2:17
“These are a shadow ..” We find a similar phrase in Hebrews (Heb 8:5;10:1), which may be hints that Paul had something to do with Hebrews, but this is a very big maybe. “The reality is found in Christ”. In fact this shadow-reality thought is a theme that runs right through Hebrews. There was Scriptural support for things like sabbaths and not eating certain foods, but this was based on a partial understanding. These things pointed forward to something far greater. So there is value in understanding the principles behind the sabbath, but not in a strict religious observance, or demanding this from others.
2:18
There are some who “delight in false humility”. They will boast of their supposed humility and devotion, often taking the form of the sorts of things mentioned in 2:16. They may also boast of their worship of angels. This latter heresy is one that is still around today, mostly in some charismatic circles. Some will boast of having visions of angels, or receiving messages from angels. And some are taken by this, thinking that this lends some credence to the speaker. It does not. Now angel do exist, and play a part in God’s kingdom, the Bible makes that clear. But the Bible is also clear that angels are not to be worshipped, and there is not to be an undue emphasis on angels. People who boast of such things may make us feel inferior, but in reality their minds are unspiritual and are puffed up with idle notions.
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