Those "handwriting of ordinances"

"We say that Colossians 2:14-17 refers exclusively to the ceremonial law, having to the moral law (10 Commandments) not the remotest allusion whatever. 

And he who endeavors to hide behind this scripture as his defense for the neglect or violation of any mor al duties, will stand at last in the

judgment ashamed of his folly and speechless in his condemnation. In studying Col.2:14-17, we ought to pay some regard to the consistency of the figures which the apostle uses, lest we represent him as a simpleton in spite of his inspiration. 

It is first to be noticed that the subject of the apostle’s remark is the “handwriting of ordinances.” This expression will not apply in any sense to the ten commandments; for no abuse of language can be carried far enough to allow us to call them a “handwriting;” and they contained not a single “ordinance,” or ceremony. 

The “handwriting of ordinances” is not the ten commandments. The apostle further says that this “handwriting” was “blotted out.” 

--That only can be blotted out with the ink and pen of the scribe, which has been written by the hand of the scribe. That which is engraved in stone might be brushed over and discolored with ink; but the engraving would be there in all its distinctness still; it could not in any sense be “blotted out,” and it would be utterly inconsistent to apply that term to it. The apostle continues that this handwriting was “nailed to the cross.”

If we attempt to apply this to the ten commandments, we involve the astute and logical Paul in the absurdity of talking about nailing up tables of stone.

The figure of blotting out and nailing up the laws written by men upon parchment, as applied to what Christ accomplished by His

death upon the cross, is at once consistent and forcible. Christ was nailed to the cross. In Him all offerings met their antitype, all shadows their substance. They were there nailed in Him to the cross. 

Men could look upon Him and say, Here is the great sacrifice which supersedes all typical offerings. The laws for these are now no longer in force; they are nailed with Him to the cross. 

*But suppose we try to consider that the tables of stone were also there, in Him, nailed to the cross; in what respect was He the antitype of them? In what respect were they the shadows and He the substance? 

Q: Could men look upon him and say, Now, to-night I will plunge a dagger into the heart of my enemy; for the law, “Thou shalt not kill,” is there in Christ nailed to the cross, and is no longer binding?" Uriah Smirh