A.. "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent" (Matthew 27:51).

B.  "And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom" (Mark 15:38).

C. "And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst" (Luke 23:45).

A. "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil" (Hebrews 6:19).   Jesus is the anchor that entered in as our high priest.

B. "And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all" (Hebrew 9:3).  "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing"  (Hebrew 9:8).   "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;     Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Hebrews 9:11-12).

 C. "By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh" (Hebrews 10:20).

NOTE:  Yahweh, Himself, tore the veil completely from the top to the bottom, not man.  The tearing of the veil is significant that now, ALL MEN, both Jews and Gentiles could freely come to God by the blood of Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me".    The veil was no longer needed, just as the temple was no longer needed.  AMEN!

    First, there are the Moral Laws basically found in the Ten Commandments. (Learning The Boundaries).  These laws are centered in LOVE (I Corinthians 13:1ff).  There is to be a love directed toward God, toward others, and toward self.  These laws may be summerized in the following verses.  "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of  thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"  (Micah 6:8).    "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone"  (Matthew 23:23). "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.    This is the first and great commandment.    And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.    On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets"  (Matthew 22:37-40). "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.    And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commmandment greater than these" (Mark 12:30-31).

    Second, there are various Health Laws.  These are laws concerning the eating of foods (Leviticus 11:1-47).  One was not eat blood, fat, or anything that was declared to be unclean.  There are laws concerning cleansing (Levituicus 12:1ff) and there were laws concerning keeping the Sabbath (the day of rest)(Leviticus16:29-34).

    Third, there are Ceremonial Laws.  These may be divided into two groups.  One group has to do with the keeping of varous Feasts (Leviticus 23:1-37, Numbers 28:1-40).  The seven feasts are:  the Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles.  The second subgroup had to do with various offerings often associated with the varous Feasts.  There were basically Burnt Offering and Peace Offerings.  These feasts are rich in symbolism concerning the coming of and the work of Christ.

    "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster" (Galatians 3:24-25).

    "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.  But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead" (Romans 7:7-8).

    WE must understand that the law concerning feasts and various sacrifices was only for a specific time!  "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation" (Hebrews 9:10).   Note: "until the time of reformation". The the Greek word "reformation" here is a word that means to make thoroughly straight. The next two verse explains that it is the coming of Jesus.   "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;    Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Heberew 9:11-12).   Jesus made things straight by becoming the sacrifice for us!  "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

I. Some things that the Law could not do.

A. The Law could make no one perfect.

"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God" (Hebrews 7:19).

B. The Law could not justify anyone.

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20).  "And by him (Jesus) all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:39).

C. The Law could not give life.

"Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law" (Galatians 3:21).

D. The Law could not make anyone righteous.

"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3).

E. The Law could not take away sins.

"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Hebrew 10:4).  At best the blood could only cover the sins.

A. "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:   Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation" (Hebrews 9:8-10).  Note the clause: "while as the first tabernacle was yet standing" and now we should recognize the fact that it is no longer standing.  Again, God tore the veil from top to bottom.

B. "But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:   But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (Galatians 4:2-7).  Note the clause: "until the time appointed of the father".

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. ((now they have ceased because they are no longer needed.))  But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure" (Hebrews 10:1-6).  Also note the clause: "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not" and the sentence "In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure."

A. "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator" (Hebrews 9:11-16).

B. "Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:   In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.  Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.   Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;   Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:   But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.   For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:5-14).

C. "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.   For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Romans 10:1-4).

D. Note:  Three times a year the Hebrew people were required to go to Jerusalem to observe the feasts. "Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty" (Deuteronomy 16:16).  The time of the "unleavened bread" included three feasts: (1) Unleaved Bread, (2) The Passover, and (3) The First Fruits.  The times of the feast of weeks is Pentecost.  The time of the Feast of Tabernacles also included three feasts: (1) The Feast of Trumpets, (2) The Atonement, and (3) The Feast of Tabernacles.  Again, Jesus is the fulfillment of each of these feasts! The following is a very brief outline.

1. Unleaved Bread.  "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:" (I Corinthians 5:7).

2. Passover.  "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).    "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" (I Peter 1:19).  Jesus was the passover lamb which was offered without spot.

3. First Fruits.   "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept" (I Corinthians 15:20).

3. Pentecost.  "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me" (John 15:26).   "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ....    And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1, 4).

4. Trumpets.  "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first" (I Thessalonians 4:16).

5. Atonement.  "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement" (Romans 5:11).

7. Tabernacles.  "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).

 "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter" (Romans 7:6)  The following evidences demonstrate that no one is REQUIRED to observe law concerning the feasts any more.

A. It was CHANGED.

 "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law" (Hebrews 7:12).  Again, see that the law was changed.  Jesus made one sacrifice once and for all.

B. It was ENDED (consummated) with Christ.

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Romans 10:4).

C. It was ABOLISHED.

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace" (Ephesians 2:15).

D. It was CEASED.

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.   For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins." (Hebrew 10:1-2).  Now look at,  "Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin" (Hebrews 10:18).  Again "there is no more offering for sin."

E. It was DISANNUNLED.

"For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.   For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God" (Hebrews 7:18-19).  The word "disannuling" means to abolish, to put away, or reject.

F. We have been DELIVERED FROM the Law

"But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter" (Romans 7:6).

