Spurgeon's Notes on COLOSSIANS
Chapter 1 Verses 1-19
Colossians 1:1-14. Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven, whereof you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and brings forth fruit, as it does also in you, since the day you heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: as you also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
As we read these words, we cannot help noticing how positively the apostle speaks. There are no "hope so’s," "trust so’s," and "ifs," and "buts"; but it, is all, "it is so," and "it is so." And, beloved brethren, concerning eternal matters, nothing but certainties will suffice for us. Allow uncertainties about your estates if you will, but we must have positive assurance concerning eternal things; and nothing short of this ought to content our spirits. Can we all say, as we listen to these words, "God has delivered us from the power of darkness; he has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins"?
Colossians 1:15. Who is the image of the invisible God,—
Admire this delightful passage, in which the apostle seems to burn and glow while he describes his Lord and Master: "who is the image of the invisible God,"—
Colossians 1:15-19. The firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him,, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.
Blessed be his glorious name! Amen.
This exposition consisted of readings from John 14:1-12 : and Colossians 1:1-19.
Verses 1-29Colossians 1:1-2. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Kindness is the very breath of Christianity, so the apostle will not begin the subject matter of his letter until first of all he has breathed out a blessing upon those to whom he writes.
Colossians 1:3. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Paul very graciously blends his giving of thanks and his constant prayer for these Christians at Colosse, and therein sets us an example that we may well imitate.
Colossians 1:4-6. Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven, whereof you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and brings forth fruit, as it does also in you, since the day you heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
If there is a way of knowing the grace of God which is of no value, it is when it is not known in truth, that is to say, when it is only head-knowledge, not heart-knowledge. But, oh, when in truth the grace of God sinks into the soul, and changes the whole nature, then it is an experience for which we may well give thanks to God.
Colossians 1:7-8. As you also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
Epaphras told them of Paul’s prayers for them; and when he came back from Colosse, he told Paul of their great love in the Spirit.
Colossians 1:9. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in his wisdom and spiritual understanding,
See! the apostle asks for them something more even than faith, and hope, and love, — that they "might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." This shows what a valuable thing it is to know and understand the will of God.
Colossians 1:10-11. That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
If we have faith, and hope, and love, it is desirable that we add to these a fullness of knowledge, and to this holiness of life and fruitfulness of service that we may have patience to endure the afflictions of this life, and longsuffering with which to put up with the provocations of the ungodly.
Colossians 1:12-14. Giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
And now Paul, having mentioned his Master’s great work, — redemption by blood and the forgiveness of sins — goes on at a tangent, as it were. He is so enthusiastic with regard to Christ and his great atoning sacrifice that the very thought of Christ’s blood stirs his own blood, and he seems like a man all on fire with holy fervor as he writes: —
Colossians 1:15-17. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
How can anyone ever read this passage, and yet say that Christ Jesus is only a man? By what twisting of words on such language as this be applied to the most eminent prophet or apostle who ever lived? Surely he must be God by whom all things were created, and by whom all things consist. But Paul’s next sentence is to us the sweetest of all: —
Colossians 1:18. And he is the head of the body, the church:
He is joined by an indissoluble union to his people, and is the head of their glory, their wisdom, and their strength.
Colossians 1:18. Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Are we giving him the pre-eminence in all things? That theology must be false which puts Jesus in the second place, or even lower than that, and that experience is a wrong one which does not put Christ always in the front. He must in all things always stand first.
Colossians 1:19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;
That we might have to go to him for it; it pleased the Father to make errands for us so as to take us to Christ, and to make our very emptiness thus to minister to the glory of Christ.
Colossians 1:20-23. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamably and unreprovable his sight: if you continue in the faith grounded and settled,
This is a text that ought to be read and pondered every day by the many unstable professors who are in the church at this present time: "if you continue in the faith grounded and settled," like a building that will have no further settlements, no more starting of the stones, no more cracking of the walls, because your foundation is secure, and you are firmly built upon it.
