Some people say that biblically we cannot keep the feasts without being in Israel and without a priest. Is this true?
The biblical Feast days are not dependent upon physical Israel or Levitical priests. Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were observed by Israel prior to the Levitical priesthood, Exodus 12. The Feasts were also observed in the New Testament by more than Israel. This also included the Sabbath. Consider the following examples:
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place,” Acts 2:1.
In this above example, it’s important to realize that many nations were present. Verses 9-11 mentions Parthians, Medes, Elamites, dwellers in Mesopotamia, Judaea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, parts of Libya, Cyrene, strangers of Rome, Jews, proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians. These were not all Israelites or Jews. Many were gentiles. This confirms that more than Israel observed the Feasts in the New Testament.
Acts 18:4 also shows that Paul preached to both Jews and gentiles on the Sabbath: “And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.” If the Sabbath and Feasts were only for Israel, why then were Greeks or gentiles present in the synagogue on the Sabbath?
In addition to these examples, there are other New Testament passages confirming Feast observance, e.g. Matthew 26, Mark 14; John 7; Acts 20:6, 20; 1Corinthians 5:7-8.
Another consideration is that Scripture confirms that Sabbath and Feasts will be observed in the millennial Kingdom:
“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Yahweh,” Isaiah 66:23.
“In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten…. In the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, shall he do the like in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil,” Ezekiel 45:21, 25.
“Thus saith my Sovereign Yahweh; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened,” Ezekiel 46:1.
“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,” Zechariah 14:16-19.
Isaiah confirms that all of mankind will observe the weekly Sabbath in the future Kingdom. Also, Zechariah prophesies that all nations will keep the Feast of Tabernacles, along with the other Feasts, in the Kingdom. Those who refuse will receive the plague of no rain. Therefore, the Sabbath and Feasts will be a requirement for all in the Kingdom. Knowing that the Sabbath and Feasts were observed in the Old and New testaments and will be kept in the coming millennial Kingdom, it doesn’t make sense to say they are not valid today.
Today’s refusal to observe these days is not scriptural, but is based on 2,000 years of Church tradition. As most Christian scholars acknowledge, the roots of the Church grew out of Judaism. However, as the Church grew so did the pagan and Hellenistic influence within it. As this happened, the Church departed from its Hebraic foundation to a more Greco-Roman philosophy. This change included a departure from the Feasts and Sabbath. Again, the Sabbath and Feast days are not dependent upon Israel or the Levitical system, but are days established by Yahweh for all those who will accept His covenant.
We have proof that the commandment of the Korban Pesach was observed, even after the destruction of the Temple. Rabban Gamliel who lived a hundred years after the destruction commanded his servant to roast the Korban Pesach (Pesachim 87b). Also, the Byzantine Caesar Yostaninos issued an edict forbidding the Jews from sacrificing the Korban Pesach as late as the Sixth Century of the Common Era, long after the destruction of The Temple. This shows the Jews were still offering the Korban Pessach long after the destruction. With the loss of Jewish independence, the dispersal of the Jews throughout the world… Read more »
So we can keep the feasts wherever we live?
Many people are so far away from fellow believers that they have no choice but to keep feast where they are. However, we do encourage everyone to save during the year as to be able to afford coming to the feasts with like minded believers. https://yrm.org/can-afford-feasts/
I live in Alaska, and cannot afford to travel to Jerusalem. I also cannot dwell in a tent for a week when it is 20 degrees F or even colder. Is there any other option for me. I live in a very small town and there are no Torah observant people here to be with.
This is one of those conundrums that the Bible is silent on. Yahweh gives us the command and it is up to us to figure out any permutations. Surely He will honor our doing the best we can in observing in the only way we can. Should we live north of the 48th parallel? How does that impact the feasts as well as the Sabbath sunset? What about living in South America, when the seasons are opposite ours and Israel’s? The only suggestion that makes sense is to go by feast timing in Israel regardless of what is happening where… Read more »