Feast Of Tabernacles Video
“So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house…” (Acts 2:46)
The temple! House to house! Is this scripture a matter of confusion? Consider the remainder of this post to find out.
Consider the opening and closing words of God to the Israelites, as they are recorded in the Book of Leviticus. Notice that the words of God in Leviticus are directed to the children of Israel. Notice that the first and last words of the Book of Leviticus are directed to the Israelites. Scriptures are from the New King James Version. Notes are from BibleGateway.com, MacArthur Study Bible notes.
Leviticus 23:1-2 New King James Version (NKJV)
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.
Leviticus 27:34 New King James Version (NKJV)
34 These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.
The Jews are God’s chosen people. There can be some misunderstanding of that choice of our Father. Consider the following two verses that relate to the purpose that God had in His choosing Israel.
Deuteronomy 7:6 New King James Version (NKJV)
6 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.
God chose a people to bring the Messiah into the world. One Messiah could not have been birthed by more than one mother. It was God’s choice for Mary, a Jewess, to birth our Messiah, Yeshua/Jesus.
John 4:22 New King James Version (NKJV)
22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.
It was from the Jews, and none other than the Jews, that the the Messiah, Yeshua/Jesus would be born to be the Savior of the world.
The purpose of this post is to explain why there is significance in relating the body of Christ to the Feasts Of God, especially those feasts that take place during the month of October, 2016. It is clear that the same feasts don’t necessarily occur each year on the same date as the previous year. Still, as in the example of the Passover, that feast relates to the time when the Jews were delivered by God from the bondage of their enslavement in Egypt. It is not necessary for an event to occur on any particular month, or day of that month, for the remembrance to be valid. It is similar to the date that Christians relate to the birth of the Messiah, Yeshua/Jesus. We, not all of us, but many of us, use December 25th to remember the birth of Yeshua/ Jesus.
The feasts of the Lord were given to the Israelites. Each year Jews, and some Christians, will celebrate the feasts of the Lord. Christians, those who are born again believers in Christ, will receive a rich spiritual blessing, and a great learning experience, by studying and participating in the feasts of the Lord. Consider the information that is contained in the following linked article that discusses “The Lord’s Appointed Times.” Also, consider the information that follows the link that relates to the Feasts Of God.
http://torahclub.ffoz.org/portions-library/core/emor/the-lords-appointed-times.html
The Bible refers to the Tabernacle as the Ohel Mo’ed (אהל מעד), a term that our English Bibles translate as “Tent of Meeting.” The word mo’ed can refer to an appointed time or place. The Tabernacle was God’s appointed place to meet with man at His appointed times. Leviticus 23 presents a list of God’s appointed times (mo’adim, מעדים). They are the holy days which God appointed to meet with His people, Israel.
The Feasts Of The Lord – October 2016
https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/2016-2017
Jewish Holidays 2016 (Feasts Of The Lord)
Dates of major and minor Jewish holidays for Hebrew Year 5777. Each holiday page includes a brief overview of special observances and customs, and any special Torah readings.
Three feasts of the Lord that Jewish males were required to attend: Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:16-17. (Feast of Unleavened Bread; Weeks; and Booths/Tabernacles)
All holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date specified, in the tables below. For example, if the dates for Rosh Hashana were listed as Oct 3-4, then the holiday begins at sundown on Oct 2 and ends at nightfall on Oct 4.
Major holidays/Feasts
Holidays/Feasts begin at sundown on the evening before the date specified.
Dates in bold are yom tov, so they have similar obligations and restrictions to Shabbat in the sense that normal “work” is forbidden.
Holiday/Feast Dates Description
Rosh Hashana Oct 3-4, 2016 M‑Tu The Jewish New Year
Yom Kippur Oct 12, 2016 W Day of Atonement
Sukkot Oct 17-18, 2016 M‑Tu
Oct 19-23, 2016 W‑Su Feast of Tabernacles
https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/2015/11/04/the-feast-of-trumpets-rosh-hashanah-truah-2/
Rosh Hashana / ראש השנה
Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: ראש השנה), (literally “head of the year”), is the Jewish New Year. It is the first of the High Holidays or Yamim Noraim (“Days of Awe”), celebrated ten days before Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah is observed on the first two days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It is described in the Torah as יום תרועה (Yom Teru’ah, a day of sounding [the Shofar]).
Rosh Hashana begins at sundown on Sun, 02 October 2016.
Exodus 19:16-25; Numbers 29:1-6.
https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/2014/09/30/091814-yom-kippur/
Yom Kippur / יום כפור
Yom Kippur (Hebrew: יוֹם כִּפּוּר or יום הכיפורים), Also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days (or sometimes “the Days of Awe”).
Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Tue, 11 October 2016.