Colossians 1:23-24. And be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under Heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister; who now rejoice in my sufferings for you,
Oh how blessed it is when a man has so mastered himself that his sufferings for his fellow-Christians become a matter of rejoicing for himself! He not only accepts them, and bears them with patience, but he says: —
Colossians 1:24. And fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
There is nothing "behind" as to the atoning efficacy of the sufferings of Christ, but there is much yet to be endured in order that all the elect may be brought to Christ. Some must suffer through their extraordinary labors in preaching the gospel, others through bearing reproach for the truth’s sake, and Paul was glad to take, in his mortal body, his share of the sufferings to be endured for the sake of Christ’s Church, which is his mystical body.
Colossians 1:25-27. Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the world of God; even the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ is you, the hope of glory.
This is the most blessed of all mysteries, I trust that many of us understand it; may the Holy Spirit reveal it to any who know it not!
Colossians 1:28. Whom we preach, —
That is, Christ; it is not so much what we preach as whom we preach. We preach the person of Christ: "whom we preach," —
Colossians 1:28-29. Warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
There will never be any mighty work come from us unless there be first a mighty work in us, no man truly labors for souls unless the Holy Spirit has first wrought mightily in him.
Chapter 2 Verses 1-23
Colossians 2:1. For I would that you 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;
Paul had not met these Colossian Christians, but he had heard of their faith, and hope, and love, and he so desired their good that he had a continual care for them in his heart. He carried that care to God in prayer, yet he still bore them in loving remembrance. They were always on his heart as a sick child is ever on the heart of its mother.
Colossians 2:2-3. That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.
In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He wanted them to know God, and to rest comforted and happy in what he revealed. He saw in them a tendency to look abroad for something more than that, a desire to tack something else on to the gospel, a wish to try and find some fresh light outside the Word, and over this he greatly grieved. He himself was more than satisfied with the gospel, and he wanted them to be, in that respect, as he was.
Colossians 2:4. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
They did not openly contradict the gospel, they pretended to have a great affection for it, and then they tried to tear the very heart out of it with their enticing words of man’s wisdom.
Colossians 2:5. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
He never forgot them; and it was his joy when he found them standing fast in Christ, and his sorrow and his horror when they went away after anyone else.
Colossians 2:6. As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him:
"Do not turn away from him, do not dream of going beyond him. You received him at first very simply, you trusted in him entirely, so go on doing so. You were satisfied with Christ when you first came to him, so be satisfied with him still, for you do not need anything more than Christ, and there is nothing more than Christ."
Colossians 2:7. Rooted and built up in him,
"Take a living hold of Christ as a tree does of the soil. Be also built up in him; as a building settles down upon the foundation, so do you settle down upon Christ."
Colossians 2:7. And established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
When a man is established in the truth that he knows, and rejoices in what he has already received, he will not go away from it.
Colossians 2:8. Beware lest any man spoil you
(plunder you, it might be rendered,)
Colossians 2:8. through philosophy and vein deceit,
"Beware of those who pretend that they are going to enrich you, but whose real object is to plunder you. They say that they will give you advanced thought, deeper ideas, a system more congruous with the age; but it is" —
Colossians 2:8. After the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
"What do you want with their traditions? Christ has revealed his truth to you. What do you want with the world’s rudiments? You have gone beyond such elementary, useless knowledge as that, for you have got the truth itself."
Colossians 2:9. For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
In Christ, we enter into the fullness and completeness of life both materially and spiritually.
Colossians 2:10-11. Which is the head of all principality and power: in whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;
"The Jew boasts that he is a circumcised man, but you have spiritually all that circumcision meant literally. Even though you have not the wounded your flesh, you have more than that, for you have the death of the flesh and your very flesh has been buried with Christ. All that circumcision can possibly mean you have in Christ."
Colossians 2:12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.
"You have death, burial, and resurrection, all in Christ; and you received the outward sign and token of this when you were baptized, so believe firmly that it is so, and do not look anywhere else for it. You are neither dead nor buried apart from Christ, nor are you driven apart from him all you have is in him."
Colossians 2:13. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.
"You do not need to go to a ‘priest’ for pardon, for Christ has forgiven you all your trespasses. You are so complete in Christ that confession to man and priestly absolution from man would be of no use to you."
