Note 22 at Col. 2:16: If Colossians 2:14-16 were not true then we should all be Seventh Day Adventists. Only God can "blot out" what He has written (Lev. 11; Dt. 14). God told Israel to make a distinction between clean and unclean food so that He might make a distinction between Jews and Gentiles (Dt. 14:2, 21). Under the New Covenant however, the wall of partition that separated Jews from Gentiles has been broken down so that all may have equal access to God (Eph. 2:14-15, 18). God hears and answers prayers whether or not we've eaten pork or worshiped on a certain day.

Note 23 at Col. 2:16: This is in reference to the Old Testament laws concerning meats which could and could not be eaten. The definitive chapters concerming this in the Old Testament are Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14:1-21. Rabbits, camels, pigs, and other animals were forbidden among beasts of the field. Among the animals in the water, lobsters, shrimp, oysters and anything else that doesn't have scales or fins was considered unclean. In the bird kingdom, all birds that were scavengers were forbidden. Any animal that had paws was unclean and all creeping things such as snakes, snails, and turtles were unclean.

Although these dietary laws were strictly enforced in the Old Testament, Paul revealed in the New Testament that it was a doctrine of devils to command anyone to "abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:" (1 Tim. 4:3-4). Peter was shown in a vision that God had cleansed things which were considered unclean in the Old Testament (Acts 10:10-16, 28; see note 5 at Acts 10:16, p. 632). All these things were symbolic (see note 28 at v. 17, p. 1203).

Therefore, anyone who uses the Old Testament dietary laws for anything other than symbolism, which finds its complete fulfillment in Christ, is in error. Those who preach that the dietary laws were for health reasons are missing the point that Paul is making in these verses.

Note 24 at Col. 2:16: The "drink" that Paul is referring to here is a little ambiguous. There were drink offerings required in the Old Testament (Ex. 29:40-41; Lev. 23:13, 18, 37; Num. 28:7-15, 24, 31) but these were nearly always referred to as "drink offerings." The only other restrictions on what could be drunk are total abstinence of any drink made from grapes for those with a Nazarite vow (Num. 6) and a total ban on blood (Lev. 17:10-14).

Just as the other things listed in this verse, abstinence from certain drinks was symbolic and finds its New Testament fulfillment in Christ. The Old Testament abstinence pictured the separation described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:31.

Note 25 at Col. 2:16: In Leviticus 23, there were seven feasts listed which the Jews had to observe: (1) the feast of the Passover (vv. 4-5: see note 1 at Jn. 2:13, p. 88); (2) the feast of Unleavened Bread (vv. 6-8) which immediately followed the Passover and became part of the Passover feast; (3) the feast of Firstfruits (vv. 9-14); (4) the feast of Pentecost (vv. 15-21) which was also called the feast of weeks (Dt. 16:9-12); (5) the feast of Trumpets (vv. 23-25; Num. 29:1-6); (6) the day of Atonement (vv. 26-32; Lev. 16:29-34; Num. 29:7-11); and (7) the feast of Tabernacles (vv. 33-43; Num. 29:12-40; Dt. 16:13-15; see note 1 at Jn. 7:2, p. 281) which was also called the feast of Booths (Lev. 23:39-43).

It was mandatory for all males to come to Jerusalem to observe the feast of Unleavened Bread (which probably included the Passover), the feast of Firstfruits, and the feast of Ingathering, which was also called the feast of Tabernacles or Booths (Ex. 23:14-17).

The Jews later came to commemorate the feast of Purim (Est. 9:24-32) which celebrated Esther's victory over Haman and the feast of Dedication (see note 1 at Jn. 10:22, p. 338) which celebrated the re-purification of the temple under the Macabees.

Paul made it clear that the observance of holy days was an individual decision not to be imposed on others or forbidden to others (see note 3 at Gal. 4:10, p. 1073; see notes 8-9 at Rom. 14:5-6, p. 839).

Note 26 at Col. 2:16: There were burnt offerings to be made every new moon (1 Chr. 23:31). Some believe that Psalm 81:3 is linking the feast of Trumpets (see note 25 at this verse) to the seventh new moon offering, making that feast a new moon feast (Unger's Bib. Dict.).

Note 27 at Col. 2:16: Each of the five things listed in this verse was a shadow of Christ (see note 28 at v. 17, p. 1203). The dietary laws, feast days, new moon offerings and the sabbath all represented Christ and what He would accomplish (Heb. 4). Now that we have the person of Christ, each one of these things has now served its purpose and is no longer necessary to observe.

Most Christians agree with this regarding the first four things listed in this verse, but the sabbath is still proclaimed as a day that must be observed by many Christians. However, this is not so. The sabbath was a picture of a relationship with God that Jesus has now opened to all who believe. The sabbath was only a picture and is now fulfilled in Christ (see note 12 at Rom. 14:14, p. 842). See the list of footnotes listed in ref. l at this verse.