Great question —
Colossians 2:16 is often cited in discussions about whether Christians are still required to keep the
Sabbath commandment (the Fourth Commandment). Let's look at the verse
carefully, in its
full context, and then assess whether it refers to the
weekly Sabbath from the Ten Commandments or
ceremonial sabbaths in the Law of Moses.
Colossians 2:16–17 (NKJV)
Key Questions:
1. What kind of “sabbaths” is Paul talking about?
Let’s break the phrase down:
This phrase appears in
many places in the Old Testament, often in this
same order, and always refers to
ceremonial observances:
- 1 Chronicles 23:31
- 2 Chronicles 2:4
- 2 Chronicles 31:3
- Nehemiah 10:33
- Ezekiel 45:17
- Hosea 2:11
These texts link
festivals,
new moons, and
sabbaths as
ceremonial observances — part of the
Mosaic (Levitical) system, not the
weekly seventh-day Sabbath of the Ten Commandments.
That’s why Paul says in Col. 2:17:
In other words, these ceremonial laws
pointed forward to Christ and
found their fulfillment in Him.
2. Is the weekly Sabbath also a shadow?
There’s a strong distinction between:
Type of Law | Description | Shadow of Christ? | Abolished in Christ? |
---|
Moral Law (10 Commandments) | Eternal moral principles (Ex. 20) | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Ceremonial Law | Feasts, sacrifices, rituals, sabbaths tied to festivals (Lev. 23) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
- The weekly Sabbathwas:
- Given at Creation (Genesis 2:2–3)
- Reinforced in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8–11)
- Not instituted as a shadow, but as a memorial of creation
- The ceremonial sabbaths(e.g., Day of Atonement, Feast of Trumpets) are:
- Called sabbaths too (see Leviticus 23)
- Fall on various days, not necessarily the seventh day
- Shadows pointing to Jesus' work
Therefore, when Paul talks about
“sabbaths which are a shadow”, he refers to these
ceremonial sabbaths, not the weekly Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment.
3. Did Jesus or the Apostles abolish the weekly Sabbath?
- Jesus kept the Sabbath (Luke 4:16)
- The disciples kept the Sabbath after Jesus' death (Acts 13:42, 16:13, 17:2, 18:4)
- Hebrews 4:9 says:
✅ Conclusion:
Colossians 2:16 does
not cancel the
weekly Sabbath commandment.
It refers to
ceremonial sabbaths, along with food and drink offerings, and religious festivals that were
shadows pointing to Christ.
The
Fourth Commandment Sabbath is
not a shadow, but a
memorial of creation and a
sign of God’s sanctifying work (Exodus 31:13, Ezekiel 20:12).
2. But Which Commandment Does God Emphasize Most in the Bible?
✅ The Fourth Commandment (Sabbath) is the only one God:
- Calls "My holy day" (Isaiah 58:13)
- Links to Creation (Genesis 2:1–3; Exodus 20:11)
- Uses to test Israel's obedience before Sinai (Exodus 16)
- Commands to remember as a sign between Him and His people (Ezekiel 20:12, 20)
- Institutes as a covenantal sign (Exodus 31:13–17)