What about the Feasts of Leviticus 23?

Created: 19 Aug 2013 / Modified: 26 Dec 2013 There is a debate within Christian circles today as to whether or not the annual feasts given to the children of Israel are to be maintained even after the death and resurrection of the Messiah. Lets take a look at what the Bible tells us regarding the purpose of the sanctuary services and its associated feasts, statutes, ordinances and activities. We will also see if the scriptures provide us with any instructions or guidance regarding how these feasts of the Lord are to be addressed in the apostolic church and beyond.

Table of Contents
The Lords Feasts ................................................................................................................................................. 2 Purpose of the Feasts .......................................................................................................................................... 2 What about the Weekly Sabbath? ...................................................................................................................... 3 Sacrificial System and Ceremonial Law ............................................................................................................... 4 Fulfillment of the First Four Feasts ..................................................................................................................... 4 Fulfillment of the Last Three Feasts .................................................................................................................... 4 The Passover becomes The Lords Supper .......................................................................................................... 5 How the Apostolic Church Handled the Feasts ................................................................................................... 5 What about the Other Feasts? ............................................................................................................................ 6 Let Us Hear the Conclusion of the Whole Matter ............................................................................................... 7

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The Lords Feasts

In Leviticus chapter 23, God outlined a set of holy convocations that Israel was to observe each year. These seven feasts are as follows: The Passover 1st month / 14th day Leviticus 23:4-5; Exodus 12:3-12 Feast of Unleavened Bread 1st month / 15th day (to 21st day) Leviticus 23:6-8; Numbers 28:16-25 Feast of First Fruits First day after the Passover Sabbath Leviticus 23:9-14; Numbers 28:26-30 Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) Fifty (50) days after the celebration of the First Fruits Leviticus 23:15-21 Feast of Trumpets 7th month / 1st day Leviticus 23:23-25 The Day of Atonement 7th month / 10th day Leviticus 23:26-32; Leviticus 16 Feast of Tabernacles 7th month / 15th day (to 21st day) Leviticus 23:33-44; Numbers 29:12-38

Purpose of the Feasts

The entire purpose behind the laws, statutes and ordinances that God gave unto the children of Israel, was to point them to the work and mission of Jesus Christ in the great Plan of Salvation, and to impress upon them the significance of sin, its penalty and its cure. Each of the annual feasts presented to Gods people some element of Christs work of mediation or redemption, and called their minds to look forward to His coming. The first four feasts (Passover; Unleavened Bread; First Fruits; Pentecost), were not only grouped together, but were all related to one another, and were tied directly to the first advent of Christ. The last three feasts (Trumpets; Day of Atonement; Tabernacles), were similarly grouped and related to one another, and pointed to Christs second advent and beyond.

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What about the Weekly Sabbath?

Because the weekly Sabbath is mentioned right at the beginning (Leviticus 23:3) of this chapter which outlines the feasts of the Lord, many have concluded that the weekly Sabbath is included as a feast of the Lord. A close look at verses 2-4 and verse 38, however, will make it clear that the weekly Sabbath the Sabbath of the Lord was to be distinguished from the feast-related Sabbaths, which God referred to as your Sabbath (Leviticus 23:32).

Leviticus 23:2-4, 38 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. [3] Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. [4] These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. [38] Beside the Sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.
In verse 3, God reiterates the characteristics of the weekly Sabbath (notice the complete lack of feast elements), and later shows how the feasts Sabbaths are to be treated just like the weekly one in terms of what could be done on those days (Leviticus 23:24, 32, 39). In verse 4, God begins to enumerate all of His feasts. Finally, in verse 38, the independence of the weekly Sabbath from the feast Sabbaths is highlighted by the phrase beside the Sabbaths of the Lord It should also be noted, that the weekly Sabbath is needed within this passage to aid the reader in determining when the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) was to occur, because you had to count off a certain number of weekly Sabbaths (Leviticus 23:15) after the Feast of First Fruits in order to calculate the start of the Pentecost. If God was indeed setting forward the point that the weekly Sabbath was one of His feasts, it seems quite odd that He elected not to mention anything about sacrifices for it in the passage outlining all of the feasts (Leviticus 23). In Numbers 28-29, God outlines all the sacrifices which He ordained for Israel, starting with the daily sacrifice and moving on through the Sabbath sacrifice and then on to the sacrifices associated with the feasts. While this passage shows that the weekly Sabbath did have a sacrifice associated with it (Numbers 28:9-10), this did not make the weekly Sabbath a feast of the Lord, any more than it made the daily continual sacrifice a feast of the Lord. Within this passage, the word feast is only mentioned two times once in conjunction with the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Numbers 28:17) and once in conjunction with the Feast of Tabernacles (Numbers 29:12). Thus, we can see that the weekly Sabbath, which was established prior to, and independently of the entire sacrificial system, is not included in the feast days just like the continual burnt offering (Numbers 28:4-8) was not considered a part of the feast days. NOTE: The purpose behind this separation of the weekly Sabbath from the feast-related Sabbaths will become more apparent when we look at what the Apostle Paul had to say in Hebrews 8-10 and Colossians 2:16. More on that later

