Let No Man Beguile You: A Warning Against Fleshly Spirituality
“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head…” — Colossians 2:18
This verse is a warning from Paul to believers who were being influenced by people claiming to be deeply spiritual, but who were actually leading others away from Christ. Paul is not talking about losing salvation—our salvation is secure in Christ. He’s talking about losing reward: the eternal blessings and fruit that come from walking faithfully, growing spiritually, and staying connected to the truth.
Some people were presenting themselves as very humble and holy, even claiming to have special visions or experiences with angels. They looked spiritual, but their hearts were proud. They were puffed up by their own thoughts and feelings, not by the truth of God’s Word. Paul says they were “intruding” into things they hadn’t really seen—pretending to understand spiritual things that God hadn’t revealed to them. And worst of all, they were not “holding the Head”—they were not staying connected to Christ, who is the Head of the Body, the Church.
In simple terms, Paul is saying: don’t let anyone trick you into following a kind of religion that looks deep but is actually empty. Don’t be impressed by people who act humble but are really showing off. Don’t chase after visions, rituals, or spiritual experiences that take your eyes off Christ. These things might feel powerful, but they are fleshly—they come from human pride, not from God.
