Col 2:13 And you, though dead in your offenses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our offenses; 14 Wiping out the handwriting in ordinances, which was against us, which was contrary to us; and He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. 15 Stripping off the rulers and the authorities, He made a display of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
[Part 2 of 2] In verse 15, the Greek for “stripping off” can also be rendered “putting off,” as in 3:9. The rulers and authorities spoken of in this verse are the angelic rulers and authorities. Because of the heretical teaching of angel worship at Colosse, the passage here refers to the evil angels. The law was given through angels (Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19). Based upon this, the heretical teachers at Colosse advocated the worship of angels (Col. 2:18) as mediators between God and man. Hence, the apostle dealt with this heresy by unveiling the fact that the law, consisting of ordinances, was nailed to the cross (v. 14), and the leading evil angels were stripped off from God. This left Christ as the sole Mediator, who is the Head of all rule and authority (v. 10). This kills the heresy of angel worship.
The Greek word for make a display means show or exhibit in the sense of putting to an open shame. God openly shamed the evil angelic rulers and authorities on the cross and triumphed over them in it. The Greek words translated “in it” refer to the cross, but they can also be rendered in Him, referring to Christ. It is not God’s intention that we keep the law, and He certainly does not want us to worship angels. God’s desire is to enliven human beings who are dead in offenses. In order to enliven us, He must put His very life into us. When His life comes into us, we are enlivened, made alive.
Prayer Confession Loving Father thank you for this word. Thank you for putting to shame the evil rulers and authorities on the cross and triumphing over them in Christ for my sake. Lord, I experience and enjoy this truth of Christ’s life in me as a finished work so as to manifest His life in me for the glory of your name in Jesus’ name, Amen.