“So let no one judge you in food or drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17 NKJV)
There is a significant difference between a body and a shadow. A shadow is never as important as the body that casts it. The Greek word “skia,” translated as “shadow” in the New Testament, was often used to express anything “imperfect or unsubstantial.”
However, the Greek word “soma,” translated as “body,” was used in the opposite sense to express anything “substantial, solid, and firm” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary).
The word “shadow” means “a faint indication.” When used as a verb, it means “to represent vaguely, mysteriously, or prophetically” (New A.H. Dict.).
It is foolish for anyone to continue pursuing, following, holding onto, or clinging to the shadow when the body that casts it is available or has manifested fully.
Jesus Christ is the body that casts all the Old Testament shadows!
The Scripture reveals that all the Mosaic dietary laws, regulations, offerings, rites, or ceremonies “are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” (Col. 2:17 NKJV).
The Mosaic law was not intended to be a means of salvation but “our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” (Gal. 3:24-25 NKJV).
None of the sacrifices or rituals of the Old Testament were intended or designed by God to serve as a basis for an intimate and loving relationship with Him or for earning His love, acceptance, or favor.
Instead, their ultimate purpose was to serve as a shadow, copy, or symbolic representation of spiritual realities about Jesus Christ and His redemptive work.
The Scripture amply testifies to this truth.
Hebrews 10:1-5 – NKJV
1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never, with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.
The religious folks in Jesus’ days missed God’s best for them because they continued to cling religiously to the Mosaic laws and rituals (the shadow) when Jesus Christ (the body), which casts the shadow, had manifested fully to them.
Despite the revelation of God’s grace, which brings salvation to all men, many religious folks today still pursue, follow, and observe Old Testament laws and rituals as a means of righteousness, seeking God’s favor and approval, or salvation.
It is foolish to keep chasing after the shadow when the body that casts the shadow is available and within your reach. The shadow is not a substitute for the body that casts it, but it simply represents the body.
The shadow does no good when the body that casts it has fully appeared or manifested. Only a fool or mad person will leave you (the body) to chase after your shadow while you are physically and entirely present, available, or within his reach.
This is what some believers today are doing. How sad!
Some people today who claim to be believers in Christ are still passionately striving to keep all or some of the Mosaic laws and rituals so that they may be righteous in God’s sight, or have a loving and intimate relationship with God, or so that God may love, accept, favor, or bless them.
This is simply abandoning the body and chasing after its shadow!
This is nothing but foolishness!
Paul warned the Christians in Colossae in his epistle not to allow anyone to judge them in food, drink, or a festival that is just a shadow of things to come.
Colossians 2:16-17 – NKJV
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Unlike Paul, unfortunately, many servants of God today do not present and exalt Jesus Christ as the body or the substance that casts all the Old Testament shadows. Consequently, believers who listen to them are still striving in vain to please God or earn God’s love, acceptance, favor, or blessing through their self-righteousness, performance, or works of the law.
Friend, when you are striving to keep all or some of the Mosaic laws to be righteous in God’s sight, to please God, or to earn God’s love, acceptance, favor, or blessing, you are simply chasing after the shadow, and not the body, which is Jesus Christ.
In these days of apostasy, it is vital for you always to ensure that you are clinging or holding fast unto the substance of your faith, Jesus Christ, and not merely to a shadow – any religious laws, rules, or rituals.
Colossians 2:18-19 – NKJV
18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase from God.
Be watchful that no one deceives you into chasing after or clinging to any shadow—the Old Testament laws, rules, sacrifices, or rites as a means of salvation (Gal. 5:1).
Colossians 2:20-22 – NKJV
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations–
21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”
22 which all concern things which perish with the using–according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
Beloved, it profits absolutely nothing to neglect the body or substance (the Lord Jesus Christ) and cling to His shadow (the Old Testament laws, sacrifices, or rituals) as a basis for having a relationship with God.
Stop chasing after the shadow! Embrace today and cling to the Lord Jesus Christ, the grace of God, that brings salvation to all men.
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to hold fast unto Jesus Christ to the very end, in Jesus’ name. Amen.