he apostle expresses his love to, and joy in believers. (1-7)
He cautions against the errors of heathen philosophy; also
against Jewish traditions, and rites which had been fulfilled in
Christ. (8-17) Against worshipping angels; and against legal
ordinances. (18-23)
Verses 1-7: The soul prospers when we have clear knowledge of the truth
as it is in Jesus. 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 hid, not from us, but for us, in Christ.
These were hid 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 to any evil; for they aim
to spoil you. All Christians have, in profession at least,
received Jesus Christ the Lord, consented to him, and taken him
for theirs. 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 therein, 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.
Verses 8-17: There is a philosophy which 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 which is vain and deceitful; and while it
pleases men's fancies, hinders their faith: such are curious
speculations about things above us, or 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 the defects of it are made up 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," 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 wrought 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 wrought 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
quickened. Christ's death was the death of our sins; Christ's
resurrection is the quickening 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 was come, the shadows fled. Since every mortal man 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, whereby alone this
deadly hand-writing can be blotted out! Let not any be troubled
about bigoted judgments which related to meats, 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 had no necessary dependence upon the seventh day of the
week, the sabbath of the Jews. 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.
Verses 18-23: It looked like humility to apply to angels, as if men
were conscious of their unworthiness to speak directly to God.
But it is not warrantable; it is taking that honour which is due
to Christ only, and giving it to a creature. There really was
pride in this seeming humility. Those who worship angels,
disclaim 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 but him. When men let go their hold of Christ,
they catch at what will stand them in no stead. The body of
Christ is a growing body. And true believers cannot live in the
fashions of the world. True wisdom is, to keep close to the
appointments of the gospel; in entire subjection to Christ, who
is the only Head of his church. Self-imposed sufferings and
fastings, might have a show of uncommon spirituality and
willingness for suffering, but this was not "in any honour" to
God. The whole tended, in a wrong manner, to satisfy the carnal
mind, by gratifying self-will, self-wisdom, self-righteousness,
and contempt of others. The things being such as carry not with
them so much as the show of wisdom; or so faint a show that they
do the soul no good, and provide not for the satisfying of the
flesh. What the Lord has left indifferent, let us regard as
such, and leave others to the like freedom; and remembering the
passing nature of earthly things, let us seek to glorify God in
the use of them.
he apostle expresses his love to, and joy in believers. (1-7)
He cautions against the errors of heathen philosophy; also
against Jewish traditions, and rites which had been fulfilled in
Christ. (8-17) Against worshipping angels; and against legal
ordinances. (18-23)