Let No Man Judge You in Meat?

Colossians 2:16 KJV

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

This scripture stands as the epitome of Christian belief. Let no man judge you! So now you can’t judge me in general and especially as it pertains to what I eat and what I celebrate! And even for some believers of the faith, it leads into the argument of, “you don’t have to keep the feasts of The Most High”. And even if you are keeping the feast, no one can “judge” you on when or how you keep it. All of which can be proven not to be true. Now in terms of “only God can judge me.” There is an article named after that very phrase on the website that addresses this. However, we want to rather clarify what this scripture is referring to in particular. And for that we need contextual understanding and precept upon precept.

Colossians 2:13-17 KJVS

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. [16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, 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.

Okay, that can be a lot to digest at once, so let us take it step by step in parts that we can more easily digest.

Colossians 2:13 KJVS

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

At one point in time you were spiritually dead, being in sin. Spiritually uncircumcised (and some of us men physically as well); spiritually unclean. But Christ quickened you in the spirit through the ability to repent through his death and his blood being shed as a means for you to be able to atone, regardless of what sin or sins you committed in times past.

Ephesians 2:12-15 KJVS

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: [13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. [14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; [15] Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Before you were without Christ, and not you only but your people need they had been part of the circumcision (those who grew up in the law) or the uncircumcision (those who grew up in the “world”). Because those of the northern kingdom of Israel were mostly scattered throughout the Americas at this time and lacked a strong levitical priesthood to offer up sacrifices on their behalf so they had no means of repentance under the old covenant and were cut off. Furthermore, even prior to that they had gotten so far into wickedness even the Most High said to leave them alone and they became heathen/ gentiles/ another nation. Hence, cut off from the common wealth of Israel. But again, not them only because remember, the history of the greeks in the Maccabees that many of our people “became greeks” and forsook the law and became gentiles as well. Hence, the uncircumcised. Christ had to bring all of us together and back on one accord with those whose forefathers remained faithful. And this was done through the sacrifice of Christ and through his blood. Him being that last sacrifice for sins to give atonement for all Israel. Which stood as the biggest doctrinal debate in the New Testament; do we still have to give animal sacrifices according to the sacrificial law? Was this man really the messiah prophesied to come?

Colossians 2:14 KJVS

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Christ through his death and resurrection converted the priesthood back under him. So now he is the greater offering and authority over the law of Moses pertaining to the sacrifices that the priest would make on behalf of the people. The sacrificial law under the levitical priesthood was nailed to the cross and died with him.

Numbers 19:1-2 KJVS

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, [2] This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:

The old covenant had many ordinances or laws that pertained unto sacrifices. Things that had to be done and offered up by the priest on your behalf. Need it be on the sabbaths, new moons or any other holy day. But most importantly, for any time you sinned.

Psalm 51:16-17 KJVS

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. [17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

The key is, is that even in the time of the old covenant some of our forefathers and foremothers understood that they key wasn’t I sinned let me just kill an animal but rather I sinned, I am sorry, let me fight to do better and be better; sincere repentance internally that The Most High wanted even from the beginning. The very thing he was telling Cain, “IF thou doest well, will thou not be accepted?” God wants us to be sincere in our walk in doing the right thing at all times.

Colossians 2:15 KJVS

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Christ destroyed the rules and ordinances that were against us by overruling them through his death and resurrection and reclaiming his title as our high priest and king. Which was shown openly to the world and overcoming that he has gained the victory for us.

Hebrews 9:1,8-12 KJVS

Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. [8] The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: [9] Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; [10] Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. [11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

The first covenant or Old Testament had many rules in terms of offerings to be given and when as it pertained to the tabernacle and sactuary that was present with us. But it was only a figure of what was to come; which was Christ. And while it stood, it did not purify us the way God intended, as the goal was always to go forward and sin no more and forget your sins. Move forward in full assurance of faith and focus on being better and doing better. And Christ being that greater tabernacle above the blood of bulls and goats that would be offered continually, gave his life one time for us to be reconciled back to the father.

Colossians 2:16 KJVS

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Hebrews is the key in understanding Colossians and putting everything into perspective. Ezekiel here below, just so happens to be the lock that allows you to open up your chest of understanding of Colossians.

Ezekiel 45:16-17 KJVS

All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Israel. [17] And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.

Look at the contextual parallel of Ezekiel 45:16-17 and Colossians 2:16. And it is Hebrews chapter 9 (as well as 10) that ties them all together so you have a perfect; that is complete, understanding. Don’t let some man, woman or child decide that you are unrighteous because you do not offer animal sacrifices according to the law of Moses on any of the holy days or for sin. Christ died so we no longer are required to do that. You no longer need a levite or a priest of the tribe of Levi to offer an offering on your behalf so you can repent and be at one with The Most High. Christ is our mediator and offers reconciliation on our behalf. Just go forward and offend less and when possible sin no more.

1 Corinthians 5:8 KJV

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

So let us keep the feasts with a clear conscious knowing we are doing what is commanded of us. Even though we no longer give animal sacrifices through the levitical priesthood.

Psalm 119:104 KJV

Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.