires that these things may die away, and that no unkind censure may anymore be heard about the new moon feasts, or the alteration of the Jewish Sabbath day to the first day of the week, in honor of the Lord's rising. He aims to call the attention of both from the shadow to the substance, from ordinances to Christ.
But though in these disputes the Church of God hath now no concern, yet much improvement may be made from what Paul hath here said on the subject of ordinances. It hath been in all ages, and still is too much the propensity in the human mind, to lay more stress upon the means of grace, than to regard the end. We are more concerned to observe the shadow, than look after the substance. The carcase is substituted for the life. Men feed, as the Prophet speaks, upon ashes, Isaiah 44:20. Hence, anything, and everything but Christ make up a form, where there is no power of godliness. The Apostle sums up the whole of this lure of religion, in a full comprehension, when he calls it, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. Alas! what pure form of worship is to be found in the present day wholly free from this leaven? What Church of Christ upon earth is there, that is so holding the Head, as to receive all nourishment alone from him, and to increase with the increase of God?
Reader! let you and I learn from this striking passage, the necessity of being dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, that we may so use ordinances, as not being subject to them. A soul dead with Christ to those things hath life with Christ in spiritual things. The life of Christ in the soul hath fellowship and communion with Christ in all that belongs to him, his life, his obedience, his death, his resurrection, ascension, glory. The soul is justified freely, fully, everlastingly. He is one with Him, and accepted in Him. Hence, though he useth ordinances, yet but as mediums only to lead to Christ, as chariots to carry him to Christ. He is not subject to them, much less to substitute them in the place of Christ, or make them part Saviors. All are subordinate, and as things which perish with using. Christ is the one, and only one object in every desire, in all pursuits, and all attainments. What one of old said, all find, and all blessedness follows in this enjoyment. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: thou art the strength of my heart, and my portion forever, Psalms 73:25-26.