Colossians 2.23-The Judaizers’ Observance of the Purity Regulations of the Mosaic Law is Hypocrisy and Does Not Solve the Problem with the Sin Nature
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday March 20, 2016
Colossians: Colossians 2:23-The Judaizers’ Observance of the Purity Regulations of the Mosaic Law is Hypocrisy and Does Not Solve the Problem with the Sin Nature
Lesson # 65
Colossians 2:20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. (NASB95)
“These are matters” is the qualitative relative pronoun hostis (ὅστις), which refers to the observance of the purity laws by the Judaizers which are summarized by the three prohibitions listed in Colossians 2:22.
“The appearance of wisdom” is composed of the following: (1) noun logos (λόγος), “the appearance” (2) noun sophia (σοφία), “wisdom.”
The noun logos means “appearance” since it pertains to that which is thought to be true but is not necessarily so and to an external show of something.
The noun sophia means “wisdom” referring to God’s wisdom.
“In self-made religion” is composed of the following: (1) preposition en (ἐν), “in” (2) noun ethelothrēskia (ἐθελοθρησκία), “self-made religion.”
The noun ethelothrēskia means “self-made religion” since it pertains to a set of religious beliefs, convictions and practices resulting from one’s own desires and initiative rather than from God’s desire or initiative.
This word is the object of the preposition en which is a marker of a standard which specifies the rule or standard or code of conduct to which he or she conforms.
Therefore, this prepositional phrase indicates that the Judaizers’ observance of the purity laws of the Mosaic Law possess an appearance of wisdom “according to a self-imposed and thus man-made standard.”
“Self-abasement” is the noun tapeinophrosunē (ταπεινοφροσύνη), which means “humility” but speaks of “false humility” which is justified by the context but there is nothing in the word which means “false.”
The noun tapeinophrosunē is also the object of the preposition en which is functioning as a marker of a standard which specifies the rule or standard or code of conduct to which he or she conforms.
Therefore, this prepositional phrase indicates that the Judaizers’ observance of the purity laws of the Mosaic Law possess an appearance of wisdom “according to a standard of false humility.”
“Severe treatment of the body” is composed of the following: (1) noun apheidia (ἀφειδία), “severe treatment” (2) noun sōma (σῶμα), “of the body.”
The noun apheidia means “harsh treatment” since the word pertains to a severe self-control in abstaining from physical things like food or sex for the purpose of attaining spiritual purity.
The noun apheidia is also the object of the preposition en which is functioning as a marker of a standard which specifies the rule or standard or code of conduct to which he or she conforms.
“But are of no value against fleshly indulgence” indicates that the Judaizers’ observance of the purity laws of the Mosaic Law are deceptive in character because they possess an appearance of wisdom by no means according to a standard of any value.
Colossians 2:23 Prohibitions such as these are possessing an appearance of wisdom in accordance with a self-imposed standard as well as false humility, harsh treatment of the human body. Prohibitions such as these are by no means in accordance with a code of conduct of any value opposed to gratifying the flesh. (My translation)
The apostle Paul in verse 23 is making two assertions regarding the Judaizers’ strict observance of the purity regulations of the Mosaic Law.
The first is that this observance possesses the appearance of wisdom in accordance with a self-imposed standard as well as false humility, and harsh treatment of the human body.
The second is that observing these purity regulations are by no means in accordance with a code of conduct of any value which is opposed to the gratification of the indwelling Adamic sin nature.
In other words, observing these regulations by no means resolves the problem of the indwelling Adamic sin nature which resides in the genetic structure of every human being.
When Paul asserts that the Judaizers’ observance of the purity regulations in the Mosaic Law possesses the appearance of wisdom, he means that the observance of these laws is thought by many people and specifically the Jews to be the means by which one pleases God and do His will but such is not the case.
The wisdom which Paul is speaking of is of course God’s wisdom and specifically, it pertains to the application of the Word of God which reveals God’s wisdom or we can say obedience to the Word of God which reveals the will of God.