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Sacrificial System and Ceremonial Law

As the purpose of the entire ceremonial services was to point forward to the Messiah, once He arrived and fulfilled His earthly mission at the cross, the need for the services that foreshadowed His coming and His work were ended. The type (shadow) was replaced or superseded by the antitype (fulfillment). Jesus became the Passover Lamb (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 9:28), and ended for all time the earthly sacrificial system (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Colossians 2:8-14). In many of his epistles, the Apostle Paul pointed out to the brethren that circumcision and the other ordinances associated with the sacrificial system, were no longer definitive signs of being Gods people, but that in light of what Jesus had accompli shed at the cross, it was the inward regeneration of the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit that mattered (Romans 2:28-29; Romans 3:30; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Galatians 2:7; Galatians 5:6; Colossians 2:8-11; Colossians 3:11; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Galatians 5:9). In the book of Hebrews, chapters 6 - 8, the Apostle Paul shows that with the death of Christ, the very priesthood was changed from the Levitical priesthood to the priesthood of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:208:6; Psalm 110:4). Thus, in fulfilling the ceremonial ordinances, Jesus completed them in their earthly form, and they moved from type to antitype from earthly to heavenly. The Feasts of the Lord were kept by the priests of the Lord until the entire priestly system was replaced by Jesus High Priestly ministry.

Fulfillment of the First Four Feasts

Passover: Jesus died on Passover as the Passover Lamb for the sins of the world (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Colossians 2:8-14). First Fruits: Jesus rested on the weekly Sabbath (Luke 23:56), and rose again on the day of First Fruits (Matthew 27:52-53; 1 Corinthians 15:20,23; Colossians 1:18). Unleavened Bread: Jesus ascended with the first fruits of His resurrection to wave them as a wave offering unto the Lord (John 20:17; Ephesians 4:8; Colossians 1:18). Pentecost: Jesus poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit upon His new church on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:3-5; Acts 2:1-4).

Fulfillment of the Last Three Feasts

Trumpets: From ~1833 to 1843, there was a great spiritual awakening in the United States of America and in Western Europe, as people were led to the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation which pointed to a major, imminent event (originally thought to be the Second Coming). The gospel was proclaimed with urgency in trumpet-like fashion. (Isaiah 58:1; Ezekiel 33:7) Day of Atonement: In 1844, at the end of the 2300 prophetic days (Daniel 8:14), Jesus moved from the Holy Place (Hebrews 9:12,25) to the Most Holy Place, to begin the final work of cleaning the sanctuary in Heaven blotting out sin completely (Acts 3:19). Tabernacles: We will celebrate this feast with Jesus after the total eradication of sin, at the end of the 1000 years of Revelation 20 (Zechariah 14:16-19; Isaiah 66:22-23; Revelation 22).

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The Passover becomes The Lords Supper

The early Christian Church understood that when Jesus cried out it is finished, that He was putting an end to the earthly sacrificial system, and that everything was now focused upon the heavenly sanctuary and His work to be performed there. Because of this, Jesus saw a need for a new ordinance built upon an old ordinance that He would instruct His followers to use as the appropriate way to remember His sacrifice for them:

Luke 22:19-20 KJV And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me. [20] Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you.
This service, and its associated ordinance of foot washing, was then established as the way for Christs believers to honor the memory of His great sacrifice on their behalf, and to practice humility among each other. The Passover, which pointed forward to the Messiah, became the Lords Supper, which pointed back to His death for our sins.

