In Ancient Israelite society, a rarely discussed tradition existed that played out throughout the biblical year starting the day after Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) that culminated with the Day of Atonement of the following year.
As an individual of the nation of Israel lived day to day, following the Atoning sacrifices and rituals of Yom Kippur, they acknowledged and kept track of their sins by recording them, writing them by hand on pieces of paper or cloth as they were committed and acknowledged. These hand written notes of ones sins were known as one’s “Debts to God”. These “debts to God”, our sins, our law breaking carried consequences according to the Law and were the principle reasons why we needed to perform the sacrificial rites that covered up or “Atoned” for ones sins and short comings. Hence the sacrifices and offerings which took place at the Temple particularly on the Day of Atonement.
Upon arrival of the Day of Atonement, amongst the commanded observance (Lev 23:26-32, Lev. 16:29), the sacrifices and offerings made by the High Priest at the Temple and the ritual services that were conducted that day (Lev. 16:1-4), the individuals “debts to God” were burned as the recognition of the meaning of the ceremonial sacrifices that took place on that day.
In the clearest and simplest language possible, the “debts to God”, our sins have a consequence, and that consequence is death, unless a sacrifice is made to cover or atone for our sin(s). Thus the penalty of breaking the law is in existence unless there is a provision is made to satisfy the debt or answer for/Atone for that sin. The penalty of sin, death is a law or “ordinance against us” until it is atoned for or removed by the sacrifices completed by the High Priest at the Temple or in the present day case, the Ultimate High Priest, Yesus Christos.
It is in this context, (although my explanation and background information are far to brief) that we must look at Colissians 2:14. Most schools of thought approach the Hebrew Scriptures with an almost extreme “anti-Hebrew” or “anti-Jewish” approach and in some cases with utter contempt. “Don’t do what the Jews do” is what most of those around me in my early years would say. “We don’t keep THEIR traditions” or “we no longer need to keep the Mosaic laws” or “the 10 commandments have been replaced by grace” are some of what I heard growing up or even today for that matter. To our detriment we actually loose any potential to grasp the true essence of the scriptures because we labor to remove the Hebrew nature from a purely Hebrew document that is the Bible. The results are in essence a series of new religions and theological chaos that barely resembles the love and justice laden faith of the first century churches we see described in the New Testament.
Anti-Hebrew sentiments and beliefs in the supremacy of new and western theological advancements all but assure that the Christian believer and actually a lot of us growing up in the west in general have little to no concept of viewing the God of Israel with “Reverence” and being in “Awe” of him. The being who created everything, was there from the beginning, who is in essence the same being who died for Mankind on the Passover in 30 AD. Nor do we see the law as holy and righteous, coming down from this same being, the creator of all things to guide mankind while playing a role in building the divine character in the believer.
NO member of the Nation of Israel, none of the prophets of God or Christos himself for that matter would consider the laws of God as “Ordinances against us” knowing the nature and purpose of the God given law and the divine process of transformation and purposed goal of developing Divine character.
So where do most Christians get this notion that Colossians 2:14 means the law, the 10 commandments and all of the High Sabbaths were “nailed to the cross”? Hundreds of years of poor scholarship, misinformation, learned ignorance, supposition, intentionally taught biases against anything “Hebrew” or “Jewish” and basic ignorance and in some cases denial of the Hebraic nature and historical practice of the faith.
Under pinning all of this is an approach to God that second guesses or questions the validity of God’s methods in terms of “the Law”. I speak from the life experience of growing up in the United States amongst mainstream Protestant and Evangelical Protestant practitioners when I say we largely don’t revere God. We don’t have a life changing, morality defining Reverence that would make us seek to educate our selves deeply on WHO he is, WHAT he intended and intends with his laws and commands and why he commanded his Sabbaths. We largely are a people who gleefully claim Jesus/Yesus Christos in name and praise him in song without realizing that 80% of our “praise” is actually to be made through sincere continual actions of love, compassion, mercy and Justice towards mankind.
As opposed to trying to continually promote and teach the LIE that the commandments of God were/are done away with we should begin to look at the purpose of why they were given, the morality and Godly character we should be aspiring to have and the justice and peace that characterizes our God that we are to be the embodiment of as we share it with the world.
The fact is, the law wasn’t nailed to the cross, rather our sins and the penalty they carried were. That reality should be the life changing motivation to repent, stay repentant, believe and sincerely stand for God on HIS TERMS with every fiber of your being for the rest of your days. Strive to be the embodiment of Christos and the justice of the Kingdom he will establish on the Earth in fullness upon his return.