|
Ask The Pastor
From: Marsha <talmidim@...>
Subject: Jewish Feast and Sabbath Days
Date sent: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 01:59:46 -0400 (EDT)
Pastor:
A friend sent me this site to explain Col 2:16 & 17, whichis usually
used to show that we do not need to keep the Jewish Sabbath and Feast
Days. Would you check this out and comment on it for me.
http://hometown.aol.com/fcg13131/colossians216.index.html
Response:
From: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
To: Marsha <talmidim@...>
Subject: Re: Jewish Feast and Sabbath Days
Date sent: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 10:23:26 -0500
Hi Talmidim (disciple),
May the Lord bless you.
You sent the following question:
> "Pastor: A friend sent me this site to explain Col 2:16
& 17, which
> is usually used to show that we do not need to keep the Jewish
> Sabbath and Feast Days. Would you check this out
> and comment on it for me.
Your friend is correct in saying we do not need to keep the Jewish Sabbath and Feast Days.
The key word is "need" to keep. If anyone wishes to keep the Sabbath and the
Feast Days, that is their right. To make keeping these times as a requirement in order to
please God, is contrary to the teachings of the New Covenant.
Paul is careful to explain that these things were given to help prepare the peoples for
the Messiah. Now that the Messiah as come, the people no longer needed those particular
teaching tools. When we have Christ, we have what life is all about.
As for the context of Colossians 2:16,17, Paul is coming against the Judaisers who had set
themselves up as teachers (judges) of the Gentile believers. This was a real problem for
the early Church. It was happening in all the churches. It has resurfaced with some of the
Messianic believers today. In trying to return to a more pure form of Christian worship,
some of the Messianics end up trying to mix covenants. The result is a situation where
neither covenant is properly represented. (Of course it is impossible to keep the
Levitical covenant today.)
Back to your question. There are those who attempt to twist what Paul is saying in this
portion of Scriptures to mean that we must keep the Sabbath and Feast Days, and not let
anyone judge us over these things. That is misinterpretation. Paul at no time taught that
New Covenant believers were bound to Sabbath keeping or the keeping of Feast Days. As I
said earlier, if anyone wishes to keep these days and events, that is perfectly alright.
If they wish not to keep them, that is also perfectly alright. Keeping Feast Days does not
make a person spiritual.
For further light on what Paul is teaching, it helps to look at his other writings. For
example, in Romans 14:5, Paul says, "One person regards one day above another,
another person regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own
mind." He then went on to say that we are not to judge one another on these issues
anymore. (Vs13)
I do want to mention in closing that the early Church, which was almost exclusively
Jewish, found themselves having to work through the issue of covenants. History tells us
that the Notzri (early Jewish followers of Jesus) kept both the Sabbath and also the first
day of the week as holy to the Lord. (This may be where we get our two days off on
weekends; that is, both Saturday and Sunday.) However, over time the first day of the
week, commonly called the Lord's Day, took preference even among the Jewish followers. The
early Rabbinic writings make reference to the Jewish Christians having their own feast
day. It was called the Nazarene Day, or the first day of the week.
Here is a quote from b. A. Zar. 6: (Talmud): "For R. Tahlipha bar Abdimi said that
Shenuel said: 'The Nazarene day, according to the words of R. Ishmael, is forbidden for
ever.'
Here is a clear example of where Rabbinic Judaism takes a stand against the Christian Jews
in forbidding traditional Jews from any form of worship on the first day of the week. This
day belong to the Notzri (Christian Jews), which the Rabbis considered heretics.
Hope this helps.
Your servant in Christ,
Bro. Buddy
Back to the Christian Challenge International home page!
|
