Colossians 2:14

Blotting out the hand-writing, &c.— Having blotted out with respect to us, the hand-writing of Jewish ordinances and institutions, which was contrary to us, (Acts 15:10.) and had an evident efficacy either to load us with a heavy burden, or to alienate the hearts of our Jewish brethren from us; and therefore he hath taken it away from between us, as I may express it, nailing it to the cross; and thereby has cancelled it, as bonds are usually cancelled amongst us, by being struck through with a nail; while he has accomplished the purposes of the ceremonial law, by that sacrifice of himself; and thereby caused the obligation of it to cease. The word χειρογραφον, rendered hand-writing, signifies a note of hand, which acknowledges a debt of duty, and obliges a man to pay it; the Jews bound themselves to God, by their profession of Judaism, not to neglect any divine institution; in consequence of which, they rejected all communication with the Gentiles; and thus it was against them; it was a bill or obligation, which always was to be discharged, and which subjected them to penalties in case of non-payment. Among the Jews there were two ways of cancelling a bond, or writing; one by blotting, or crossing it out with a pen; another by striking it through with a nail, as above-mentioned. The first is done by Christ's doctrine, the latter by his crucifixion; expressed here by nailing it to his cross.