Why Study the Feasts? Reasons 4-12 of 12

4. Because we will learn from what has been written

Romans 15:4 (New International Version)

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

5. Because Christ came to fulfill all that was written of Him in "the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets"

Luke 24:26-27 (New International Version)

²⁶Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" ²⁷And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Luke 24:44-45 (New International Version)

⁴⁴He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

⁴⁵Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

John 5:45-46 (New International Version)

⁴⁵"But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. ⁴⁶If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.

Acts 3:22-23 (New International Version)

²²For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. ²³Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'

6. Because it leads us to Christ

Galatians 3:24 (New International Version)

²⁴So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.

7. Because the intricate details point to some aspect of the person, work and glory of Christ.

Hebrews 10:7 (New International Version)

⁷Then I said, 'Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, O God.'

Psalm 40:6-8 (New International Version)

⁶ Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced;
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not require.

⁷ Then I said, "Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.

⁸ I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."

8. Because there was knowledge and truth in the external form of the Law. We study the external form to discover the internal knowledge and truth that was hidden therein.

Romans 2:20 (New International Version)

²⁰an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—

Hebrews 1:1-2 (New International Version)

The Son Superior to Angels

¹In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ²but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

9. Because they set forth "patterns" of heavenly things on earth.

Hebrews 8:5 (New International Version)

⁵They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."

Hebrews 9:9 (New International Version)

⁹This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.

Hebrews 9:23-24 (New International Version)

²³It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.

10. Because they set forth the total ministry of Christ relative to the plan of redemption. They set forth in their time element the present Dispensation, from the first coming of Christ (Passover), through the Church Age (Pentecost to the second coming of Christ (Tabernacles)

11. Because the truths therein are part of "present truth" which the Holy Spirit is quickening to the Church in these "last days".

2 Peter 1:12 (New International Version)

Prophecy of Scripture

¹²So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.

Matthew 4:4 (New International Version)

⁴Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " (Deut 8:3)

12. Because there had never been a generation who have experienced all three feasts, but the end-time generation will experience such, even as did that generation under King Solomon's glorious reign (2 Chron 8:13). This generation will hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches (Rev 2:7)

2 Chronicles 8:13 (New International Version)

¹³ according to the daily requirement for offerings commanded by Moses for Sabbaths, New Moons and the three annual feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles.

Revelation 2:7 (New International Version)

⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Extracted from "The Feasts of Israel" by Kevin J. Conner

Why study the feasts? Reason 3 of 12

3. Because they were prophetic in nature and points towards future events.

It is like someone telling us what will happen and when they do happen, we are not totally caught by surprise. For those part that had happened, we take comfort and hold on to what's to come, especially in the times of trials and sufferings.

Therefore they are foreshadows of what Christ would fulfill in Himself and in the Church. Christ's first coming had already come when He came as Savior. His second coming is pending, when He will come as King! That gives us hope now for what's to come. The Scripture exhorts us to live today well, but never to cling on to this world, for we are sojourners or pilgrims passing by. Look to the future. It's a better eternity!

1 Corinthians 10:6 (New International Version)

6Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

Matthew 5:17-18 (New International Version)

The Fulfillment of the Law

17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Matthew 11:13 (New International Version)

13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

Why study the feasts? Further comments on reason 2

Interestingly, from today's reading, Deuteronomy 21:22-23, I think I heard you say, "How in the world am I going to get something out of this? This is gross! Capital punishment and hanging the body on a tree?"

²² If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, ²³ you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

The intensity of punishment for the crime of murder is shown here. However, prolonged exposure of body gives undue attention to the crime and the criminal. In an earlier post, I had dealt with the meaning of being "hung on a tree."

This crime places a person under God's curse. God had condemned murder, and hanging on a tree symbolizes divine judgment and rejection. Christ accepted the full punishment of our sins, thus becoming "a curse for us" (Gal 3:13) ¹³Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

Because of our sins, we are all under God's divine judgment. Jesus took our sins on the cross, and subject Himself to God's curse, so that we need not be cursed. He took all that we deserved and put it upon Himself. This is the ultimate demonstration of God's love, that He was willing to sacrifice His Only Son, and His Son was willing to lay down His life for us. We are extremely valuable to God. Unless we come to that point of understanding, we can never understand the love song sung throughout the entire Bible.

Therefore here we see an Old Testament law pointing to the Lord Jesus.

Why study the feasts? Reasons 1 & 2 of 12

This is a normal question to ask as we can be totally bewildered and confused by all the do's and don'ts of the Law. Are there any relevance to modern day living? So why do we need to study the feast?

As Hosea lamented: I wrote for them the many things of my law, but they regarded them as something alien. (Hosea 8:12)

The intricate detail of all things Mosaic would be meaningless unless they are all seen in the light of the Cross in relation to Christ and the Church. Apart from the Feasts, why then do we need to study the Tabernacle of Moses, the Tabernacle of David, the Temple of Solomon, the Priesthood and the Offerings?

Let me give you Twelve major reasons over the next few posts why all these should be studied. They are taken from "The Feasts of Israel" by Kevin J. Conner and I will elaborate on each of the points.

1. Because they are part of Scriptures given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God said it, so it must be important.

There's an old adage that goes:

God said it, I believe it, and that settles it!

Not entirely accurate. Whether I believe it or not does not make it any truer. It should read:

God said it, and that settles it! That's why we need to study it so that we have the whole context of the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work

2. Because they are a 'shadow of things to come'. They all point to Christ.

Shadow in the sense of a lesser. If only the people in the OT could have a glimpse of what we are enjoying today as God's redeemed people!

Colossians 2:16-17 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Hebrews 10:1-2 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.