Colossians 2:14. 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;
"All the Mosaic ceremonials, from which you were shut out as Gentiles, are abolished. Christ has driven a nail through them and fastened them up to his cross." As, sometimes, a banker stamps through a cheque when it is paid, so has Christ but through the very heart of all Jewish ordinances by what he has done for his people.
Colossians 2:15. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Exhibiting them as his prisoners in a triumphal procession, as the victorious Roman Generals did when they returned from war.
Colossians 2:16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days;
"Do not put yourselves under rules and regulations which God has not ordained. If you think it is right for you to abstain from certain drinks do so, but do not act thus simply because others do so. If you abstain from certain meats, because they have been offered to idols, and the consciences of others might be offended if you partook of them, do not act thus as though it would save you. Do not make yourself subject to the judgment of other men, for Christ is your Law-giver and Lord."
Colossians 2:17. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
"You can do without the shadow now that you have the substance; so keep to that." Some men multiply church ordinances; they have this form and that form, well, let them have them if they find them of service; but do not you bring yourself under subjection to anything of the kind; follow the New Testament and above all things keep close to Christ, for he is everything to you.
Colossians 2:18. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility-
We know those who say, "We do not know anything, we are only seekers, trying to find out the truth." They talk very humbly considering how desperately proud they really are, but that humility which makes men doubt is mock humility, and is not of God. "Let no man beguile you of your reward." When you have learned the truth from the Scriptures, be dogmatic about it, do not be afraid of the presumption of which venue will accuse you, or the bigotry which they will impute to you.
Colossians 2:18. And worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Agnostics by their name confess that they do not know, but do not let them take away from you what you do know, and set you to investigate matters which are beyond you with a judgment which they would lead you to think is well near infallible, whereas your judgment is very fallible indeed. Be not puffed up by your fleshly mind.
Colossians 2:19. And not holding the Head,
That is the point, these people get away from the Deity of Christ, they get away from the atoning blood, they get away from glorifying him who alone is the Truth.
Colossians 2:19. From which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increased with the increase of God.
Take away the head, and there is death, everything is out of order then. If the Head be denied, if any doctrine be taught which is contrary to the glory of Christ, you have killed the body however much you may pretend to be increasing and feeding it
Colossians 2:20-22. Therefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances. (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which, all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
You may and you should feel that there are some things which you will not touch, or taste, or handle. You had better let poisonous drugs alone; but, at the same time, if any man seeks to impose upon you any regulation concerning them as a part of the faith, you may resist it and repudiate it, and plead your freedom in Christ.
Colossians 2:23. Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship,-
There were some of the Jews who would not eat certain kinds of meat, and others who would fast for long periods. Some thought it was very wicked to eat flesh meat on a certain day, and there were many such notions; and similar superstitions still survive among us, such as not eating meat on Fridays, being afraid of thirteen people sitting at table, and so on: but you have nothing to do with all that kind of rubbish so get away from it. If you are a believer in Christ, tread all such nonsense under your feet. "Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship," —
Colossians 2:23. And humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor-
There is no honor about such things, they are contemptible: "not in any honor" —
Colossians 2:23. To the satisfying of the flesh.
That is all such things would do, — make you seem better than other people; so do not be led into these ways, but stand fast in the liberty with which Christ has made his people free.
Verses 6-17Colossians 2:6. As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him:
Do not go away from him. You have received him; keep to him. Whatever he was to you at first, let him be that to you to the very last. Do not begin with Christ, and then go back to self; let it be all Christ from first to last.
Colossians 2:7. Rooted and built up in him,
Growing in him. Have your very life, like a tree, rooted in Christ; and like a temple, built up in Christ.
Colossians 2:7. And established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein, with thanksgiving.
Do not forget what you have been taught; do not reject it; keep to it. He who should learn one system of philosophy, and then unlearn it, and begin another, and then unlearn that, and begin another, would be more likely to turn out a fool than a philosopher; and he who begins to learn the faith in one way, and then tries to learn it in another way, and then attempts to learn it in yet another way, is more likely to be a skeptic than to be a saint.
Colossians 2:8. 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 Christ.