Thus Paul is saying that the Judaizers’ observance of the purity laws of the Mosaic Law possess an appearance of being the application of God’s Word or obedience to God’s will.
The apostle Paul asserts that the Judaizers’ observance of these purity regulations in the Law is in accordance to a particular standard, which is man-made and does not originate from God.
This observance is according to a set of religious beliefs, convictions and practices resulting from one’s own desires and initiative rather than from God’s desire or initiative.
Paul then describes this human standard as “false humility” since the Judaizers observed the purity laws of the Mosaic Law erroneously thinking that it was God’s will for them to do so.
They would have a godly humility which is the product of the Holy Spirit if they had a proper interpretation and application of the Mosaic Law and disposed of their man-made traditions and obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ.
They would have a godly humility if they obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So therefore, the source of the Judaizers humility was not a submission to the gospel but rather a submission to their man-made traditions and a misinterpretation and misapplication of the Mosaic Law.
Thus, it was a false rather than true humility which is produced by the Holy Spirit in the believer who obeys His teaching in the gospel concerning Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.
Paul goes even further in describing this human standard as “harsh treatment of the human body,” since observance of these purity regulations in the Mosaic Law involves abstaining from physical things like food or sex for the purpose of attaining spiritual purity.
It refers to asceticism which is the idea that abstinence from physical things like food or sex is essential for spiritual purity.
Lastly, when Paul makes the assertion that the Judaizers’ observance of the purity regulations of the Mosaic Law are by no means in accordance with a code of conduct of any value which opposes the flesh, he means that this observance by no means resolves their problem with their indwelling Adamic sin nature.
The only solution to the problem of the sin nature is Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection and specifically, this problem is resolved at the moment the sinner is declared justified by the Father through faith in His Son Jesus Christ as Savior.
This results in the Holy Spirit identifying the justified sinner with Jesus Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session and this ministry of the Holy Spirit is called the baptism of the Spirit.
This identification with Christ results in the justified sinner being delivered from eternal condemnation, condemnation from failing to keep the Law perfectly, spiritual death, the sin nature, personal sins, Satan and his cosmic system.
So the apostle Paul in Colossians 2:23 is in effect telling the faithful Christians in Colossae that the Judaizers’ strict observance of the purity regulations of the Mosaic Law is nothing but hypocrisy.
Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary defines hypocrisy, “a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not possess; a pretense of having some desirable or publicly approved attitude.
If we paraphrase this definition, we could say that the Judaizers’ strict observance of the purity laws of the Mosaic Law as well as the ones they created made a pretense of them having godly character which they did not possess.
Romans 12:9 and 1 Peter 2:1 prohibit the believer from getting involved with hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is an outward pretense masking an inner reality.
Scripture condemns hypocrisy, especially in matters of faith.
Believers should express their commitment to God in their words and their deeds, as well as in their inner motivation.
The origin of hypocrisy is the heart (Jeremiah 17:9; cf. Hosea 10:2 Israel; Mark 7:21-22; Matthew 15:19).
It expresses itself through insincere motives (Matthew 6:2; cf. Matthew 6:5,16; 15:7-9; 22:18; 23:5-7) and when actions do not match one’s words (Isaiah 29:13; cf. Matthew 15:7-8; Mark 7:6; Proverbs 26:24-26; Jeremiah 9:8; 12:2; Ezekiel 33:31; Matthew 23:28; Romans 2:17-24; James 2:14-26).
Those involved in hypocrisy tend to judge the motives of others (Matthew 7:5; cf. Luke 6:41; cf. Romans 2:1).
The Scriptures revealed many examples of hypocrisy such as Israel’s leaders (Jeremiah 6:13; cf. 8:8), the Pharisees (Mark 12:38-40; cf. Matthew 23:1-32; Luke 12:1-2, 56) as well as Peter and Barnabas (Galatians 2:12-13) and in addition apostate teachers (Romans 16:17-18; cf. Philippians 1:17; 1 Timothy 4:2; 2 Tim. 3:5; Jude 16).