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This bible study explains that 'meat' and 'drink' in Colossians 2:16 refer to offerings made under the law. If you wish to read the Greek in this study, and you haven't yet installed the font, then go to the bible study page and do it now, or alternatively you may download it here. This bible study uses the Hebrew Unicode font "David" which comes with later versions of Windows.
COLOSSIANS 2:14-17 (Paul)
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;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink,
or in respect of a holyday,
or of a new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of the things to come; and the body of Christ.
Note 1: This scripture is used by some to say that when Jesus died on the cross he nailed the ordinances, such as keeping the Sabbath day, to the cross, so that we do not have to keep it any more. The key verse in this scripture is verse 16, where 5 things are mentioned: meat, drink, a holyday, a new moon, and a Sabbath. Whenever we get things mentioned together like these, and we wish to know what Paul is talking about, it is wise to consider where he gets them from. Remember that the bible for the early church was the Old Testament scriptures, so this is the obvious place to look, especially as Paul said:
(Romans 15:4) "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning,"
He also believed "all things which are written in the law and in the prophets." (Acts 24:14). So if we first look to the Old Testament to find out where the words "meat" and "drink" come together, we find that they often come together concerning the daily offerings and sacrifices that were made under the law:
(Exodus 29:38-41) "Now this is that which you shall offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.
The one lamb you shall offer in the morning; and the other lamb you shall offer at even:
And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a
drink offering.
And the other lamb you shall offer at even, and shall do to it according to the meat offering of the morning, and according
to its drink offering, for a sweet savour, an
offering made by fire to the LORD."
These were daily offerings which were to be made with the daily sacrifices, and they are spoken of in many other places:
(Leviticus 23:18) "And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs ... with their meat offering, and their
drink offerings,"
(Leviticus 23:37) "a meat offering,
a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing
upon his day:"
(Numbers 6:15) "and their meat offering, and their drink offerings."
(Numbers 6:17) "the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering."
(Numbers 15:24) "with his meat offering, and his drink offering,"
(Numbers 28:8) "And the other lamb you shall offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as its
drink offering, ..."
Other scriptures which mention these offerings are Leviticus 23:13, Numbers 15:4-10, 28:5, 28:7. These scriptures make it clear that often when the words "meat" and "drink" come together (KJV), they are referring to the Old Testament offerings. The same Hebrew word (Hb. מִנְחָה , Htr. minchah) is used to translate the two words "meat offering" in all of these scriptures, and it is obvious from the ingredients of flour and oil that it is a "food or grain offering" rather than a "meat offering". This is confirmed by its use elsewhere in scripture, for example:
(Genesis 4:3) "Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the LORD."
The word translated "meat" (Colossians 2:16) (Gr. brwsei, Gtr. brōsei) is the dative case of "brōsis", a noun which can also mean food, as it is so used elsewhere in the New Testament:
(2 Corinthians 9:10) "bread for your food".
Paul was referring to these Old Testament daily sacrifices in Colossians 2:16, but as is common in New Testament Greek there is a word missing (See: Find the Missing Words) in this quotation. It should read like this.
(Colossians 2:16) "Therefore, do not let anyone judge you in food or drink offerings,"
When Jesus died on the cross he fulfilled all the Old Testament offerings and sacrifices. His physical body, and his Soul (or life) were the ultimate sacrifice which was acceptable to God. Since then, none of the Old Testament sacrifices or offerings under the law, or the ordinances that go with them, are necessary any more. They were only a type or shadow of the body of Jesus Christ. This is what Paul is saying in this scripture (Colossians 2:14-17). The law written on stone or paper was the Old Covenant, which has been done away with, and what has replaced it is the New Covenant, with God's laws written in the heart of the believer (Hebrews 8:10; 10:16). The carnal interpretation has gone and been replaced by the spiritual, because "the law is spiritual" (Romans 7:14). However, as Jesus said, "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:18), we cannot write off the Ten Commandments without contradicting Jesus.
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