Plenty of people would spoil you in this way, by teaching you their profound thoughts, their grand inventions, their bright ideas. Beware of all of them.
Colossians 2:9. For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
Everything, then, must be in Christ if all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in him. Why do you want to go anywhere else for wisdom? What can you find by going elsewhere? "For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."
Colossians 2:10. And you are complete in him,
You are like vessels filled up to the brim. You are like warriors thoroughly furnished, fully armed for the fight: "You are complete in him."
Colossians 2:10-11. Which is the head of all principality and power: in whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
All that the Jew ever had you have in Christ, only you have the real purification of which his rite was but a symbol.
Colossians 2:12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.
It is only as you are one with Christ that baptism will be to you what he intended; but "buried with him in baptism," you are dead to all beside, and all your life lies in him.
Colossians 2:13. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision, of your flesh, has he quickened together with him,
All your life is in Christ; you are "quickened together with him."
Colossians 2:13. Having forgiven you all trespasses;
Your pardon is given to you in Christ. Oh, how full and how free is that forgiveness that comes to you through Christ Jesus!
Colossians 2:14-15. 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; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
His cross was his triumph. Then he led captivity captive. What more do you want? Your enemy is vanquished, your sins blotted out, your death changed to life, your necessities all supplied. Will you not stay at home with Christ? "Why do you gad about so much to change your way?" Can you have a better lover than your Lord, a dearer husband than the heavenly Bridegroom? Oh, love the Lord, you his saints; cling to him, and make much of him; let him be all in all to you!
Colossians 2:16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:
Do not let anybody come in, and tell you that it is necessary for your salvation that you should abstain from this meat or that drink, that there is a merit in fasting for forty days in Lent, or that you cannot be saved without observing such and such a holy day. Your salvation is in Christ. Keep you to that, and add nothing to this one foundation which is once for all laid in him.
Colossians 2:17. Which are a shadow of things to come;
That is all that they are: "a shadow of things to come."
Colossians 2:17. But the body is of Christ.
Christ is the real one thing needful. Mind that you have the substance, for then you can let the shadows go. May God bless to us all this brief reading of his Word!
Verses 6-23Colossians 2:6. As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him: —
That is, keep on as you began. Christ was enough for you when, as poor, guilty sinners, you came and trusted him; so keep on trusting him in the same way as you did at the first. Do not try to live by feeling, after having lived by faith. Do not begin to live upon outward forms and ceremonies after having found salvation by grace through faith: "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him:"
Colossians 2:7. Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Christians are to make progress in the heavenward road; but they are not to have any other foundation for their faith than they had at the beginning of their Christian career. We are still to stand fast as we stood at the first; we are to be rooted, grounded, "established in the faith," keeping to the old truth that saved our souls, and laying hold upon the same Savior with greater tenacity every hour of our lives. We are not to be like chaff driven before the wind,— forever moving; but to be like the cedars of Lebanon, firmly rooted, and withstanding the heaviest storms.
Colossians 2:8. Beware lest any man spoil you —
Or, "rob you"
Colossians 2:8. Through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Cleave to Christ, beloved. Go no further than he leads you; and turn not away from him either to the right hand or to the left. In him are contained all the riches of grace, and all the treasures of knowledge. If you would become truly wise, seek to know more of the wisdom of God in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 2:9-10. For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
You have everything in Christ that you ought to want; you are fully furnished, completely supplied and equipped for all future service. You need not go to Christ for the supply of some of your needs, and then go elsewhere for the supply of other needs; but, "you are complete in him."
Colossians 2:11. In whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Anything good that there was in Judaism, you have secured to you in Christ. Whatever there was of blessing and privilege in the covenant mark in the flesh of those whom God made to be his people in the olden time, you have handed on to you by the death of Christ.
Colossians 2:12-15. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took at out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
The Lord Jesus Christ has done everything for his people, fought their battle, won their victory, and, on their behalf, celebrated the triumph in the streets of Heaven, "leading captivity captive." What more, then, do we want? Surely Christ is enough for us.
