There are believing Christians and clergy who study Hebrew roots, and while that might be interesting, one has to be careful that it doesn’t lead to practicing a sort of quasi-Judaism. One cannot have one foot in the old Mosaic System and the other in the Brit Chadashah [New Covenant]. Either we are servants to the bondage of Law [Torah] or of the freedom of the Spirit of Grace. Can the participation in Jewish Feast Days or other celebrations be viewed as something separate from the other requirements of Law [Torah]? The Apostle Paul addressed this very issue over two thousand years ago and one who practices such things cannot be justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ [Yeshua Moshiach] while at the same time attempt to be under the heavy yoke and bondage of the Law [Torah] (Cp. Acts 15: 10; James 2: 10).
Galatians 3: 1-3
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ [Yeshua Moshiach] was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to know from you? Did you receive the Spirit by the works of Law [Torah], or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
Romans 10: 4
For Christ [Moshiach] is the end of the Law [Torah] for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Galatians 4: 9-11
But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
Galatians 5: 4
You have become estranged from Christ [Moshiach], you who attempt to be justified by Law [Torah]; you have fallen from grace.
COMMENTARY: There are Gentile believers in the Christian Church who are fascinated with anything concerning Bible lands, the Jewish people and their customs because it gives them a sense of connection with Jesus [Yeshua] who grew up in that environment, and it appears to make their religious experience and salvation more meaningful and deeper. What many of them don’t realize also is that the very thing that they are involved in is a step backwards because Jesus [Yeshua] has fulfilled all of those requirements and not only that, but through the Jewish religious rituals and testimonies of all the prophets of God, pointed forward to the completed work that Jesus Christ [Yeshua Moshiach] would accomplish in giving His life to achieve our salvation from sin and death. While it is good to be taught the meaning behind these Jewish Holy Days as historical footprints to trace God’s scheme of redemption for mankind, for us it should be the scars from the spikes in His hands and feet and His side that was pierced by the soldier’s spear (Cp. Matthew 28: 9; John 19: 34; 20: 24-27). As far as what should be observed, Jesus said in Matthew 28: 19-20a, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.”
Mark 16: 15-16
And He said unto them, “Go into the entire world and preach the gospel (Cp. Acts 13: 26-38; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4; 2 Corinthians 4: 4) to every creature. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved and he who does not believe will be [is] condemned.
Neither Jesus [Yeshua], nor any of the Apostles and their fellow-laborers commanded or taught believers to observe or practice Jewish Feast Days, as such. Jesus [Yeshua] said in John 16: 13a, “However, when He, the Spirit of Truth has come, He will guide you into all the truth.” It reads in 2 John 1: 9 “Whoever transgresses [goes beyond] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ [Moshiach] does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ [Moshiach] has both the Father and the Son. For the Apostle James, the brother of Jesus [Moshiach], his edict was simply that Gentile believers observe to: abstain from idols, blood, and things strangled and sexual immorality (Cp. Acts 21: 25). Although the Apostle Paul chose to observe occasional Jewish Feast Days and rituals, but that was a personal decision on his part and he did not mandate for others to do the same. This is not to say that there weren’t believers, possibly some of them Jewish who were still involved in practicing some aspects of Judaism [Cp. Romans 14: 5-6a; Colossians 2: 16-17].
Paul did, however, stress the sanctity of “The Lord’s Supper” (Cp. 1 Corinthians 11: 23-32). Of course, this is not a complete list of all faith practices among Christians and if some want to be indoctrinated into or ritually observe Jewish Feast Days, Torah classes according the Jewish calendar, and any other religion’s customs, it is their choice. It seems, therefore, that the primary concern should be to share the knowledge and saving grace of Jesus Christ [Yeshua Moshiach] to those who are lost in sin and death, or in defense of the gospel, and any Bible study or religious celebration or custom which does not serve to that end is tantamount to abdicating our primary responsibility as believers. This is especially true when it relates to teaching Torah to the Jews, whose minds are still blinded when it comes to the reading of Law [Torah], and do not understand or believe that Jesus [rabbi Yeshua] is their promised Messiah [Moshiach], as all the writings [Cp. Luke 24: 44; John 1: 45; Acts 3: 24- “Law, Prophets, Psalms”] in the TANAKH testify.
NOTE: The following New Testament references are offered for consideration (Cp. Acts 13: 26-39; Romans 9: 1-5; 10: 1-4; 11: 1-2a, 11-26a, 29; 2 Corinthians 13: 14-15). Is Torah study and participation in Jewish Holy Days and Feasts a means to and end, namely, equipping someone to share the Gospel in such a manner that it provokes a response like the jailer in Philippi’s address Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved [Cp. Acts 16: 30-34],” or is it instead, an ends in itself and just studied for the sake of knowledge and the enrichment of cultural experience?
Romans 14: 23
Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn’t condemn himself in what he approves [allows for himself].
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 18, 2011
robertrandle51@yahoo.com
