Yom Kippur was last week and now we are in the middle of Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot which ends on Oct. 13th. Most of these Jewish holidays can be found in Scripture and we even see that Jesus celebrated them.
Should we, as Christians celebrate them? I certainly know Messianic Jews who still celebrate these holidays. And growing up my family attended a Passover Seder which truly gave deeper meaning to the Easter season. My husband also has some Jewish family members and we have been with them when they’ve celebrated Hanukkah.
Just from a cultural perspective, these holidays are so interesting to me, but they also have such rich meaning from a biblical standpoint.
If you’re not Jewish, do you celebrate these holidays? Is there anything we should be cautious of in celebrating them?
Yes, Jewish holidays, especially those laid out in the Old Testament, are rich with meaning for Christians too. These feasts aren’t just cultural traditions. They point to God’s character, His covenant faithfulness, and even the ministry and mission of Jesus (Colossians 2:16–17). After all, Jesus Himself observed them during His earthly life.
Celebrating these days can be a beautiful way to reflect on God’s redemptive plan across both the Old and New Covenants. Passover, for instance, foreshadows Christ as our perfect Lamb. The Feast of Tabernacles reminds us of God’s presence dwelling with His people, fulfilled in Christ and one day fully realized in the New Jerusalem.
That said, we must remember that these observances are not requirements for salvation or spiritual standing (Romans 14:5–6). As Gentile believers, we are free in Christ…Neither obligated nor forbidden. The key is to approach them with reverence, not as novelty or entertainment, but as opportunities to worship the Lord with understanding.
It’s also wise to be cautious of blending practices in ways that confuse or diminish the gospel. Our goal is not to return to the law, but to appreciate how God used it to reveal His Son.
I’d love to hear from others—have you participated in a Seder or observed one of the biblical feasts? How did it impact your faith or understanding of Scripture?
There is a danger in “playing at being Jewish”. The danger is seeing ourselves as accomplishing something worthy or righteous. The letter to the Galatians touches on this.
True, those OT Jewish feast days were under the Old Covenant, and if we focus too much on observing them in and of themselves we can easily fall into a legalism like the Pharisees. Their true power and beauty is in how they point to Jesus.