Colossians 2:16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:
Do not put yourself under the bondage of any rules and regulations that may be made by men. If you choose to do anything, or to abstain from something else, because you judge it to be right and beneficial, do so. Christ is your only Ruler and Leader; and if he does not command anything, let it not signify to you who does command, it,
Colossians 2:17. Which are a shadow of things to come;
All this regard for meats, and drinks, and holy days, and new moons, is but a shadow; what is the great substance that is all-important?
Colossians 2:17-18. But the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, —
Do not be beguiled by those who tell you that you ought to pay reverence to angels, and saints, and I know not what besides. One day is called St. Matthew’s, and another is St. Michael’s, and one, I suppose, is St. Judas’s day; there are all sorts of supposed saints, some of whom are never mentioned in the Bible, and about whom nobody ought to care at all: "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels," —
Colossians 2:18-20. Intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God. Wherefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances,—
Such ordinances as these,—
Colossians 2:21-22. (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
I have actually seen this text quoted as though it stood as a matter of teaching,-"Touch not; taste not; handle not;"— whereas the apostle here means, "Why are you subject to such ordinances of men when Christ has set you free from them all? If, with a view to the good of your fellow men, you choose not to touch, or taste, or handle, you will act very wisely; but, as far as your own conscience is concerned, do not submit to any merely human regulations as to your manner of life,"
Colossians 2:23. Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.
This exposition consisted of readings from Colossians 2:6-23; and Colossians 3:1-3.
Chapter 3 Verses 1-3
Colossians 3:1 If you then be risen with Christ,—
Leave all these outward rituals, and formalities, and ordinances of men, —
Colossians 3:1-3. Seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
This exposition consisted of readings from Colossians 2:6-23; and Colossians 3:1-3.
Verses 1-4Colossians 3:1. If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.
Oh! how often we need to be called to this, for the flesh is groveling, and it holds down the spirit; and very often we are seeking the things below as if we had not yet attained to the new life, and did not know anything about the resurrection power of Christ within the soul. Now, if it be that you, believers, have risen with Christ, do not live as if you had never done so, but "seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God."
Colossians 3:2. Set your affection.
Not "your affections." Tie them up into one bundle. Make one of them.
Colossians 3:2. On things above, not on things on the earth.
You say that you were dead with Christ, and that you have risen with Christ. Live, then, the risen life, and not the life of those who have never undergone this matchless process. Live above.
Colossians 3:3. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
The old life is dead. You are dead to it. You will not be consumed by it:
you cannot be controlled by it. You have a newer and higher life. Let it have full scope.
Colossians 3:4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.
Christ was hidden while he was here. The world knew him not. So is your life. But there is to be a glorious manifestation. When Christ is made manifest, so shall you be. Wait for him.
Colossians 3:5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, impurity, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Since you are dead, let all the lusts of the flesh be put to death. Kill those.
They were once a part of you. Your nature lusted this way. Mortify them.
Do not merely restrain them and try to keep them under. These things you are to have nothing to do with.
Colossians 3:6-7. For which things sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience: In the which you also walked some time, when you lived in them.
"When you lived in them" But now you do not live in them. You are dead to them. If it should ever come to pass that you fall into any of these things, you will loathe yourself with bitterest repentance that you could find comfort, satisfaction, life in them. You are dead to them.
Colossians 3:8-10. But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
No lies. Such communications are filthy. But you put these things away through your union with Christ in his risen life. Therefore, abhor them.
Avoid the very appearance of them, and cry for grace to be kept from them, for you have been "renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."
Colossians 3:11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
In the new life there is no distinction of race and nationality. We are born into one family; we become members of Christ’s body; and this is the one thing we have got to keep up — separation from all the world beside: no separations in the church, no disunion, nothing that would cause it, for we are one in Christ, and Christ is all. Now, as we have to put off these things, that is the negative side: that is the law’s side, for the law says, "You shall not" — "You shall not." But now look at the positive side.
Colossians 3:12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, affections of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering:
This is what you have got to wear, even on the outside — to put it on; not to have a latent kindness in your heart, and a degree of humbleness deep down in your soul if you could get at it; but you are to put it on. It is to be the very dress you wear. These are the sacred vestments of your daily priesthood. Put them on.
