Is It Wrong For Christians to Observe Jewish Laws or Feasts?
One might think that the Jew-Gentile controversy is over, but I’m astounded by the number of times I have encountered this issue. I’ve navigated it first-hand with several family members, a former parishioner, and a Seventh-Day Adventist friend — all who observe a handful of Jewish ceremonial laws and feast days. I’ve been asked countless other times by those who are curious or concerned.
The Western attraction is largely fueled by television and YouTube rabbis, mostly Messianic Jews who highlight meaningful connections between the Old and New Covenants. (Messianic Jews are Jews who have accepted Christ as Messiah but are still immersed in Jewish culture and usually practice some or all of the ceremonial laws and feasts.)
While we should study and appreciate how the Old Covenant points to Messiah, the fascination has generated an interest in actually keeping Old Covenant distinctives in the name of Christ, such as the organization of Passover feasts, observation of the Saturday Sabbath, and Jewish dietary restrictions.
When most people ask if this is “wrong,” they mean, “does this preclude someone from being a Christian?” The sweeping question, “are Messianic Jews saved?” even comes up at times. And it’s increasingly vital to answer with clarity, as even some solid young people are looking to Messianic Jewish rabbis as a regular source of information about the Bible.
While we should study and appreciate how the Old Covenant points to Messiah, the fascination has generated an interest in actually keeping Old Covenant distinctives in the name of Christ, such as the organization of Passover feasts, observation of the Saturday Sabbath, and Jewish dietary restrictions.
When most people ask if this is “wrong,” they mean, “does this preclude someone from being a Christian?” The sweeping question, “are Messianic Jews saved?” even comes up at times. And it’s increasingly vital to answer with clarity, as even some solid young people are looking to Messianic Jewish rabbis as a regular source of information about the Bible.
The Glory and Sufficiency of Christ
Everything we need for salvation and piety is provided in Christ.
The popular idea that Old Testament law can be divided into three categories—one of which is “ceremonial” and can be thrown out altogether—is not a sufficient solution for New Testament believers. However, there are certain ceremonial aspects of the Old Testament law (sacrifices, dietary restrictions, festivals) that are clearly not binding on New Testament Christians.
In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul writes, “let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17). The Old Covenant ceremonial laws and feasts were mere shadows pointing our spiritual forefathers to Christ, so "what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it" (2 Corinthians 3:10).
The most important matter for a Christian to affirm loudly and clearly in this discussion is the sufficiency and glory of Jesus revealed in the New Covenant. If someone is fixated with the shadows, they may be missing the brilliant "light of the knowledge the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 4:6), recorded in the gospels and epistles, and woven in to the life of the New Testament church.
For example, if someone needs to organize a full Passover meal to remember Christ, they are undercutting the significance of the Lord's Supper, by which Christ Himself tells us to remember His death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). Moreover, we do not keep the feasts by observing them as they are recorded in the Old Testament. We keep the feasts by partaking of Christ by faith.
In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul writes, “let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17). The Old Covenant ceremonial laws and feasts were mere shadows pointing our spiritual forefathers to Christ, so "what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it" (2 Corinthians 3:10).
The most important matter for a Christian to affirm loudly and clearly in this discussion is the sufficiency and glory of Jesus revealed in the New Covenant. If someone is fixated with the shadows, they may be missing the brilliant "light of the knowledge the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 4:6), recorded in the gospels and epistles, and woven in to the life of the New Testament church.
For example, if someone needs to organize a full Passover meal to remember Christ, they are undercutting the significance of the Lord's Supper, by which Christ Himself tells us to remember His death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). Moreover, we do not keep the feasts by observing them as they are recorded in the Old Testament. We keep the feasts by partaking of Christ by faith.
Organizing a full Passover meal to remember Christ is undercutting the significance of the Lord's Supper, by which Christ Himself tells us to remember His death until He comes.
Everything we need for salvation and piety is provided in Christ. Jesus died for our sins, “making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:20), and "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). We do not have peace with God by faith plus the law or by faith plus the feasts. The fullness and sufficiency are in Christ.
The Demands of the Gospel Faithfulness
Faithfulness to the gospel of Christ’s glory and sufficiency demands that…
Christians must renounce the Jewish law and feasts as unnecessary for salvation and spirituality. In Galatians 2:19, Paul says, “I died to the law, so that I might live to God.” The whole law (including the ceremonial aspects) must be rejected as a way of life and a way to relate to God. For example, “neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” (Galatians 6:15, ESV); “Circumcision is nothing” (1 Corinthians 7:19) and Paul goes as far as to say that “if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you” (Galatians 5:2).
Christians must renounce the Jewish law and feasts as unnecessary for salvation and spirituality. In Galatians 2:19, Paul says, “I died to the law, so that I might live to God.” The whole law (including the ceremonial aspects) must be rejected as a way of life and a way to relate to God. For example, “neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” (Galatians 6:15, ESV); “Circumcision is nothing” (1 Corinthians 7:19) and Paul goes as far as to say that “if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you” (Galatians 5:2).
The whole law (including the ceremonial aspects) must be rejected as a way of life and a way to relate to God.
Bondage to Jewish ceremonial laws was a major red flag in Paul’s mind. He feared that the Galatians were supplementing the work of Christ—not relying solely upon Jesus for their salvation. Paul laments, “How can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain" (Galatians 4:9-11).
Christians must NOT put pressure on others to keep the Jewish ceremonial laws. When Gentiles at Antioch were pressured by Peter and others to keep certain dietary restrictions, Paul concluded that “their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel” and “said to Cephas before them all, ‘If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews? …a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:11-16, cf. Colossians 2:16-17).
While some do not “require” others to keep Jewish laws or feasts, there is an unspoken pressure to do so. (To be fully embraced in most Seventh-Day Adventist communities, one must be a vegan or at least a vegetarian.) Dividing the body of Christ over these issues is cutting at the very heart of the gospel. Paul warns Timothy about those who “require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:3).
Christians must NOT put pressure on others to keep the Jewish ceremonial laws. When Gentiles at Antioch were pressured by Peter and others to keep certain dietary restrictions, Paul concluded that “their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel” and “said to Cephas before them all, ‘If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews? …a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:11-16, cf. Colossians 2:16-17).
While some do not “require” others to keep Jewish laws or feasts, there is an unspoken pressure to do so. (To be fully embraced in most Seventh-Day Adventist communities, one must be a vegan or at least a vegetarian.) Dividing the body of Christ over these issues is cutting at the very heart of the gospel. Paul warns Timothy about those who “require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:3).