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Today, Judaism still requires Jews to know and observe the many ceremonial laws and regulations governing their lives. The worship of God, relationship with one another and with Gentiles, celebrations of their many festivals such as Pesach (Passover), Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and Sukkoth (Feast of Tabernacle). This comprehensive way of life is filled with rules and practices that affect every aspect of Jewish life. It includes what you do when you wake up, what you can and cannot eat or wear, how to groom yourself, how to conduct business, who you can marry, how to observe the festivals and the Sabbath. Perhaps the most important matter is how to treat God, other people and animals. This set of rules and practices is known as “Halakhah” – Jewish Laws meant to represent “the path that one walks.” The “Halakhah” is from the Torah and laws instituted by the Rabbis and from long-standing customs. It seeks to increase spirituality because it turns the most trivial, mundane acts into acts of religious significance. Jews are constantly reminded of their relationship with Jehovah and it becomes an integral part of their entire existence.
It was not easy for the Colossian Jews to relinquish their deeply entrenched way of life; they kept reverting to old practices and felt judged and guilty when they ceased to perform or observe certain festivals and rites. They cannot accept that Jesus as Lord was sufficient as the only mediator to God. “For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him reconcile to Himself all things… by making peace through His blood shed on the cross.” (Col 1:19-20). By not willing to let go of past practices, it amounts to their lack of faith in Jesus. Therefore, the Apostle Paul had to bring them back to the fundamental truth of Jesus’ supremacy as the Son of God. He is able to take away their sins without any further need for sacrifices nor the strict observance of food laws.
Paul also strongly condemned those who sought to worship angels and believing angels to be suitable mediators. Such attempts to reach out to heavenly beings are futile and worthless. There is no basis for their power over man or towards God. Yet such falsehoods prevailed. It is no wonder that Paul felt burdened to write letters to the new churches to direct them to the truth in Christ The Lord.
