Colossians 2:20-23

Once one had died to sin and worldly pursuits in baptism (verse 12), there was no reason for him to live as if he were still controlled by worldly thinking. Worldly traditions and the law of Moses do not control the Christian's life. The Pharisees wanted to add their own requirements to God's law and force everyone to follow them. Jesus said they thereby made their worship vain (Matthew 15:9). We need only to follow God's will to be pleasing unto him (Matthew 7:21). Man's laws have to do with the temporary things of the world. Such commands come out of the minds of men and have no bearing upon one's spiritual well being.

Man's additional, external requirements appear to be based upon wisdom. However, such appearances are merely an illusion. Will worship is based upon what the worshiper wants instead of what God wants. The false teachers worshiped angels and endured depravation of their body in an effort to control fleshly lusts, but such did not achieve the desired end (Colossians 2:20-23).