How the Apostolic Church Handled the Feasts

The concept of type and antitype was not unknown to the believers, for we can see that Paul makes use of it in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 10:1-12). The early believers, whether Jews or Gentiles, were taught that Jesus sacrifice fulfilled the intended purpose of the sacrificial system, and that all of the associated ordinances that pointed forward to Christs mission were unnecessary in the light of His actual life, death and resurrection. On two different occasions, the Apostle John calls referred to a feast as a feast of the Jews (John 5:1; John 6:4). This indicates that these feasts Passover included were not enjoined upon the Christian believers by the leadership of the New Testament church. Also, both Peter (1 Peter 2:5-10) and Paul (Hebrews 9:1-12) made it plain that the Levitical priesthood was no longer in effect, and that all of its associated ordinances were superseded by the ministry that Jesus was now performing in the Heaven sanctuary. While Paul did make personal use of circumcision (Acts 16:3) and purification (Acts 21:26) as a means of reducing prejudice from the Jews (1 Corinthians 9:19-23), it was also plain that he taught that the believers of Christ need not rely upon circumcision or the other customs and rites of the Israelites that did not pertain to the moral law (Acts 21:21; Galatians 5:1-3; Hebrews 9). Paul also taught the brethren quite plainly that the keeping of the holy days was optional, and up to the judgment of each individual (Colossians 2:16). It was not something needed for salvation.

Colossians 2:16-17 KJV Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
With all that said, the apostles and elders did not insist that the feasts should not be kept, but that feast keeping and other ceremonial rites from the law of Moses should not be enjoined upon the new believers (Acts 15:19-20, 24-29). NOTE: Lest there be any confusion about the Sabbath days listed in the above passage, Paul is talking about the feast-related Sabbaths and not the weekly Sabbath which commemorates Creation (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11), because it is the feast-related Sabbaths that were/are a shadow of things to come. As shown previously, Leviticus 23 clearly delineates the weekly Sabbath as being separate from the Sabbaths of the various solemn feasts.

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What about the Other Feasts?

Since the death of Christ changed the priestly system and eliminated the sacrificial system on earth, and the feasts were heavily tied to the sacrificial system, it would stand to reason that if one were inclined to observe these feasts on earth, one would need some new instructions about how to handle the symbolism that was originally intended by the feasts. This is especially true when you consider that it was not just Israelites that were being converted to Christianity, but Gentiles who wouldnt have had much in the way of understanding or detailed background of the feasts in question. So, where can we find new instructions on feast keeping in the New Testament? We only have two sets of passages in the New Testament that describe any service or ordinance in any detail. The first is in the gospels (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:15-20) and the second is found in Pauls letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), and appears to be a parallel of Lukes account of the Lords Supper. The apostle John also repeatedly refers to the Passover as a feast of the Jews (John 2:13; John 6:4; John 11:55), showing that it was not something associated only with the Jews, and not the Christians. Some have tried to use 1 Corinthians 5:8 as proof that Paul was advocating the keeping of feasts, but they ignore the full context of chapters 5 and 6 of 1 Corinthians, which are focused upon church discipline related to sexual immorality and other issues, rather than feast keeping. Verses 1-2 3-5 6 7 8 9-12 Summary There are reports of fornication among you, and the brethren are unconcerned If the offender will not repent of his sins, then disassociate him from the church You all are proud of yourselves and acting as though you are fine, but the situation is shameful. If you dont root out the sin among you, the infection will spread Purge out the sin so you can remain sinless, just as our sinless Savior was sacrificed for us We therefore must not have the leaven of wickedness, but the metaphorical unleavened bread of sincerity and truth God calls us to judge and reprove the behavior of those within the body of believers

In verse 8, which is the continuation of the sentence that starts in verse 7, Paul is using the terms leaven and unleavened symbolically just as Jesus did in the following verse.

Matthew 16:6-12 KJV Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. [7] And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. [8] Which when Jesus perceived, He said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? [9] Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? [10] Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? [11] How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? [12] Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Sadly, just as the disciples failed to get Jesus symbolic meaning when He spoke of spiritual leaven, Pauls similar symbolic meaning is also misunderstood.

