Please explain Colossians 3:16- 17.
What a precious portion! Let’s read those two verses. Colossians 3:16-17 says, “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. 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.”
Let’s begin by seeing who the Apostle Paul was writing to when he wrote these words. Colossians 1:2 says, “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse.” These were Gentile believers from the city of Colosse. This letter is for all ‘saints and faithful brethren in Christ.’ Let’s break down Colossians 3:16-17 to get a good understand of its meaning:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” – The ‘word of Christ’ is speaking of the doctrine or teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. As most of us know, the ‘word of Christ’ is found in the ‘Word of God.’ So, we learn the word of Christ by reading our Bibles. Where can we read about Christ in the Bible? From cover to cover, the Word is about Christ. To dwell in us richly refers to us reading the word of Christ, and making it part of our lives! As is said often, the Word is not just for head knowledge, but also for ‘heart knowledge.’ The word ‘richly’ means ‘abundantly’. So, when we are abundantly filled with the word of Christ, it produces in us the true spirit of wisdom from the Lord.
“Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” This describes the characteristic of a believer who allows to word of Christ to dwell in them richly. Let’s compare this portion to Ephesians 5:18-19 which says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Notice the tremendous similarity between being filled with the Word and being filled with the Spirit. Indeed, when we are filled with the Spirit, we will allow the word of Christ to dwell in us richly.
“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.” May we all be drawn to consider the significance of this passage. In EVERYTHING we say or do, let’s make sure that we do it in the name of the Lord, and give Him thanks for allowing us to live for Him. The will and the power to live for the Lord, comes from the Lord, Himself. Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 instructs us that, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” So, in all we do and say, let us do it in the name of the Lord and to His glory! In fact, if we cannot do a particular act in the Lord’s name and to His glory, then we should not do it at all! (199.2)