What does Colossians 2:21 mean, “Do not handle. Do not taste. Do not touch”?

In Colossians 2:16–23, the apostle Paul teaches that the Christian life is not about following a set of rules; it is a new life of freedom in Christ: “Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” (Colossians 2:20–23).

False teachers had infiltrated the early church and were imposing certain ascetic practices and dietary restrictions on Christians as a pathway to spirituality, holiness, and salvation (see Colossians 2:8, 16; Galatians 2:4; 1 Timothy 4:3). These prohibitions likely pertained to food, drink, and other material substances considered unclean by them. Paul condensed their laundry list of self-abasing rules into three brief commands: “Do not handle. Do not taste. Do not touch.” These rules were not from God but were of human invention.

In a nutshell, Paul was warning against legalism. When we attempt to measure our own or someone else’s spiritual condition by the ability to obey human-crafted rules, we become slaves to legalism.

Legalism refers to the adherence to the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law. “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life,” writes Paul (2 Corinthians 3:6; see also Romans 7:6). Attempting to strictly obey rules and commandments without the Holy Spirit’s inner transformation leads to condemnation and death. The Spirit offers life and the ability to fulfill God’s law freely from the heart (see 2 Corinthians 3:17).

Do not handle. Do not taste. Do not touch. These cold, hard dictates describe a stiff, confined, and tedious way to live. In addition, legalism breeds hypocrisy and pride, as the Pharisees proved (see Matthew 23:1–36; Luke 11:37—12:3). Jesus calls them out: “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition. . . . You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition” (Mark 7:6–9, NLT).

The Christian life is centered on a relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the believer’s foundation and source of life. All those who put their trust in Jesus are free to live righteously through Him (Romans 6:1–23; 8:1–2; Galatians 5:1). Paul explains that rules and rule-keeping “are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality” (Colossians 2:17, NLT). There is no genuine spiritual substance in legalistic observances. Paul says they “lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” (Colossians 2:23).

External rituals have no power to change our internal impulses (see Matthew 23:25–28; 1 Peter 3:3–4). We can deprive ourselves all day long, but it won’t change our sinful nature. The real value—the transformative source of power—is only found in Christ. Jesus alone can renew us from the inside out (see John 3:3–7). He saves us “not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).

Jesus is our holiness, righteousness, and salvation (see Colossians 2:11–15). Because of His sacrifice on the cross, we are forgiven, cleansed, and given a new nature (Romans 6:4; Galatians 2:20). There is no practice or privation we can embrace to achieve a righteous standing before God. That can only be achieved through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21–26; 5:1–2; Galatians 2:16).

No amount of religious observance can save us. On the contrary, these rules—Do not handle. Do not taste. Do not touch.—become obstacles to true holiness, sending us down a path of bondage, pride, and spiritual hypocrisy. Believers must trust only in the grace of God in Jesus Christ: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9, ESV).

In Part One of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian takes some bad advice, and he “turned out of his way to go to Mr. Legality’s house for help.” He is soon met with threats of danger and destruction, and he comes to a standstill in great fear. Evangelist finds him and rebukes him for turning out of the way to the cross. He tells Christian, “Legality, is not able to set thee free from thy burden. No man was as yet ever rid of his burden by him; no, nor ever is like to be: ye cannot be set right by any such plan. . . . Mr. Legality is a cheat.” And he reminds Christian that “all who rely on works of the law are under a curse” (Galatians 3:10, ESV).

Mr. Legality in Bunyan’s allegory represents legalism. All he can do is issue commands: “Do not handle. Do not taste. Do not touch.” But those commands are far from being able to help Christian ease his burden or find the way of salvation.