Colossians 3:16-20

 

Col 3:16 (KJB)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

Richly - Abundantly

Admonishing - Instructing or put in mind

In psalms - Songs of Praise

Spiritual - Things pertaining to the Spirit

 

This verse is a great instruction as to where the word of Christ, that is the teachings of Scripture, belong in the life of the believer. The words “let the” are in the imperative mood which means that it is a command. The Scriptures must be at the forefront of all the teachings that the true believer does. As a matter of fact, it is not only to be in the forefront of all teachings, but it is also to permeate our minds in the matter of praise. First of all, the verse teaches us that we need to have the word of Christ dwell in us abundantly. This happens when we keep the Scriptures above the teachings of man. It is a sad state of affairs in Christianity where the words of man has taken the place of the Scriptures. When a situation arises, the first thing many Christians do is run to their favorite theologian or preacher to see what they have to say about it. This is backwards, as the words of man need to take second place to the principles of Scripture.

 

Our wisdom does not come from the words of man but comes from studying and understanding the Scriptures. When we have the Scriptures planted firmly in our minds, then we are able to do some real teaching. (Mark 1:22 KJV) And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. The Lord spoke with authority because what He spoke was Scripture and not commentary. When we have the Lord’s words permeating our minds, then when we praise the Lord, it is not songs of craziness with lyrics like “My grandmother is on heaven’s porch in a rocking chair.” That is just an example of how off base praise can get if not Scripturally based. The songs of praise we sing are to be tied to the Scriptures and the spiritual songs are to be spiritual in nature and not made up “religious lyrics.” Songs that tell of the sunsets or the sunrises are nice, but they tell of the creation and not the Creator, and that is a big difference. Then we are to be singing the songs of “grace” which in this case would be songs of thankfulness or gratitude. It focuses on what God has done in our lives by saving us. The songs are also to be sung to the Lord and not for the purpose of others hearing us to compliment our voice. Praise is a Christian dynamic which focuses completely on the Lord and not the person doing the praising.

 

Col 3:17 (KJB)

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

Whatsoever - Everything

Deed - Work

 

The main guiding principle in the Christian’s life is to make sure that whatever they are partaking of will never bring shame upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. If the Christian acts in harmony with the revealed will of God in Scripture, then they will be acting accordingly as an obedient Christian. One of the problems we run into is that we will go ahead and do things without sitting down and counting the cost. (1 Th 5:22 KJV) Abstain from all appearance of evil. We must not only avoid the evil itself, but it is necessary that we also avoid the appearance of evil. We must be very careful not only to guard our testimony but to guard what others say about our testimony. There is no such thing as a Christian living unto themselves. The fact is that the world is out to try and catch us in a sin or even in a perceived sin. All you need is an accusation against you, and it does not matter whether you are guilty or not, you will be guilty in people’s minds. One of the best safeguards that God has placed on our actions is found in this verse. In concert with our actions, we are to give God thanks by the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are partaking in an action and you cannot give God the thanks, then you may be involved in something which can harm your testimony. If you can thank God truthfully, then you are on the right track. (1 Cor 10:31 KJV) Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 speaks of the same type of situation. Do everything to the glory of God and you know you are on the right track. If what you are doing does not bring glory to God, then you know instantly you may be involved in an action which may besmirch the name of God before the unbeliever.

 

Col 3:18 (KJB)

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

 

Submit - Subject yourselves

It is fit - Fitting, proper, or becoming

 

As we have previously seen that Christ is the all-sufficient one for the Christian and now Paul applies that supremacy to different groups of people. The first group pf people he wants to apply the sufficiency of Christ is the wives. Wives are to be in subjection to their husbands. The word “submit” is in the middle voice which means the wife participates in the action of being submissive. The wives are to be submissive to their husbands as is proper in the Lord. This means that the husband is not to cause the wife to do anything which is outside her Christian testimony. When the husband is a godly husband and the wife submits, then she is, in essence, showing her submission to Christ also.

 

Col 3:19 (KJB)

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

 

Bitter - Harsh or sharp

 

Husbands are to love their wives and not to be harsh with them. He is to love her and protect her, and to try to understand her a little. Women were created different than men, not just anatomically, but also in mind and spirit. They think differently than we do and they see things differently than a man does and these things are strengths and not weaknesses. The husband needs to understand this so he sees his wife as a life’s partner and not just his maid. A wife has much to offer in a marriage relationship and a husband needs to realize this and once he does, he will realize what a great gift a wife from the Lord is. It is unfortunate that some men mistreat their wives and only see them as sex partners rather than life’s partners. Within the confines of loving a wife is definitely wanting to understand her needs and her desires for their marriage.

 

Col 3:20 (KJB)

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

 

Obey - Listen to or be subject to

Well pleasing - Acceptable

 

Children are also included in the group. They are to be obedient unto their parents and Paul is speaking to those parents who are Christians in all things biblically lawful. If a believing child has an unbelieving parent or parents, then they are not expected to sin on the impulse of an unbelieving parent. Now that may mean the unbelieving parent may scold or even strike the child for not obeying, but children, like adults, must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29 KJV) Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. If a child obeys his or her parents to the best of their ability and understanding, then this is pleasing to the Lord for the children have learned deference to authority and leads to a life of submitting themselves to the Lord. (Prov 22:6 KJV) Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. If a person becomes saved at a very young age and if their parents teach them correctly, they will live a solid Christian life unto their old age having been trained correctly.

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