laws – Three Minute Bible

A young boy sneaks a piece of bacon from a platter on the table (Grok)

… and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

Summary: Paul’s instruction about food provides a jumping-off place for understanding the frictions between Jew and Gentile and a warning against falling under false “religious laws.”

When I was about five years old, my parents moved to a small mill town on the Willamette River. Our house overlooked the river, and the street we lived on was named “River Street.” Most of the property around our house was undeveloped woods, but nearby was another house owned by the town dentist. He had two children about the same age as my brothers and me.

… by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

young man sitting in church, wearing a hat, drinking coffee and sporting tattoos.

Summary: In this passage, Paul gives us a rule about rules.

Let’s review the entire verse before we start our meditation:

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.”

Paul begins with “Therefore…” referring to his prior statement that God made us “alive in Christ” (Col 2:13) and has canceled our “legal indebtedness” (Col 2:14) by means of the cross, “do not let anyone judge you by legalistic requirements.“

This is not a mysterious statement or a confusing metaphor. Paul is speaking as plainly as humanly possible here. There is no chance that anyone would or could misunderstand his point.

Except we do.

Tag: laws

1 Timothy 4:4b-5 – Achin’ for Bacon

Colossians 2:16b – The Risk of Rules