Leviticus 23:26-32.
https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/2015/09/27/feast-of-tabernacles/
Sukkot / סוכות
Sukkot (Hebrew: סוכות or סֻכּוֹת, sukkōt, or sukkos, Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles) is a Biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei (late September to late October). It is one of the three biblically mandated festivals Shalosh regalim on which Jews were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.
Sukkot begins at sundown on Sun, 16 October 2016.
Leviticus 23:33-43; Deuteronomy 16:16; Ezra 3:4; Nehemiah 8:13-18; John 7:2
It should be noted that “God’s Appointed Feasts” are contained in the Torah, which also contains the Ten Commandments. The Torah Laws (613 of them) are found in the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy, and were designed to make a holy and righteous people (the Jews) who would bring a Holy and Righteous Savior (Yeshua/Jesus) into the world. Consider the following verses that also relate to the special relationship that God chose to be a forever relationship between God and the Jews. Notice that the conversation that takes place is only between God and the children of Israel. It should be noted that at the time of the giving of the Law (appx 1491 BC), there were people who were also living as far east as the Asian Pacific coast. Also, there were people who were living in North and South America. Such a knowledge is important because obedience to the Law was immediate, from the day that it was given by God to the Jews. The people who lived in those faraway lands never knew anything about the Law. Also, the Jews were not seeking converts beyond their own borders. (See the link on population)
http://www.timemaps.com/history/world-1500bc
Exodus 31:12-13 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Sabbath Law
12 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.
Exodus 31:16-18 New King James Version (NKJV) (Read this passage very carefully. There is more than one message.)
16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”
18 And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
The Torah Laws Given To The Children Of Israel
Numbers 36:13 New King James Version (NKJV)
13 These are the commandments and the judgments which the Lord commanded the children of Israel by the hand of Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.
Deuteronomy 1:1 New King James Version (NKJV)
1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.
Many people are not aware of the severity of some of the 613 Torah commandments. To say that we are to keep the Torah Commandments is to say that we are to keep all of the 613 Torah commandments. Consider the following verse.
James 2:10 New King James Version (NKJV)
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
Consider the severity of the following verse; it is also part of the 613 Torah Commandments. Is this command being kept today by those who adhere to Torah?
Leviticus 7:2 New King James Version (NKJV)
2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the trespass offering. And its blood he shall sprinkle all around on the altar.
Check out the following link which tells more of the Torah Laws.
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/756399/jewish/The-613-Commandments.htm
The Feasts And Law Forward (consider the Apostles)
Matthew 26:17 New King James Version (NKJV) Jesus Celebrates Passover With His Disciples/Apostles
17 Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
Matthew 26:29 New King James Version (NKJV) (Jesus looked ahead to the millennial kingdom when He would participate in the Passover again with His Apostles/Disciples. The Apostles would participate in the next feast of Passover which would take place in approximately a year from this one.)
29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
Even though the Apostles, and other Jews, became followers of “the risen Christ,” there is no reason to think that they made conscious decisions to discontinue observing the feasts. Consider the scriptures that they had been taught.
Leviticus 23:4 New King James Version (NKJV) (keep the feasts)
4 ‘These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.
Acts 2:40-47 New King James Version (NKJV) The Apostle Peter had just finished preaching the first gospel message of the Christian dispensation. The new believers in Christ, as well as the Apostles, responded in two significant ways. 1. vs 46: they continued to meet in the temple. 2. vs 46: they met in their homes as new believers in Christ. A good friend of mine, who is a Jew who knows Yeshua/Jesus as His Lord and Savior, explained to me that the new converts would not have shown a lack of proper respect for their fellow Jews. Such feasts are mentioned in Luke’s writings of the book of Acts, as follows.
The Day Of Pentecost
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 20:1-6 New King James Version (NKJV) Relate vs 6 to Lev 23:4
The Feast Of Unleavened Bread
1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. 2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece 3 and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5 These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
Consider The Feasts For Today (Jews and Non-Jews)
Jews: They will continue to celebrate the feasts (Lev 23:4)
Non-Jews: Let me share a personal experience. Until I participated in a Passover Seder, I had “no clue” as to its significance to the Messiah. But, during that seder, I saw Christ in the Passover very clearly. Many congregations will have someone, such as a Messianic Jew, to “demonstrate” the Passover to their members. But, being an observer is greatly lacking in the benefits that come from having someone “lead” a congregation in the observance of a Passover seder. A meal is included in a seder. Great fellowship is experienced. A “hands on” experience of God’s Word is realized. Let me encourage you to learn the feasts by participating in the “Feasts Of God.” Even though there is no scriptural directive for non-Jews to participate in the Feasts Of God, there are tremendous spiritual benefits from taking part in those feasts.
Closing
This series of posts on the Feasts Of The Lord can be found on the blog by clicking onto the following link and selecting category, and searching for “Journey.” This study is part of the journey that God’s people have traveled, and are traveling, as God leads them.
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