Colossians 2:16-23

16a

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you

Ac

in questions of food and drink, or with 16b regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17a These are a shadow of the things to come,

Mn

Csv G Ac P

17b but the substance belongs to Christ. 18a Let no one disqualify you, 18b insisting on asceticism and worship of angels,

S S

18c going on in detail about visions, 18d puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,

not holding fast to the Head is the root cause which lead to all these false practices or manifestations

19a and not holding fast to the Head, 19b from whom the whole body, nourished

Id G S Exp P

Mn

19c

and knit together through its joints and ligaments,

19d grows with a growth that is from God. 20a If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world,

Sit Cf Id R

20b why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations [according 20c to human precepts and teachings]-21a "Do not handle, 21b Do not taste, 21c Do not touch" 22

S S

Id Exp G

(referring to things that all perish as they Exp are used)-- according to human precepts and teachings?

These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion Csv 23a and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

23b

Colossians 2:16-23

Notes
There's a strong point Paul is making here. First he talks about allowing no one to pass judgment, and he explains in what respects, then giving the reason why. But then he brings it up a notch saying let no one disqualify them. From passing judgment in more trivial things to the issue of salvation, Paul's tone is getting more serious here. The flow of thought is generally quite similar but it is definitely building up to his big question.

Paul's big question to the reader is 'why are you doing all these things?' It poses as a question but also becomes a ground for the previous issues because he argues that they've died to worldly elemental spirits with Christ and these are regulations according to human precepts and teachings. Not only that, they are regulations concerning perishable objects. He really drives the nail home in giving the reason for his frustration. The fact that these things have an appearance of wisdom but are worthless isn't an answer to the question, because the question is rhetorical.

v20-23 really form the basis of his instruction to not allowing other people to judge them according to trivial issues like food and festivals or letting others sway them in their worship and practices because they are of no value. They do not and cannot add anything to their salvation.