Colossians 3:13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.
Just as readily, just as freely, just as heartily, just as completely.
Colossians 3:14-15. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.
For that is the great foundation of every godly fruit. We are in such a hurry, in such dreadful haste, so selfish, so discontented, so impetuous, and the major part of our sins spring from that condition of mind. But if we were godly, restful, peaceful, how many sins we should avoid! "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts."
Colossians 3:15. To the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful.
It looks like a very small virtue to be thankful. Yet, dear friends, the absence of it is one of the grossest of vices. To be ungrateful is a mean thing: to be ungrateful to God is a base thing. And yet how many may accuse themselves of it! Who among us is as grateful as he should be? Be thankful.
Colossians 3:16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you.
Alexander had a casket of gold studded with gems to carry Homer’s works. Let your own heart be a casket for the command of Christ. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you."
Colossians 3:16-18. Richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
See how our being Christians does not relax the bonds of our Christian relationship, but it calls us to the higher exercise of the responsibilities and duties connected therewith.
Colossians 3:19. Husbands love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Oh! there are some spirits that are very bitter. A little thing puts them out, and they would take delight in a taunt which grieves the spirit. I pity the poor woman who has such bitterness where she ought to have sweetness: yet there be some such husbands.
Colossians 3:20-21. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
The duties are mutual. Scripture maintains an equilibrium. It does not lay down commands for one class, and then leave the other to exercise whatever tyrannical oppression it may please. The child is to obey, but the father must not provoke.
Colossians 3:22. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men pleasers;
How much there is of that! How quickly the hands go when the master’s eye looks on! But the Christian servant remembers God’s eye, and is diligent always. "Not with eye service as men-pleasers."
Colossians 3:22-25. But in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ. But he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done; and there is no respect of persons.
Colossians 4:1-2. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that you also have a Master in Heaven. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.
See how he keeps putting that in — "Be you thankful" — "with thanksgiving." Why, that is the oil that makes the machinery go round without its causing obstruction. May we have much of that thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:3-4. Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
So the preacher of the gospel asks your prayers: and it is a part of the duties arising out of the relationship between Christian men that those who are taught should pray for those who teach God’s Word.
This exposition consisted of readings of readings from Colossians 3; Colossians 4:1-4. Psalms 28:1-6.
Verses 1-17Colossians 3:1. If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.
Your Lord and Master has gone up to Heaven. You profess that he represents you, and that you have gone up there in him and with him. Then do not seek the things that are down here below, the things of earth; but live where your life has gone. Where your treasure is, there let your heart be also. "Seek those things which are above."
Colossians 3:2-3. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, —
You profess to be dead to the world; is that profession false? You have observed that Scriptural ordinance in which you profess to be buried with Christ; was that observance only an empty form?
If there was any truth in your profession, "You are dead," —
Colossians 3:3. And your life is hid with Christ in God.
You have a new life now; it is up yonder, "where Christ sits on the right hand of God." Do you not feel drawings upward? Are there no longings after the high and heavenly estate where Jesus is? Come, beloved, let your soul break loose for a while; and, like a lark that, having found its liberty, ascends with joyous wing, singing as it rises until it is out of mortal sight, so let it be with you.
Colossians 3:4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.
You are hidden now, your life is veiled in him; but, at his second coming he shall shine forth in all his glory, and "then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." Beloved, seek no greatness here; ask not for any exaltation of yourself among the sons of men; but wait for your true manifestation with Christ in glory.
Colossians 3:5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, impurity inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Kill all these evil things; do not let them live in you for a single moment. The command applies, not only to the grosser actions which are summed up under the head of fornication and impurity, but to all that leads to those foul sins; not only to the fire, but also to the sparks, such as "inordinate affection," a sort of softness which is seen in some persons, men and women, too, and which often leads to something far worse; —and "evil concupiscence," the first desires towards that which is unchaste. God give us grace to kill these loathsome things at once, for if thoughts of evil are indulged, they soon become acts of evil, and then who knows how far we may go in the way of unholiness? Sin, if allowed to grow in the heart, will soon take gigantic strides, and come out in the life. Depend upon it, whenever a professing Christian goes into overt sin of the kind mentioned here, he does not do it on a sudden. The evil has long been festering and fomenting within his heart, or it would not have manifested itself thus. Oh! if he had only watched, and destroyed the thief before he broke open the house, what a mercy it would have been! You notice that covetousness is put down with the most filthy sins, and it is described as idolatry. The desire to possess the goods that belong to others, the lust to get gain at any price, this is idolatry.