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Changes to the Sanctuary and the Priesthood

When Jesus died upon the cross, several major things happened at once: The veil of the earthly sanctuary was rent from top to bottom The sanctuary on earth no longer had any significance Jesus began His priestly ministry after the order of Melchizedek The sanctuary in Heaven is where Jesus is currently ministering

Jesus made it clear that no one was taking His life from Him, but that He was laying down of Himself (John 10:17-18). The Apostle Paul shows us clearly that Jesus is our High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:6-10; 6:20; 7:11-21; Psalms 110:4). It was Jesus the High Priest that sacrificed Jesus the Lamb on the altar of sacrifice. In the typical sanctuary, where do we find the altar of sacrifice? It is found in the courtyard (Exodus 40:6). Therefore, at the very moment that Jesus was offered as a sacrifice for our sins, the veil was rent in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45; Daniel 9:27). As the antitypical sacrifice was offered, the typical sacrifices were now finished. This change meant that the earth now became the courtyard of the Heavenly sanctuary, since the sacrifices were performed in the courtyard. It also meant the end of the Levitical priesthood, since the sacrifices on earth were ended. With the sacrificial system on earth now finished, the Levitical priesthood was no longer needed, and has been replaced by Christs priestly ministry (Hebrews 7:11). And, since we have moved from the typical to the antitypical services, we have no need to observe the typical feasts. Indeed, we are unable to properly observe them.

Let Us Hear the Conclusion of the Whole Matter

Several times in Leviticus 23 (verses 14, 21 and 41), we are told that these feasts of the Lord were to be kept as a statute forever, and some have taken this to mean that they must be continued even now. While the earthly sanctuary and earthly priesthood were in effect, the feasts continued in an earthly manifestation. Once Jesus came and fulfilled the first of the feasts, the Passover, He put an end to the earthly sanctuary, priesthood and all its services, and moved the entire system into the heavenly sanctuary where He is operating as our High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Thus, starting in AD 31, the solemn feasts of the Lord moved from type to antitype and any observance of them by use would have to be in accordance with their new location and manifestation. It is inconsistent to observe the earthly editions of these feasts when Jesus is busy ministering against the heavenly edition of these ordinances. That would represent an overlapping observance of the feasts, and only the Feast of Unleavened Bread experienced any overlap with another feast (First Fruits) in the typical ordinances. While the early church saw and accepted that many Jewish converts might still feel the need to keep the feasts, they also saw it very necessary to avoid placing the necessity or burden of keeping the feasts upon the Gentile believers. Paul was very clear that each person should make up his or her own mind regarding whether or not they would keep the feasts, and that their personal decision was not to be binding upon any other believer.

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Finally, other than the institution of the Lords Supper, there are no other accounts in the New Testament explaining how believers were to handle any of the other feasts of Leviticus 23 in the absence of sacrifices. In light of this evidence and counsel, we therefore hold to the same official position as the apostles:

Only the Lords Supper is enjoined upon His followers, but each believer is free to keep or not keep additional ordinances according to the dictates of conscience.
Those who feel that feast keeping enhances their worship, commitment or spiritual relationship with God should feel free to keep the feasts as conscience dictates. Likewise, those who see that keeping the feasts are neither necessary nor enjoined upon us because of the death of Christ, should feel free to not keep the feasts. Each person is encouraged to avoid judgment of any other person regarding this issue. That there are considerable dangers in looking backwards upon what are but shadows, is evident in the severity of the language that Paul uses in his epistle sent to the believers in Galatia, who were dealing with the same issue:

Galatians 5:1-4 KJV Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. [2] Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. [3] For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. [4] Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
While we never want to forget the lessons of history, looking forward is always preferable to looking back. The typical feasts are all in the past. Jesus is in the Heavenly Sanctuary at this very moment, doing a very important work on behalf of His people. In this antitypical Day of Atonement, there is a work for us to do, even as our High Priest is ministering for us. We would do well to understand what is required of Gods people at this time, while we watch and wait that we may be accounted worthy to observe the antitypical feasts which yet remain. It makes no sense for us to insist upon keeping feasts that our High Priest is not Himself keeping, because He is busy with an antitypical feast of utmost importance to the universe. It is my earnest hope that you will find this information a great blessing to you as you study this issue further.

Resources for Further Study

The following resources are made available to aid believers in their study of the scriptures:

The Key Principles of Effective Bible Study Addressing Biblical Challenges Properly

- http://bit.ly/17vs3LU - http://bit.ly/1dGELKx

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