Romans 14:5-7 & Colossians 2:16
Did Yah’s Word Change?
Part 2
By Pastor Victor Archie
Romans 14 verses 5-7 and Colossians 2:16 have received a lot of attention over the years from those who want to justify or condemn Sabbath keeping and eating all things in the animal kingdom. To truly understand these scriptures, we must take a deep dive into these scriptures and see what was really being discussed. In most cases in scripture to understand what was being said you must take into consideration the following:
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Yah’s Word doesn’t contradict itself and will never change. (Isaiah 40:8)
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Yeshua’s Words do not contradict Yah’s given Word. (John 10:30)
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Paul was a follower of Christ. (1st Corinthians 11:1)
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Paul was a believer and follower of the Laws of Moses (Acts 24:14-15)
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The “Ordinances” of the Law are no more. (Colossians 2:14-15)
If you keep these 5 points in mind in all your studies, you can dig deeper and grow in your understanding of the New Testament scriptures. Here’s another important scripture to keep in mind as well, is 2nd Peter 3:16.
It reads: As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Though, some of Paul's writings were hard to understand and not always clear or obvious. Unfortunately, there are those who see difficult passages as an opportunity to distort the overall truth of Yah's Word. Either due to ignorance or instability, they twist the meaning of a difficult passage to try to make Scripture say what it does not.
So, with this as our guide let’s get started!
Colossians 2:16-17
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.
This is another seemingly cut-and-dry statement made by Paul. For the unlearned that is… But we know that Yah’s Word is unchangeable. we know that Yeshua and the Father are ONE… We also know that Paul was a follower of Yeshua and ask us to follow him... and we know that Paul kept the Law of Moses. Finally, Peter tells us that Paul’s writing requires us to be rooted in the scriptures. We know that the New Testament wasn’t a part of the scriptures in those days. So, what were the scriptures? It was the Old Testament, the Torah, and the words of the Prophets. So let’s find out where the scriptures talk about meat, drink, Holy Days (Festivals), new moons, and Sabbaths.
Exodus 29: 38-41; Leviticus 23:13, 18 & 37; Numbers 6:15 & 17 all talk about the food and drink daily offerings given in the morning and evening of each day. But Paul mentioned much more than just those two things.
So lets visit 1st & 2nd Chronicles
1st Chronicles 23:29-31
29 both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for a meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;
30 and to stand every morning to thank and praise Yahawah, and likewise at even;
31 and to offer all burnt sacrifices unto Yahawah in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before Elohim:
So, Chronicles is more descriptive concerning these offerings to Yah and shows everything that Paul was referring to. Let no one judge you on keeping to the “Ordinances or Decrees of the Law”. We know from studying Part 1 that Christ died for the sins of the world and release us from the need for sacrificing offerings. Let's see if we can get to any additional precepts.
2nd Chronicles 2:4; 31:3
Chapter 2
4 Behold, I build an house to the name of Yahawah my Elohim, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of Yahawah my Elohim. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
Chapter 31
3 He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and eveningburnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of Elohim.
So, this picture is becoming very clear in the conversation at hand. Let's see where else can we find this in the scriptures.
Nehemiah 10:32-33
32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our Elohim;
33 for the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our Elohim.
Ezekiel 45:17
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.
Ezekiel 46: 3-7
3 Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before Elohim in the sabbaths and in the new moons.
4 And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto Elohim in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish.
5 And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah.
6 And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish.
7 And he shall prepare a meat offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto, and an hin of oil to an ephah.
In the scriptures held by Yeshua and the disciples when these commons are made, it is directly related to the offering of sacrifices unto Yah by the “Ordinance of the Law of Moses” that was taken to the cross with our Messiah.
We DO NOT burn offerings unto Yahawah that way anymore as Yeshua became the “Last Physical Sacrifice”, and now we are to present ourselves as the “Living” sacrifices made to be Holy and acceptable unto Yah! Paul is telling those believers in the faith not to go back to the ways that Christ had died for. As they are now free from the “School Master” of the Law.
Let’s now go back and read the whole chapter in Colossians 2. (read it with Victory!!!)
Colossians 2
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 Elohim, and of the Father, and of Messiah;
3 in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in the Messiah.
6 As ye have therefore received Yeshua the Messiah, so walk ye in him:
7 rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Messiah.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Messiah:
12 buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of the Messiah, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 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 Yeshua.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping 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 Elohim.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Yeshua 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 shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
This matter is resolved…. HalleluYAH!!!
I want to just for a minute go back and read verses 13 & 14.
13 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;
Matthews 5:18 & Ephesians 2:15 should be reviewed when reading these passages.
Remember what Yeshua said:
Matthews 5:17-18 reads
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Ephesians 2:11-15
11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 that at that time ye were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without Messiah in the world:
13 but now in Yeshua the Messiah ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Messiah.
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;
16 and that he might reconcile both unto Elohim in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of Yahawah;
20 and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yeshua the Messiah himself being the chief corner stone;
21 in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of Elohim through the Spirit.
Amen!
Hebrews Chapter 9
1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4 which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of Elohim.
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
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 Yeshua 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.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 how much more shall the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to Elohim, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim?
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20 saying, This is the blood of the testament which Yahawah hath enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Messiah is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of Yahawah for us:
25 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 so Messiah was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Additional Scriptures on “Man made Ordinances”
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Nehemiah 10:32-33
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Hebrews 10:4
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Isaiah 53:10
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1st John 2:2
Christ being the “Set Apart Offering”
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Isaiah 53:10
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Ephesians 5:2
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Hebrews 8:10
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Hebrews 10:10-16
Paul keeping the Feast Days of Yahawah
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Acts 18:21
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Acts 20:16
May Elohim bless you in your walk and I pray this word heals your heart.