Easter · The Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter Sunday) · Year A

Colossians 3:1-4

Raised with Christ, Seek Things Above

April 5, 2026

Christ sits enthroned in glory holding the open Gospel, inside a circle of heavenly powers set against a red star, the image of the Lord reigning above all things.So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.Russian icon painter (Novgorod?)An unknown Russian icon painter, probably of the Novgorod school.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

LSB Three-Year Lectionary

GospelMatt. 28:1-10Mt 28:1-10

EpistleCol. 3:1-4Col 3:1-4

Old TestamentActs 10:34-43 Alt. OTJer. 31:1-6Jer 31:1-6

PsalterPs. 16Ps 16

Overview & Insights

“You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)

The imperatives here rest on an indicative already established at 2:12 and 2:20, where baptism is described as burial and raising with Christ, so the exhortation is not to achieve a new status but to think from one. The command of verse 1 is not to despise the earth but to orient upward, toward where Christ is seated, language taken from Psalm 110:1, which this letter has already used in its argument about the powers (1:20 and 2:15). Verse 3 supplies the paradox that governs the ethics of the rest of the letter: the life in question is real, present, and hidden, both concealed from view and kept safe. Verse 4 gives the term of that hiddenness, an appearing which is his and theirs at once. Four verses move the resurrection from something reported about Jesus to something predicated of the baptized.

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Commentary

Commentary on Colossians 3:1-4Commentary on Col 3:1-4 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on setting one's mind on the risen and hidden life in Christ.

Colossians 3:1-4Col 3:1-4 Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary connecting Paul's 'set your minds' to the practical shape of Easter faith.

Colossians 3 Bible CommentaryCol 3 Bible Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

Guzik's exposition of the chapter, beginning with the resurrection life Paul commands in verses 1-4.

Colossians 3 CommentaryCol 3 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse-by-verse word studies on being raised with Christ and seeking the things above.

Colossians 3:1 CommentariesCol 3:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators gathered on the chapter's opening verse.

Colossians 3 (Gill's Exposition)Col 3 (Gill's Exposition) StudyLight

Gill's full exposition of the chapter's call to seek the things above.

Background & Word Study

Colossians OverviewCol Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of Colossians and its picture of the hidden, exalted life in Christ.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Colossians 3Catena: Col 3 Catena

Patristic comment on being raised with Christ and setting the mind on things above.

Podcast

Talking Shop: Colossians 3:1-4 (Easter Sunday: Series A)Talking Shop: Col 3:1-4 (Easter Sunday: Series A) 1517.org

Lutheran pastors talk shop on preaching this exact text on Easter Sunday.

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