Colossians Chapter 3 Breakdown

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Paul says if you have been raised up with Christ, then you should be focused on the things above, those things, as we saw in the last chapter, are the laws of YHWH. The laws in which YHWH has given to us to live by in order to bring ourselves closer to Him.

2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Now, because of this, you should set your mind on the things above and leave behind the things of the earth, the things of the flesh.

3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

You are dead to this earth and the chains of sin. You are now hidden in Yeshua.

4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

When Yeshua appears, at that point you shall appear with Him in glory.

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

You should no longer allow your flesh to sin. Put it to death. These things you are to kill, fornication or sexual acts with random people. Uncleanness is anything that can cause you to be considered unclean. These things are found in the Torah. Passion, this word should be translated as lust, kill that lustful desire you have within the flesh of this body. Kill the evil desires within you. Kill the covetousness which is also idolatry.

6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

It is these things that bring on the wrath of YHWH. All of these things are defined and explained in the Old Testament. Do you not think it is important to know exactly what these things mean? Considering these are the things that cause YHWH to emit His wrath upon the earth, it seems vital to know and understand. Then Paul goes on to say, before you knew YHWH, you partook in each of these things, as in you walk in them. If we really take the time to think about all this, it only makes sense that Paul is teaching these people to keep, know, and follow Torah.

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

Paul says as believers you should be getting rid of anger, wrath, hatred, blasphemy, and filthy language. Continuing in these actions are also sin, and can be found in the Old Testament.

9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Do not allow yourself to lie. You have gotten rid of the old man, which is the man who lived in sin, without YHWH. You are now a new man, who should be walking in the knowledge of the Word. There is no longer a Greek or a Jew. Believers are now all part of Israel, believers are all one group under one rule of law, and that law is the Law of YHWH.

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Believers are the elect of YHWH, they are holy and loved. Believers should be merciful, kind, humble, modest, and forgiving. Understand, not everyone is in the same place in their walk with YHWH. Be forgiving of them and help them.

14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

First and foremost, love one another.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Allow YHWH’s peace rule your heart. He called you to His rule and you are part of His body. Be thankful for this opportunity.

16 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.

Let Yeshua’s word live in you richly. His word is wisdom and teaching, and good for reproof of one another. Yeshua continually taught the Torah.

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Whatever you do or say, do it in the name of Yeshua. Always giving thanks to the Father through Him.

18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Wives, submit to your husband, just as your husbands should submit to YHWH.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

Husbands, be sure to always love your wives and do not be unpleasant toward them.

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

Children, always obey your parents in everything. Doing so makes YHWH happy.

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Fathers should not do things to irritate your children because it causes discouraged behavior.

22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

If you are a bondservant do as your master assigns you. Do these things with all sincerity, fearing YHWH.

23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Always do things enthusiastically, knowing that YHWH will grant you reward of inheritance for your service to Yeshua.

25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

If you continue doing wrong, you will be repaid for that wrong, there will be no favoritism given by YHWH.