Question: Why are some Christians starting to do Jewish holidays?
Answer: First of all, they really aren’t “Jewish” holidays.
Jews simply do what the Bible tells them to do. Faithful Jews have been doing these things for centuries. They are Bible festivals or feasts called “appointed times” with the Lord. Yehovah promises to bless His people for their obedience. It is like having a divine appointment with Yehovah to receive His blessings.
Basically, Yehovah (the God YHVH who reveals Himself in the Bible) instructs His people to observe three times a year- Spring-Passover, Summer-Pentecost and Fall-Tabernacles (See Leviticus 23). In recent years some Christians are beginning to recognize they have been following “church tradition” instead of the Bible and and so they want to start following the Bible.
Some take a knee-jerk reaction to this waving the red flag of legalism or thinking someone might be converting to Judaism. This is actually not the case at all. The New Testament does not promote division between Jew and Gentile. In fact, it teaches exactly the opposite. Paul calls it, becoming “one new man.”
Ephesians 2 (ESV)
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Paul clearly saw the household of God would include both Jews and gentiles. Retrospectively, we can gain further clarity to what Yeshua spoke early in His ministry. Here we can clearly see that Yeshua intended for His followers to be obedient to the Law of Moses.
Matthew 5 (ESV)
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Some interpret “all is accomplished” (v.18) to refer to “it is finished” spoken on the cross (John 19:30). This is very shortsighted and aligns with replacement theology. Others believe “all is accomplished” to imply the fulfillment of the coming kingdom (Luke 22:18).
The caution I will share with you is what has taken place in most modern Western churches. Most follow a doctrine of grace to the exclusion of any works (Ephesians 2:8-10). They hold this doctrine to be central throughout their Christian life which tends to excuse them from doing any good works following their salvation. Consequently, many are stunted in their spiritual growth and maturity through the continuous rehearsal of salvation doctrine.
In closing, let us please, re-read what Matthew captured in the teachings of Yeshua:
Matthew 5: 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
This forces the question- What commandments?
How you answer this will expose your heart.
Blessings in Yeshua