Colossians 2:14

4. The legalism sought to be imposed is abolished, Colossians 2:14.

14. Blotting out Rather, having blotted out. The interpretations of this verse are very various, and many of their difficulties arise, as we think, from a failure to observe its logical connexion. We conceive it to be a simple statement that God had wiped out the whole ritual system. Circumcision could not, therefore, be required as a condition of spiritual life, and they themselves had found that life without it.

Handwriting of ordinances The Mosaic ceremonial law: the obligatory bond, whose numerous minute decrees were difficult and oppressive.

Contrary to us Peter expressed the same when he styled it “a yoke… which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear.” Acts 15:10. We cannot interpret it of the decalogue, for that was not abolished by Christ’s death, as was the ritual, whose provisions pointed to and were thus fulfilled in him. It was, doubtless, the best possible system for the period of its enactment; but it had accomplished its purpose, and the time had come for it to pass away. Its precepts were obliterated; it was as if nailed to the cross, and thus, as a document, destroyed. As the cross was the instrument of death, when Christ died it died. Ritual circumcision is, therefore, at an end.