Christians and the Feast Days
1. Why the Feast Days Were Given to Israel
The feast days (such as Passover, Pentecost, and the Day of Atonement) were specifically given by God to the nation of Israel under the Law of Moses.
- Leviticus 23:2 (KJV)
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.”
These feasts served several purposes:
- To set Israel apart as God’s covenant people
- To provide a structured way to worship and remember God's acts
- To foreshadow future spiritual realities
They were part of the Old Covenant, which was made exclusively with Israel:
- Exodus 31:16–17 (KJV)
“Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath… It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever…”
2. The Feast Days Pointed to the Messiah
The holy days were not ended in themselves—they were prophetic shadows pointing to the coming Messiah (Yeshua / Jesus Christ).
- Colossians 2:16–17 (KJV)
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday… Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
Examples:
- Passover → Christ as the Lamb of God
- 1 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)
“For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.”
- Firstfruits → Christ’s resurrection
- 1 Corinthians 15:20 (KJV)
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”
- Day of Atonement → Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice
- Hebrews 9:12 (KJV)
“…by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
These observances anticipated the Messiah’s work, which Christians believe has already been fulfilled.
3. Why Christians Are Not Required to Keep the Feast Days
Under the New Covenant, believers are no longer under the ceremonial and sacrificial system of the Mosaic Law—often referred to in Scripture as the “law of ordinances.”
- Ephesians 2:15 (KJV)
“Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances…”
- Colossians 2:14 (KJV)
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us… nailing it to his cross.”
This “law of ordinances” includes the feast days, sacrifices, and ritual observances that pointed forward to Christ and were fulfilled in Him.
At the same time, Scripture distinguishes these ordinances from the moral law—summarized in the Ten Commandments—which reflect God’s unchanging character.
- Exodus 20:1–17 (KJV) – The Ten Commandments given directly by God
- Romans 3:31 (KJV)
“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”
The Ten Commandments are not presented as shadows pointing to Christ in the same way the feast days were. Instead, they express enduring moral principles, while the ordinances were temporary and symbolic.
Therefore:
- The ceremonial laws (feasts, sacrifices, rituals) → fulfilled and no longer required
- The moral law (God’s righteous standard) → upheld and reflected in Christian living
Additionally, the New Testament makes clear that believers are not under the Law as a system for justification:
- Romans 6:14 (KJV)
“…ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
- Galatians 4:9–11 (KJV)
“…ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you…”
- Acts 15:28–29 (KJV)
The apostles did not require Gentile believers to keep the Law of Moses.
The central concern is that returning to feast observance as a requirement for righteousness undermines Christ’s finished work:
- Galatians 2:21 (KJV)
“…if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
Because of this, requiring Christians to keep the feast days as part of salvation or standing with God is contrary to the gospel of grace, since those ordinances were fulfilled in Christ and are no longer binding.
4. Is Observing These Days Wrong?
Scripture allows personal conviction but forbids making it a requirement for salvation or righteousness:
- Romans 14:5–6 (KJV)
“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike… Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
So:
- Voluntary observance as remembrance → a matter of conscience
- Mandatory observance for justification → contradicts grace
5. Israel, the Messiah, and Ongoing Rejection
The feast days pointed to the Messiah, whom Christians believe is Jesus (Yeshua). However, Scripture acknowledges that many in Israel did not recognize Him.
- John 1:11 (KJV)
“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
- Romans 11:25 (KJV)
“…blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”
At the same time, the Bible maintains a future hope for Israel:
- Romans 11:26 (KJV)
“And so all Israel shall be saved…”
This presents a tension:
- The Messiah has come and fulfilled the Law
- Many did not accept Him at His first coming
- Scripture anticipates a future turning
Conclusion
- The feast days were given specifically to Israel under the Old Covenant
- They served as prophetic shadows pointing to the Messiah
- Christians believe these shadows were fulfilled in Jesus Christ
- Therefore, believers are not required to observe them under the New Covenant
- Insisting on them as necessary for righteousness risks undermining the completed work of Christ
At the same time, Scripture calls for humility and care in how these truths are expressed, especially regarding Israel and the Jewish people, recognizing both their role in God’s plan and the ongoing unfolding of that plan.