What are the 'ordinances' the Bible talks about blotting out?
The ordinances are the ceremonial rituals and services of the Old Testament Law—Israel’s animal sacrifices, priestly robes, washings, and everything associated with that ritual worship. Scripture says this handwriting of ordinances stood against us, but Christ blotted it out, took it out of the way, and nailed it to His cross.
Les explains that ordinances are normally associated with services. In this context, the “handwriting of ordinances” refers to all the ritual Israel practiced in keeping the Law: the animal sacrifices, the robes of the priesthood, the washings, and everything connected with the ceremonial ritual. That handwriting was against us and contrary to us, but it was blotted out, taken out of the way, and nailed to His cross. When Christ died and finished the work of redemption, there was no longer any need for all of that Old Testament ritual. Les also notes how hard it is for mankind to lay aside things that appeal to the flesh, such as high church ritual, even though the book does not teach that.
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
More Questions
What are the 'ordinances' that were blotted out according to Colossians?
The 'handwriting of ordinances' that was blotted out is associated with services, since ordinances are normally linked with services.