Tuesday 27 May 2025

Psalm 24

Background
The apostle Paul was not the founder of the church at Colossae, nor had he visited them, but he wrote this letter to the believers in Colossae because he had heard that false teachings had arisen within the church. These teachings were a blend of Jewish legalism, Greek philosophy and local mysticism.

Paul declared that Christ is ‘the image of the invisible God’ (Colossians 1:15), meaning that Christ is the exact representation of God. Paul had emphasised this earlier in chapter 2 with the these words "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority." (Colossians 2:9-10)

Paul’s message was that Christ is God and that, through faith in him, and through his death and resurrection, believers were raised to new life.

In today’s passage Paul challenges the believers at Colossae about following rules and rituals which forbid them to taste or touch certain items, stating such rules and regulations are made by humans (vs 21-22) and are not effective for maintaining self-control in other areas of life. In Acts 11:1-18 God had challenged the understanding of the apostle Peter’s view of some Jewish rules through a vision of a sheet containing animals and birds that Peter did not eat according to Jewish law but which God had made and therefore could not be thought of as unclean. It was not just the eating of food that Peter had to reconsider, but to whom the good news of Jesus should be taken.

After having dealt with what the Colossians should not do, Paul moves on in chapter 3 to how they should behave, directing their focus back to Christ and on the eternal rather than the things of this world. Paul states that having been raised to new life, through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection, they should have a new perspective on life here on earth. Furthermore, Paul says their life is now ‘hidden with Christ in God’ (v. 3). The word ‘hidden’ suggests safety and concealment. For Paul, Christ is a believer’s salvation and life.

To Ponder:

• When and how have you been challenged by God about keeping rules that have ‘an appearance of wisdom’ (2:23)?
• What does the phrase ‘hidden in Christ’ (3:3) mean to you, and how does this affect your life?

Prayer
Lord God, may we not succumb to a faith which has the appearance of wisdom, following rules and rituals made by humankind. Instead may we always keep our focus on Christ who is our life and salvation. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Gill Sharp
Gill Sharp is a minister residing in The Peak Circuit. She works part-time as a chaplain at the Methodist Homes (MHA) care home in the Hope Valley.