G. It was DONE AWAY.

"For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious." (II Corinthinas 3:11).  (see the context of verses 7-14)

H. It was MADE OLD.

"In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away" (Hebrew 8:13).  The context of this is the offering of sacrifices in the temple: "For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer" (Hebrews 8:3).

I. It was CAST OUT.

"Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free" (Galatians 4:30-31).  This is a spiritual symbol of casting out the ceremonial law.

J.. It was TAKEN AWAY.

"Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second" (Hebrews 10:9).  The context of this verse is the preceeding verse: "Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law" (Hebrews 10:8).   The sacrifice and offering and burnt offers and offering for sin are taken away that something better could replace them.

"And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.    And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.    But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.    No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better"  (Luke 5:36-39).  Jesus in this parable warned the scribes and the Pharisees about trying to put what we now call, Christianity, into the framework of the Law and traditions of the Jewish religion.

A. Again, we are not to offer animal sacrifices not because the temple is not in place, but because the blood of Jesus is far better.  "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.   Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure." (Hebrews 10:4-6).  Note that when JESUS came, he did away with the animal sacrifices!  The sacrifice of Jesus was once and for all!  "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10).  Note: Believers are sanctified through the sacrifice of Jesus "once for all".

B.  O.K then, what are the sacrifices that we are to offer?

1. "For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Psalm 51:16-17).

2. "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6).

3. "Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips" (Hosea 14:2).

4. "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" (Hebrews 13:15).   We are to give thanks and praise God for the sacrifice of Jesus and what we receive through that sacrifice.

a. We are to offer the sacrifice of praise when we have been blessed.  (Luke17:115-116).

b. We are to offer the sacrifice of praise when there is failure. (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

c. We are to offer the sacrifice of praise when we experience depression. (Psalm 42:5, 11, 43:5, Isaiah 61:3ff).

d. We are to offer the sacrifice of praise when we have lost our sanity.  (Daniel 4:1-37).

e. We are to offer the sacrifice of praise when we are in bondage. (Acts 16:25-26).

f. We are to offer the sacrifice of praise when we are under attack.  (II Chronicles 20:20-23).

g. We are to offer the sacrifice of praise when we have run from God. (Jonah 2:9).

A. "Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain" (Galatians 4:10-11).  There is some real grave dangers in observing the feasts.

B. "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:   ((((feast days not the Sabbath)))  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ" (Colossians 2:16-17).  You are not to allow anyone to demand that you keep the feasts.

C. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ"  (Colossians 2:8).

D. "For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.    And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.    Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?    He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from me.    Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.    For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.    And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.    For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:    But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.    And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;    Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye" (Mark 7:3-13).

E. The example of Circumcism.

1. "Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment" (Acts 15:24). Again note: Paul gave no commandment to be circumcised and to keep the law.

2.Look at what Paul says about one being circumcised to fulfill righteousness: "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.  For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith" (Galatians 5:2-5).  However, circumcision does have some health benefits.

A. "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself" (Romans 14:5-7).  A person is free to keep the Feast Days, but not to demand than anyone to do so.

B. Are we simply to discard the Old Testiment?   Certainly not!  The Old Testament is full of examples for the benefit as New Testament Believers.  "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come"  (I Corinthians 10:11).   The Old Testament is also full of promises for Believers as well as the Jewish people. "Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old" (Matthew 13:52). Certainly the "old" refers to the Old Testament.   Should the church today even take the time to study about the feasts?  Most definitely!  They are basic to the understanding of many New Testament truths!  However, there is a great danger in just focusing on the Old Testament!  The danger is that the Law becomes and end in itself rather than leading one to Jesus.  Another danger is focusing on the many traditions which are often associated with the Law.  Believers often get caught up on trying to interpreting "the traditions" in the light of the New Testament without substantial Scriptural evidence of any connection.  It is like the individual that says that he observes Christmas with the Christmas tree because the tree points upward toward God. He is trying to take a pagon tradition and attempting to Christianize it.  The evergreen tree was simply a symbol of life in pagon worship.

A. Aren't the Jews commanded to observe the feasts forever? (example)   "And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever" (Exodus 12:14).   ANSWER:  Yes, in the sense that Jesus is the fulfillment of the feast.  No, in the sense of offering a lamb as a sacrifice.  Again, Jesus became the Lamb that shed his blood for us.

B. Doesn't the Church today observe the Passover meal though observing the Lord's Supper?  ANSWER: Yes, again in the sense the unleavened bread is a symbol of the body of Jesus and the fruit of the vine being a symbol of the shed blood of Jesus.  However, no one is required to go to Jerusalem or offer animal sacrifices or follow the many traditions of Jewish people.  "After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me" (I Corinthians 11:25).

C. Didn't Paul observe the various feasts after he became a Believer?  ANSWER: Yes, he did in part.  "For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost" (Acts 20:16).    However, we do not find anywhere in Scripture where Paul demanded Believers to observe the feasts except in a spiritual sense.  Most likely, Paul used the occasion of the feasts to witness to the Jewish people concerning the fulfillment of the feasts in Christ.

D. Will the feasts be reinstituted in the millennium kingdom?  ANSWER: Only the Feast of Tabernacles is mentioned.   "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, the LORD 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, the LORD 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 the LORD 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).

E. Aren't Believers grafted into Israel and therefore should observe the feasts?   "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).   "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).  Jesus is pictured as being the vine here, not Israel!

Believers now have a better covenant with better promises. We should understand that observing the feasts was under to old covenant.  "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:    Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.    For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people" (Hebrews 8:6-10).
 

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1).