Should A Christian Celebrate The Jewish Feasts?
Jesus’s relationship with the Old Testament feasts is an interesting aspect of His ministry, reflecting both His observance of Jewish customs and His transformative teaching on worship and religious practice.
Jesus and the Old Testament Feasts
Jesus, being Jewish, participated in the Old Testament feasts. One must recognize this fact. The Gospels record instances of Jesus observing these feasts, such as:
- Passover: Perhaps the most significant instance is the Last Supper, which was a Passover meal (Luke 22:7-15). Jesus used this occasion to institute the Lord’s Supper, giving new meaning to the bread and the wine as symbols of His body and blood, which would be sacrificed for the sins of humanity.
- Feast of Tabernacles: In John 7:2,10, Jesus goes to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. During the feast, He teaches in the temple courts, revealing aspects of His identity and mission.
- Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah): John 10:22-23 mentions Jesus being in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), where He discusses His relationship with the Father.
Through His participation, Jesus affirmed the value of these feasts as part of God’s covenant with Israel. However, He also critiqued and transformed the understanding and observance of religious practices, focusing on the heart’s condition rather than mere outward conformity (Mark 7:6-8).
Should Christians Celebrate the Old Testament Feasts?
This is an area of debate within the Christian community. I don’t think there is any harm in the celebration of Jewish feasts as a Christin, however, Paul does address this head-on in several scriptures.
Rabbi Curt Landry says this:
“Should I celebrate the Feasts of the Lord?”
Believers everywhere are asking this question in particular. Christians and the Feasts of the Lord.
The road of returning to the Hebrew roots of our faith is becoming increasingly well-traveled with each passing year, and yet it has dangerous pitfalls on either side.
One side is the snare of legalism and on the other the lure of lawlessness. Perhaps, it could be said, “…narrow is the way, pressured is the gate, and few that find it.”
As a pastor with a flock, I have witnessed the transforming power of the revelation of the Father’s love that is revealed as we honor and celebrate the feasts and the miraculous fulfillment of Jesus in them. We have taken these times to celebrate and honor God for His faithfulness to His word; this celebration and honor, not legalistic observance, has created an added dimension to the depth of teaching within the church.
Simple observance and understanding of the appointed times of the Lord removes fear and misconceptions while bridging the gap between Jews and Gentiles. It is human nature to fear what you do not know”. – Rabbi Curt Landry
Read the entire article HERE. Part 2 HERE.
According to many biblical scholars as well as the website Got Questions, the New Testament does not command Christians to observe the Old Testament feasts. After Jesus’s death and resurrection, the early church, composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers, had to navigate how to practice their faith. The Apostle Paul, in particular, addresses this issue:
- Galatians 4:9-11: Paul expresses concern over the Galatians observing special days and months, fearing they might be returning to a form of bondage rather than embracing the freedom they have in Christ.
- Colossians 2:16-17: Paul instructs the Colossians not to let anyone judge them by what they eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath day. He explains that these things were a shadow of what was to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
These passages suggest that for Christians, observing Old Testament feasts is not a requirement as far as a salvation issue or it being a sin. The early church was encouraged to focus on the substance of their faith—Jesus Christ—rather than the shadows cast by these former rituals and observances. The freedom in Christ celebrated by the early church allowed for a diversity of practice, especially in a community composed of both Jews and Gentiles with different cultural backgrounds and religious histories. Many Jews who believe in Messiah feel they should in fact celebrate the Jewish feasts.
The New Covenant and Christian Practice
Jesus instituted a New Covenant, signaled through His death and resurrection, which fulfilled the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). It however did not abolish the law. In doing so, He shifted the focus from ceremonial law and physical temple worship to spiritual worship and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 4:23-24). The observances and rituals that defined covenant belonging and worship in the Old Testament find their fulfillment in Christ, who is the substance of all that those rituals symbolized. This is the viewpoint of most theologians and ministers today.
Celebrating with Understanding
While Christians are not biblically mandated to observe the Old Testament feasts, some find value in them as educational tools or spiritual practices that can enrich their faith by connecting them with the historical roots of Christianity.
If Christians choose to observe these feasts, it should be done with the understanding that their salvation and standing with God are not dependent on these observances but on faith in Jesus Christ alone.
“There is increasing revelation in the Body of Christ that the Feasts of the Lord are everlasting ordinances between God and His people; they were given to Israel but they are available to whoever calls on the name of the Lord. Together, as a whole, they are mentioned over 100 times in scripture with more than 25 of the references being in the New Testament. The blessings that are tied with these special times are life-changing—there is revelation, sanctification, provision, forgiveness, fresh starts, and impartation. And yet the Church at large has been missing out on these gifts for thousands of years. In essence, we have “perished” for “lack of knowledge.” Many ministries use drama and illustrated messages to convey something significant. In a similar way, the feasts of the Lord act as illustrated sermons directly from God’s heart to ours. They are prophetic, as some of the things demonstrated in and through them have been fulfilled and some things have yet to occur. While the spring feasts are done in remembrance, the fall feasts are a dress rehearsal of what is to come and of Jesus’ second coming. They illustrate God’s nature, God’s timing, and they point us to Messiah.” -Rabbi Curt Landry. More HERE.
In essence, the New Testament teaches that while Christians are free to learn from and even celebrate the Old Testament feasts, they should do so with the recognition that these observances are not required for righteousness or salvation. This is a continued matter of prayer for each believer and is something that we all should take to the Lord.
I personally do observe some of the Jewish Feasts. But I don’t think it is a heaven or hell issue. It is simply something between you and the Lord and the desire to go deeper in our understanding of the roots of our faith. It should not be an area of contention among believers.
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