Colossians 3:6-7. For which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience: in the which you also walked some time, when you lived in them.
This was true of the Colossians, and it was true of almost all those to whom Paul wrote, for these gross evils were scarcely regarded as sins in his time, so polluted had the nations become. I hope that, in the case of many now living, they have been preserved by Christian training from having walked even for a time in such sins.
Colossians 3:8. But now you also put off all these; —
Put them all off, like old clothes that are never to be worn again: "Put off all these;" —
Colossians 3:8. Anger, —
It is hard work for some to pull that garment off, for it fits them so tightly. This burning coat of wrath will not readily come off; but the apostle’s command is, "Put it off! Put it off!" It does not become a Christian to be an angry man.
Colossians 3:8. Wrath, malice,
Christ will not live in a heart that harbors malice.
Colossians 3:8. Blasphemy, —
Thank God that, if we ever wore that robe, we pulled it off long ago.
Colossians 3:8. Filthy communication out of your mouth.
All talking that is of a dubious character must go. Anything which savors of corruption and defilement must be put away from every Christian.
Colossians 3:9. Lie not one to another, —
In Paul’s day, lying was thought to be a virtue unless the liar happened to be found out; in that case, it was considered wrong; but to lie through thick and thin, and to lie so dexterously as to deceive, was looked upon by an Oriental as an accomplishment of which he might be proud. So the apostle might well write, "Lie not one to another," —
Colossians 3:9-10. Seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
There is nothing false or untrue in God. God is true, and in him is no falsehood at all; and if you and I have really been renewed, as we profess to have been, we shall hate the very semblance of a lie, and our word will be as good as our bond.
Colossians 3:11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Whenever you hear certain very wise brethren say, "Such-and-such a promise in the Bible is for Israel, not for the Gentiles," do not you be misled in the least by their assertion; but just quote this text to them: "There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." These distinctions all vanish when once we come to Christ; we are one in him, and every promise to believers is good to all who are in Christ Jesus, for "Christ is all, and in all."
Colossians 3:12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, affections of mercies, kindness, —
Be ready to feel for others; be very considerate of their needs. Look at others as if they were your kith and kin; if you and they are in Christ, they are indeed your kin, so put on kinned-ness, or "kindness,’ —
Colossians 3:12. Humbleness of mind, —
Do not try to be a big man. He who thinks himself big has not yet learned the true spirit of Christianity. Especially towards those who are sorrowful and sad, be pitiful, be kind, be humble.
Colossians 3:12. Meekness, —
If others try to provoke you, do not be provoked by them; but be gentle and meek.
Colossians 3:12. Longsuffering; —
Continue to put up with others, remembering the Lord’s longsuffering with you.
Colossians 3:13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.
Hear this, beloved, I pray you; especially those of you who have hot tempers, and have fallen out with one another. "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath." Remember how much Christ has forgiven you, and show a forbearing and forgiving spirit to others.
Colossians 3:14. And above all these things put on charity, —
Or, rather, "love," —
Colossians 3:14. Which is the bond of perfectness.
The perfect bond, the belt that goes round, and keeps every other garment of virtue in its place.
Colossians 3:15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body;
Do not fall out with one another. You are called to peace, for you are cared in one body. Does one hand in the body fight with the other hand? Does the foot contend with the eye? Of course not, for they are in one body. So are you in one body with all your fellow-Christians, therefore lay aside all strife. I deeply deplore when I see Christians — and especially eminent Christians — contending with one another about minor matters of small account. Surely, almost anything ought to be borne before there should be public strife among members of the one body. God grant that such a state of things may speedily come to an end wherever it has existed! We have enough to do to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints," without contending for our own dignity or honor.
Colossians 3:15. And be you thankful.
