Matthew Poole and continuators on Colossians 2:14

14 Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances , that was against us , which was contrary to us , and took it out of the way , nailing it to his cross .

Having just before manifested God's grace in the free forgiveness of all their trespasses, he doth here adjoyn the foundation and means of this remission, viz. Wiping out the Bill of decrees (as one reads) or effacing and cancelling the hand-writing that was against us, which was contrary to us in traditions as another, pointing after Chirograph or hand-writing; upon the matter in the explanation there will be no difference from our reading of it. Sin in scripture is frequently accounted a debt, and the acquitting the pardoning of it, Mat. 6.12. Luk. 11.4. & 13.4. as the debtour is oblig'd to payment, so the sinner to punishment, onely 'tis to be remembred, that though a private creditour may forgive his debt, yet unless the conservatour of publick justice do exempt an offender against the law, he is not acquitted, but is still under an obligation, bond or hand-writing, having as they under the Masaic law professed allegiance, Exod. 24.7. which upon default was an evidence of this guilt to avenging justice. That law prescribed by the ministration of Moses was appendaged with many ceremonial ordinances, to the observation of all which circumcision did oblige; this obligation interpretatively was as an hand-writing which did publickly testifie a Man's native pollution, and was a publick confession of his sin and misery, as washings did testifie the filth of his sins, and sacrifices Capital guilt to them, who liv'd under it, and did not perform it, that they were accursed, Gal. 3.10, 19. under a ministration of death, 2 Cor. 3.7, 9. whiles by laying their hands on the sacrifices,

They did as it were sign a Bill or Bond against themselves, whereby conscience of guilt was retained, Heb. 10.2, 3, and a conscience of sin renew'd, so that the heart could not be stablished in any firm peace, & 9.9. Heb. 10.2. but they did confess sin to remain, and that they did want a removal of the curse by a better sacrifice. Upon the offering up of this, the law of commandments was blotted out, cancelled or abolished (saith the Apostle elsewhere) see, Eph. 2.15. even that contained in ordinances, compared with, v. 16, 20.21. of this Chapter and therefore there is no condemnation to them that are circumcised with the circumcision of Christ, being found in him. v. 11. with Rom. 8.1. & 7.4.

So that however the law which was in it self holy, just, and good, through sin became in some sort contrary, or subcontrary to us, in that it did serve to convict, and terrifie with the curse for our default, Rom. 7.5, 9. aggravating all by its ceremonies and shutting the Gate of God's House, against the Gentiles of whose number the Colossians were, strangers to the covenants of promise, Eph. 2.12. yet this obligation was abrogated and annull'd by the death of Christ, as the Apostle expresseth it with great elegancy, having not onely said that the debt was wip'd out, prefac'd by the bloud of Christ being drawn over it, as they us'd to blot out debts or draw red lines cross them; but he adds.

Taken out of the way as the debtors bond or obligation is, being cancell'd, and torn to pieces, so that there is no memorial or evidence of the debt doth remain, all matter of controversie being altogether remov'd. Yet (if it may be) to speak more fully and satisfactorily he annexeth.

And fasten'd it to his Cross, what could be more significant? implying that Christ by once offering himself a sacrifice on the Cross, had disarm'd the law, and taken away its condemning power, Rom. 7.4. Gal. 3.13. It being customary (as learned men say) of old especially in Asia to pierce cancell'd obligations and antiquated writings with nails; Christ by his plenary satisfaction did not onely discharge from the condemnation of the law, Rom. 8.1, 34. but he did effectually with the nails with which he himself was crucified by interpretation fasten the hand-writing of ordinances to his cross, and abolished the ceremonial law in every regard, since the substance of it was come and that which it tended to, was accomplished in giving himself a ransome for all, 1 Tim. 2.6. to the putting away of sin, Heb. 9.26. and obtaining eternal redemption, Heb. 9.12.