What are the "shadows" mentioned in Colossians 2:17, and why are they important? Text of the Verse “Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.” – Colossians 2:16-17 What Are the “Shadows”? • God-given Old Testament practices—dietary regulations, annual feasts, monthly New-Moon celebrations, and weekly Sabbaths • Visible, tangible institutions that pointed forward to something greater still future when Moses received them • Hebrews 8:5: “They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven.” • Hebrews 10:1: “The Law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the very form itself.” Examples of Old Testament Shadows • Passover lamb → Christ our Passover sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7) • Day of Atonement scapegoat → Christ bearing sin outside the camp (Hebrews 13:11-12) • Tabernacle/Temple → Christ dwelling (“tabernacling”) among us (John 1:14) • High priest entering the holy of holies → Christ entering heaven itself for us (Hebrews 9:24) • Sabbath rest → the ultimate rest found in Christ (Hebrews 4:9-11) • Circumcision of the flesh → circumcision of the heart in Christ (Colossians 2:11) How Christ Fulfills the Shadows • Substance: “the body that casts it belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:17) • Literal, historical rituals became living, personal realities in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection • Matthew 5:17: He came to “fulfill” the Law and the Prophets, not abolish them • John 5:39: “These are the Scriptures that testify about Me” Why the Shadows Still Matter • Reveal God’s unbroken redemptive storyline from Genesis to Revelation • Confirm the reliability of prophecy—specific details fulfilled in Christ’s first coming give confidence in promises about His return • Provide rich imagery that deepens worship and understanding of Christ’s work • Guard the church against legalism: the shadow is honored by embracing its substance, not by re-erecting the old regulations (Galatians 3:24-25) Living in the Substance, Not the Shadow • Freedom: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36) • Focus: set hearts on Christ above, not on ritual below (Colossians 3:1-4) • Fulness: “In Him you have been made complete” (Colossians 2:10) • Future: the remaining “shadows” encourage anticipation of the coming kingdom when faith becomes sight and every type meets its final fulfillment in Jesus (1 Corinthians 13:12) |
    |