That is a nice little text, "Be you thankful." When you are grumbling at your plain food, put this as a sandwich between your bread and butter, "Be you thankful." When you are complaining of the East wind, just try if you cannot spell this little sentence, "Be you thankful." When you are murmuring about those sharp pains and that long sickness, this is the kind of tune for the little bird to whistle at your window, "Be you thankful." We have all much for which we ought to be thankful, however sad we may think our lot to be. Look on the bright side, rejoice in God: "Be you thankful."
Colossians 3:16-17. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Do not draw any line of demarcation, and say, "So far is secular, and so far is religious." Let your whole life be religious; and if there is anything proposed to you, in which you cannot glorify God, do not touch it,. "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." If any of you go to the theater, can you go there in the name of the Lord Jesus? Why, you would not dare to cross the threshold with such blasphemy in your soul! And when you go to any place of doubtful amusement, can you go there giving thanks to God and the Father by Jesus Christ? Can you thank the Lord that you are permitted to go, and pray for divine blessing when you go, and when you come away? A lady once said to a Christian minister, "The pleasures of going to the play are very great; there is the pleasure of thinking of it beforehand, the enjoyment of it at the time, and then the pleasure of thinking of it afterwards." "Yes, madam," said the good man, "and there is one other pleasure which you seem to have forgotten, that is the pleasure of thinking of it on your dying bed; I would like you to remember that." Let me read this verse again: "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." If you cannot do it in the name of the Lord Jesus, do not do it at all if you are a Christian; and even if you are not a Christian, you will be accountable to God, by-and-by, for all that you do.
Verses 1-25Colossians 3:1-2. If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
This is the best proof that we are really "risen with Christ," that we set our affection on things above.
Colossians 3:3-15. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, impurity, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience: in the which you also walked some time, when you lived in them. But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, affections of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful.
You notice that the apostle again and again speaks of what we have put off and what we have put on, or of what we are to put off and to put on: "You have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man." "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, affections of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; . . . And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Let the blessed belt of love bind upon you all these choice adornments of a true Christian’s character.
Colossians 3:16-17. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Now the apostle, guided by the Holy Spirit, gives injunctions concerning various family and domestic relationships:—
Colossians 3:18. Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
It is seemly according to nature; and it is still more "fit in the Lord."
Colossians 3:19. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Never say a bitter word against them; and, especially, never dishonor them in the household, before children or servants, as some have done; but do all that you can to manifest love and tenderness toward them.
Colossians 3:20. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Nowadays, there are some children who seem to be at the head of the family, and the parents obey them in all things. This is very foolish and wrong; and when their children grow up, and become their plague and curse, they will bitterly lament their folly in putting things out of joint, and not keeping the house as God would have it kept, the children in their place, and the father in his.
Colossians 3:21. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Some fathers do; they expect more of children than they will ever get, and more than they ought to expect; and they lay heavy burdens upon them, which are grievous to be borne; and for little faults there are severe chastisements. This also is wrong.
Colossians 3:22-24. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: and whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ.
If you do all your work in that spirit, how noble it becomes, and how cheerfully you will get through it! You may have a master who is unworthy of your service; yet, if you "do it heartily, as to the Lord," you will have rest of heart even in serving those who are froward and perverse, and the Lord will reward your service in due time.
Colossians 3:25. But he who does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done: and there is no respect of persons.
This exposition consisted of readings from Colossians 3 and Colossians 4:1-4.
Chapter 4 Verses 1-4
Colossians 4:1. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal;—
I sometimes think that the good men who chopped the Bible up into chapters—for it is not in chapters in the original,—must have hoped that we should not read this message to the masters, as he had put it in another chapter. But I never like to read about the servants without also reading about the masters. There is six for one, and half-a-dozen for the other; and, as is usual, in the Scriptures, there are balanced duties. If there is an exhortation to the children, there is generally one to the parents close by; and if there is a word to wives, there is one for husbands, too. So let us read that verse, "Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal;—
Colossians 4:1-4. Knowing that you also have a Master in Heaven. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
This exposition consisted of readings from Colossians 3 and Colossians 4:1-4.