Being that we are all saved by grace, why do we need to keep the Feasts?

     We also believe that we are saved by grace through faith. However, grace does not give license to sin or to ignore our Father’s commandments. Paul in Romans 6:14-15 states, “…for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? Certainly not.” In this case, it’s important to remember how Scripture defines sin. First John 3:4 states, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” From these passages, we learn that grace does not permit or justify sin, i.e., the breaking of the law. This would include the Feast days.

Additionally, here are a few facts on grace:

• Grace is first found in the Old Testament, Genesis 6:5 and not in the New Testament
• Grace is to bring us to repentance and justification (Romans 2:4; 5:15-21), while the law provides a way to live a sanctified or set-apart life, Romans 3:20.
• We are not to use grace to justify lasciviousness or sin, Judge 4.

Regarding the Feast days, there are several reasons why these days remain crucial to proper worship. They were commandments by Yahweh in the Old Testament, e.g. Leviticus 23. They were observed by Yahshua and apostles in the New Testament, e.g. Mark 14:1; John 7:2, 37; Acts 2:1; 12:3; Acts 20:6, 16; and 1Corinthians 5:7-8. They will be observed in the millennial Kingdom by all peoples and nations, Isaiah 66:23, Ezekiel 44; 46; and Zechariah 14:16-19.  And they foreshadow our Father’s plan of salvation.

The fact that the Feast days were observed in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, and will be in the millennial Kingdom, confirms that we should be observing them now. Also, the fact that Yahshua the Messiah, our example, observed them is critically important to recognize.

     Does the keeping of the Feasts bring us back to legalism when we have been saved only by grace and mercy through our Savior Jesus Christ? Doesn’t this divide us from Jesus’ provision to save us?

    The Bible speaks about justification and sanctification. Justification refers to the remission of sins through the atonement of our Savior, Yahshua the Messiah. This is not something we earn or are given based on obedience or good works but is a free gift from our Father Yahweh (Romans 3:20-28; 4:2; 5:9; 6:23; 1Corinthians 6:11; Colossians 2:16). However, once we are justified from our sins, the Bible speaks about living a sanctified life (Acts 26:18; 1Corinthians 1:2; 6:9-11; 1Thessalonians 4:3-7; Hebrews 10:26-31). We do this by obeying Him and living a life of righteousness.

It’s also important to realize that sin is the breaking of the commandments. 1John 3:4 states, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” Few would argue that sin doesn’t exist or as believers we should continue to sin, even after coming to grace. Knowing that sin is defined as “transgression of the law” and as believers, we should be avoiding sin, this leads to only one conclusion, we should be obeying the commandments. Also, Jude warns against turning Yahweh’s grace into a license to sin. He states, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, unrighteous men, turning the grace of our Elohim into lasciviousness [i.e., sin], and denying the only Sovereign Yahweh, and our Master Yahshua Messiah,” verse 4.

In summary, we do not obey to earn justification or redemption from our sins, but once we are justified we are then to live a life of sanctification or holiness by obeying our Father’s commandments. Therefore, obeying our Creator is not legalism, but showing our love and worthiness, 1John 5:3 and Revelation 20:12.

Here are a few additional passages confirming that we are to obey after coming to the knowledge of the truth:

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 5:17.

“Do we then make void the law through faith? Elohim forbid: yea, we establish the law,” Romans 3:31.

“Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?…. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Elohim forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good,” Romans 7:1, 7-12.

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of Yahweh, and have the testimony of Yahshua Messiah,” Revelation 12:17.

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of Yahweh, and the faith of Yahshua,” Revelation 14:12.

Take note from Revelation 12:17 and 14:12 that a saint or believer is defined by those who obey the commandments and believe in Yahshua the Messiah.

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie,” Revelation 22:14-15.

    Can we observe the Feast of Tabernacles at home and must we keep the entire Feast?

    The Feast of Tabernacles is unique from all other Feasts. Yahweh commands that we stay in “booths” during this time.  Leviticus 23:41-43 reads, “And ye shall keep it a feast unto Yahweh seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am Yahweh your Elohim.”

The word “booth” here comes from the Hebrew sukkah. According to Strong’s, this refers to “a hut or lair.” The Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon defines sukkah as, “a crude or temporary shelter.” Since the booth commemorates Israel’s travels in the wilderness, perhaps the best definition would be a shelter that is temporary.

For this reason, staying in our homes during Tabernacles is not biblically permitted. Instead, we must stay in a temporary shelter. This would include anything from a cabin to a tent, the latter being the closest to Israel’s booths in the wilderness. Even when Israel observed the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, the Bible records that they built and stayed in booths, Nehemiah 8:14-17.

Another consideration is that Scripture speaks about three pilgrimage Feasts. Exodus 34:22-23 reads, “And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end. Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Sovereign Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel.”

The Feast of Ingathering here is the same as the Feast of Tabernacles. It was during this time that Israel would bring in the fall crops. Notice that during these three Feasts, Israel was called to appear before Yahweh. Some will debate this by claiming that only the males are mentioned here.

As with any belief, we must consider the totality of evidence. Deuteronomy 16:13-15 shows that this is a family event: “Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto Yahweh thy Elohim in the place which Yahweh shall choose: because Yahweh thy Elohim shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.”

Yahweh confirms here that the Feast of Tabernacles is a family event and not limited to only the men. This is a time marked with great rejoicing, involving not only the men, but also the women and children. We also see here a command that we are to observe all seven days of this Feast, which answers the question, can we keep only part of the Feast. Israel worshiped every day and so should we.

Another reason why we should come together and not stay at home is that Yahweh in Leviticus 23:35 defines this time as a “holy convocation.” In Hebrew, this phrase refers to a set apart meeting or coming together. This again cannot be done by staying at home.

One of the most significant passages pertaining to the Feast is Zechariah 16:14-19: “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith Yahweh will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.”

This is a millennial passage referring to Yahweh’s coming Kingdom. It confirms here that at this time the Feast of Tabernacles will be required for all nations. This includes the family of Egypt. All will be obligated to come up to worship before Yahweh, even those nations afar.

What about those who refuse to come up to observe this time? The Bible says that they will be cursed with no rain. Considering that Scripture indicates that the earth will return to an agrarian culture (Micah 4:4), rain may mean the difference between life and death. The fact that Yahweh will curse those who defer to observe this Feast shows how important it is to Him. It’s also intriguing that this Feast is singled out here. However, the Bible confirms elsewhere that the Sabbath and other Feasts will also be required, Isaiah 66:23; Ezekiel 45:21-25 and 46:1-3.

In summary, the Bible does not permit us staying in our homes during Tabernacles. As believers, we are commanded to observe the entire Feast, not just a few days. This would include not working at our employment, sending our children to school, engaging with family and friends outside the faith, and other mundane activities. These detract from the Feast. This week is dedicated to Yahweh and should be spent focused on Him and the fellowship of others of like-faith. We invite all to join us this year in Holts Summit as we observe this important Feast. For more information, visit https://yrm.org/feast-of-tabernacles.