There has been much debate over whether or not Christians should celebrate the Jewish feasts spoken of in Leviticus. Some say there’s no reason to because they are not Jewish. Some say they don’t have to because Jesus fulfilled all of them. While others say maybe they should because it’s in the Bible.
Today’s article will hopefully answer who the feast days belong to, who should honor the feast days, and whether or not Yeshua (Jesus) really did fulfill all of them.
Who Do the Feast Days Belong To
Many people look at the Old Testament and say that’s the Jewish part of the Bible, only the Jews should follow what it says. The New Testament is for the Christians because Yeshua fulfilled the law. However, neither statement is completely true.
This is what the scriptures say,
“ADONAI (Yahweh) said to Moshe (Moses), “Tell the people of Israel: ‘The designated times of ADONAI which you are to proclaim as holy convocations are my designated times.’” (Leviticus 23:1-2 CJB)
As you can see from the above scripture Yahweh said the designated times, which are called “feasts” in the KJV, are His designated times (feasts). The Hebrew term used here is “Moadim” which means “appointed time and place.” These are set apart times established by the Creator Himself. The Jews didn’t establish them so they are not the Jewish Holidays. The feast days belong to Yahweh Elohim, Master of the universe.
Who Should Honor the Feast Days
Based on Leviticus 23:2 the children of Israel should honor the feast days, not just the Jews. So the question is, “Who is Israel?” At the time the feast days were given God was speaking to all the tribes of Israel. The Jews only consist of two main tribes. While their name may have come from Judah, the tribe of Benjamin and part of another stuck with Judah. There are ten more tribes God was speaking to. Who are they?
According to scripture anyone who joins themselves to Israel must abide by the rulings of Yahweh. If you have accepted Jesus then you have joined yourself to Israel. You became a child of God. The only children He has ever had was the children of Israel. What applies to them applies to you. On the other side of the coin, Jesus came from David’s lineage. David came from Judah’s lineage. So in some sort of way, you have been adopted into the Jewish lineage also. However, scripture says we are all one in Yeshua (Jesus). So whatever God said to one He said to all.
For the real Jew is not merely Jewish outwardly: true circumcision is not only external and physical. On the contrary, the real Jew is one inwardly; and true circumcision is of the heart, spiritual not literal; so that his praise comes not from other people but from God.” (Romans 2:28-29 CJB)
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor freeman, neither male nor female; for in union with the Messiah Yeshua, you are all one.” Galatians 3:28
But does all this mean we are supposed to keep the feasts. God said,
…it is a permanent regulation, generation after generation; keep it in the seventh month.” (Leviticus 23:41b CJB)
…so that generation after generation of you will know that I made the people of Israel live in sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am ADONAI your God.” (Leviticus 23:43 CJB)
So you can either say, “That’s not what God meant” or “Maybe God meant what He said.” In either case, you have to make a decision as to whether or not you will keep the feast days of Yahweh, your Creator.
What are the Feast Days
There are seven feasts of Yahweh that are to be celebrated every year at the time God specified in His word. These feasts foreshadow what was to come, namely Yeshua the Messiah. The feasts are normally divided as the spring feasts and the fall feasts. The first four feasts occur during the spring. They are Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Shavuot (Pentecost). The spring feast days have been fulfilled by Yeshua the Messiah.
The last three feasts happen in the fall season, during the month of Tishri, the seventh month. They are the Rosh Hashana (feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Sukkot (feast of Tabernacles). Some Christian teachers believe Yeshua has also fulfilled these too because you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and the Holy Spirit now dwells in you.
Yeshua fulfilled the spring feasts for the whole nation of Israel, every child of the Most High God. Yeshua said he came to save those who were lost. Who was lost? God’s children! He came to redeem back to God those who had originally belonged to Him and who are assigned to Him in the future. It was for a whole lot of people, not just one person.
The feasts reveal Past (Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits), Present (Shavuot/Pentecost – the age we are living in now), and Future (the fall feasts). It reveals the God Who was, the God Who is, and the God Who is to come!
The Fall Feasts
The fall feasts have not been fulfilled yet. They reveal what will happen during the second coming of the Messiah. A trumpet will blow and a mass harvest will take place. He will gather those who belong to him. I can assure you it won’t be just the Jews or just the Christians. It will be those who belong to him, here a little, there a little.
Afterwards, His people will go through a purification process, cleansing them of all their sins, transgressions, and iniquities. Judgment will commence. Sin and transgressions will be eradicated. Iniquities will be forgiven. Everlasting justice will prevail.
Then Yahweh will come and tabernacle (dwell) with us, just like He did with Israel for 40 years in the desert. He fed them, kept their clothes from wearing out, sheltered them, and protected them. And best of all, He spoke to them! Hallelu YAH! Yahweh will be with His people once again in the earth. It can’t get any better than that.
If you still believe the Feasts of Yahweh are for you, I leave you with this thought:
The feasts of the Lord were not given to enslave the Israelites but to free them to reflect on the Person, plan, and attributes of the Holy One of Israel. Through those special days they were to recognize that He is Lord of every moment and must rule over every second of their lives.” (The Fall Feasts of Israel, p. 10)