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Colossians 2:21-22
21 (Touch [haptomai] not; [me] taste [geuomai] not; [mede] handle [thiggano] not; [mede]
22 Which [hos] all [pas] are [esti] to [eis] perish [phthora] with the using; [apochresis]) after [kata] the commandments [entalma] and [kai] doctrines [didaskalia] of men [anthropos]? KJV-Interlinear
21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with the using) — in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? NASB
Paul states the ‘do not’s’ in rapid succession to emphasize the enthusiasm of those who used these phrases, in their effort to control the daily habits of people’s lives.
Although Moses had written into the first five books of the Bible, many do not’s, all of these things were teaching aids used to teach principles of doctrine.
We reviewed just a short time ago, the concept of circumcision. This was a mandatory practice, but it taught a spiritual principle. The physical act had nothing to do with the spiritual life, but served as a reminder of the spiritual life.
We often have physical things in our daily lives, which serve to remind us of various principles. And why is that?
Well, recall that the unbeliever as well as the out of fellowship believer, mirror each other. They cannot understand the spiritual concepts unless they are in fellowship. Unbelievers cannot get themselves into fellowship unless they first believe in Christ, and believers who commit sins (as we all do), and do not confess them, are in the same boat of lacking comprehension as the unbelievers are.
Therefore, God utilizes and has utilized, many physical concepts to help as reminders of spiritual matters.
Parables are typical examples of this kind of teaching aid.
God uses temporary things, to teach permanent things. Man uses temporary things to cling to those same temporary things. What becomes of one who eats only fish on Friday’s, or refuses to touch a dead thing, or avoids meats, or certain foods and so forth? Well, nothing comes from their practice.
To eat beef on Thursday, and then avoid beef on Friday, has no meaning whatsoever. What you eat, what you wear, what you drink, what day of the week it is, have no affect on the spiritual life. They are irrelevant. Sunday is no more holy than Wednesday.
Your real objective is to feed on Bible doctrine and live by doctrine, continuously day in and day out, throughout your life. That is the essence of the spiritual life. What you think is what you are.
The objective of the spiritual life is to transform your thinking, not your environment. Your habits, your life style, your life, will all change as a result of how you think.
